Sampling Equipment & Supplies

Wildco.com is a major supplier of field sampling equipment such as kick-nets, Surber samplers, dredges, sieves and sieve buckets.

Field sampling requires a sieve to concentrate samples by draining off water. U.S.A. Standard Testing Sieves are available directly from the Gilson Company or through scientific supply houses. Sieves are available in a variety of diameters, mesh sizes, and in brass or stainless steel. A standard height, 8″ diameter sieve is best. The 500 micron sieve is No. 35. The 250 micron sieve is No. 60. While more expensive, stainless steel will last longer than brass with regular field use.

Buckets are handy for carrying gear to the field site and for collecting clean water for rinsing samples. Large rocks and cobbles can be placed in a bucket with a small amount of water and gently scrubbed to dislodge invertebrates. The water can then be poured through a sieve.

Short-handled vegetable brushes with stiff plastic bristles are ideal for brushing invertebrates off rocks. They are available online or at grocery and variety stores.

Sorting tubs are used to clean large debris from samples before concentrating it in a sieve and transferring it to a sample bottle. White dish tubs are ideal and are available at grocery and variety stores.

Aquatic Biology Associates, Inc. recommends 5 ml borosilicate glass shell vials from Research Products International Corp. for storing laboratory-processed invertebrate specimens. These inexpensive snap-cap vials are 15 mm X 45 mm and come with polyethylene stoppers with double sealing rings for a leak-proof seal. When filled with alcohol and properly sealed, the sample will not dry out for 10 or more years. Vials should be checked every few years for loss of preservative. Look for catalog number 125502.