Analysis internship – Carla García Carrancio

On summer time 2021 I had the chance to conduct a analysis go to on the College Museum of Bergen underneath venture NorHydro. Concretely, I used to be working with the hydrozoan collections, the place I obtained to know first-hand the position performed by the curators and the significance of the collections. I examined a number of specimens and digitalized their related information creating e-vouchers. Having all the knowledge of specimens in a digital format is essential as a result of it permits different researchers to entry the fabric with out having to come back to the museum and helps to make the stock extra accessible and organised. I additionally improved my information of hydrozoan range by figuring out quite a few specimens deposited on the museum. For that, I used some keys for each thecate and athecate hydroids from North—West European waters in addition to the steering of my MSc supervisor Luis Martell.

The principle distinction between leptothecate and anthoathecate hydroids is the dearth of theca within the latter (the theca is a cup-like construction that protects the polyps), however a few of them will be very tough to determine since anthoathecate hydroids could have theca-like buildings, and the theca of lepthothecate polyps could also be troublesome to see at first sight. Additionally, whenever you have a look at a pattern, you might discovered a number of hydrozoans rising on the identical substrate all collectively, making identification much more troublesome. One of many traits used to distinguish species is the presence and the form of the reproductive buildings (gonophores), however they don’t seem to be at all times current if the polyps are usually not reproductive.

Sertularella rugosa (prime row) is for sure one in all my favorite hydrozoans. The hydrothecae resemble a bee hive and the colony has a zig-zag look. Nonetheless, it’s straightforward to confuse it with Sertularella tenella (backside row). Footage credit: Carla García.

Polyps of the household Campanulariidae. This widespread household is characterised by the presence of a bell-shaped theca. Footage credit: Carla García.

Throughout my keep, I additionally had the possibility to go sampling on a analysis boat, which helped me to grasp higher the procedures and necessities which are essential to gather hydrozoans. We used a wide-mouthed plankton web that went up and down at a continuing pace to keep away from damaging the jellies and different gelatinous organisms from the plankton. After sampling, we took the cod-end to the laboratory. There, the content material of the cod-end was poured on a light-weight desk. Then, we chosen fascinating specimens (together with hydromedusae belonging to genus Euphysa) with vast mouthed pipettes and transferred them to Petri dishes full of contemporary seawater to watch them higher underneath a microscope.

Towing the plankton-net which went right down to 650m to seize some gelatinous organisms. As you possibly can think about, going up and down such an extended distance takes loads of time, however it’s by no means boring with colleagues like Aino Hosia (proper). Image credit: Carla García.

I used to be fortunate sufficient to get samples of Euphysa aurata and Euphysa sp., however they didn’t need to pose for my photograph and stored transferring round. Image credit: Carla García.

We took the chance to gather some shallow-water benthic hydroids simply in entrance of the Marine Station. Image credit score: Carla García.

Final however not least, I labored on the DNA lab, which allowed me to achieve expertise in new molecular methods that I had not used earlier than and to adapt myself to completely different (and really trendy) services.

This expertise has been merely nice for me. I cherished the working surroundings and the truth that everyone was at all times there to provide me a hand. I’ve discovered loads and I’m taking with me many associates that I hope to satisfy once more once I come again to Bergen.

If you wish to know extra about tasks of NorHydro and HYPNO, go to NorHydro’s dwelling web page and Fb web page, and verify the hashtags #HYPNO and #NorHydro inTwitter.

-Carla García-Carrancio