LARS THOMAS: How to collect samples – in one easy lesson

I spend quite a lot of time analyzing samples collected from all over the world – bits and pieces of all kinds of animals found in all kinds of circumstances. The amount of information enclosed with the various samples varies to an amazing degree. Some samples are labelled in such a meticulous fashion they could probably be used in a court of law. Some samples are not … definitely not. So, in the interest of further investigations, expedition and researches, here are a few very simple guidelines when it comes to scientific sampling and labelling.

Basically it is a simple matter of book-keeping – triple book-keeping!

Yes, I know, it’s tedious and time consuming and plain and simple boring, but it is vital and it increases the scientific value of a sample many, many times.

First of all, keep an EXPEDITION LOG. In this (any cheap notebook will do, but make sure it is reasonably durable), one scribbles as much information about the samples as possible. There in no upper limit, but for each and every sample there should be at least the following information:

A NUMBER – for instance all samples collected on day one are numbered 101, 102, 103 and so forth. On day two, the numbers are 201, 202, 203 and so on.

A DATE

A PLACE – not just the geographical location, but also some exact information, was it on a treestump, under a rack, in a lake, whatever.

A DESCRIPTION – what has been collected? This may sound obvious, but just in case a sample container breaks or things get mixed up, it is a valuable peace of information to have.

A NAME – who did the sampling?

OK – next you put whatever sample in a container of some kind. And then you write the five kinds of information on the bag, can, jar or whatever. Boooring, I hear you cry. Oh yes, but if you loose the log, not so boring. And NEVER EVER rely on your memory. Memories are notoriously unreliable.

And then, just to drive you completely mad, you write it all over again, on a smaller label that you either put into the container with your sample, or tie it to the sample, if it is big enough (say a bone or something).

This makes sure that whatever information you have about a specific sample is never completely lost.

And if you use a water soluble pen of any kind for any of this, I will personally hunt you down!!

And if you put specimens in alcohol, the use of an alcohol soluble pen on the label or the container will bring the same kind of retribution upon you.

In short – do everything you can to ensure that the information is never lost. In this way, anyone can work on your samples without needing your presence or having to rely on your faulty memory. And from a personal point of view – expeditionlogs are incredibly entertaining and fun to read 10, 20 or 30 years later. I have logs dating back to the mid 1970’s, and they would be the first I’d save in case of fire.