ASTM_D_4387_-_02.pdf

Designation:D 4387 02Standard Guide for SelectingGrab Sampling Devices for Collecting BenthicMacroinvertebrates1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4387;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon(e)indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This guide covers selecting grab sampling devices forcollecting benthic macroinvertebrates.(See Table 1)1.2 The grab sampler when used correctly is a quantitativecollecting device.It is designed to penetrate and grab or scoopa variety of substrates or sediment types from which macroin-vertebrates are collected in freshwater,estuarine,and marinehabitats.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:D 1129 Terminology Relating to Water2D 4342 Practice for Collecting Benthic Macroinvertebrateswith Ponar Grab Sampler3D 4343 Practice for Collecting Benthic Macroinvertebrateswith Ekman Grab Sampler3D 4344 Practice for Collecting Benthic Macroinvertebrateswith Smith-McIntyre Grab Sampler3D 4345 Practice for Collecting Benthic Macroinvertebrateswith Van Veen Grab Sampler3D 4346 Practice for Collecting Benthic Macroinvertebrateswith Okean 50 Grab Sampler3D 4347 Practice for Collecting Benthic Macroinvertebrateswith Shipek(Scoop)Grab Sampler3D 4348 Practice for Collecting Benthic Macroinvertebrateswith Holme(Scoop)Grab Sampler3D 4401 Practice for Collecting Benthic Macroinvertebrateswith Petersen Grab Sampler3D 4407 Practice for Collecting Benthic Macroinvertebrateswith Orange Peel Grab Sampler33.Terminology3.1 DefinitionsFor definitions of terms used in this guide,refer to Terminology D 1129.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 benthosthe community of organisms living in or onthe bottom or other substrate in an aquatic environment.3.2.2 grabany device designed to“bite”or“scoop”intothe bottom sediment of a lake,stream,estuary,ocean,andsimilar habitats to sample the benthos.Grabs are samplers withjaws that are forced shut by weights,lever arms,springs,orcables.Scoops are grab samplers that scoop sediment with arotating container.3.2.3 habitatthe place where an organism lives,that is,mud,rock,shoreline,etc.3.2.4 macroinvertebratesbenthic or substrate dwelling or-ganisms visible to the unaided eye and retained on a U.S.Standard No.30(0.595-mm mesh openings)sieve.The stan-dard sieve opening for marine benthic fauna is 1.0 mm,U.S.Standard No.18 sieve.Examples of macroinvertebrates areaquatic insects,macrocrustaceans,mollusks,annelids,round-worms,flatworms,and echinoderms.4.Significance and Use4.1 Qualitative and quantitative samples of macroinverte-brates inhabiting sediments or substrates are usually taken by agrab sampler.Grab samplers,if used correctly,are devices thatsample a unit area or volume of the habitat.They are used toobtain a quantitative estimate of the number of individuals andnumber of taxa of aquatic macroinvertebrates.In view of theadvantages and limitations regarding the penetration of thesediment by many grab samplers and their closing mecha-nisms,it is not possible to recommend any single instrument assuitable for general use.However,the Petersen grab is consid-ered the least effective bottom grab sampler and,therefore,haslimited application.The type and size of the grab sampler ordevice selected for use will depend on such factors as the sizeof boat,hoisting gear available,the type of substrate orsediment to be sampled,depth of water,current velocity,andwhether sampling is in sheltered areas or in open waters oflarge rivers,reservoirs,lakes,and oceans.A great variety ofinstruments have been described and choice of a grab samplerwill depend largely on what is available,what is suitable for thesampling area,and what can be obtained without difficulty.1This guide is under the jurisdiction of Committee E47on Biological Effects andEnvironmental Fate and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E47.03 onSediment Assessment and Toxicology.Current edition approved April 10,2002.Published July 2002.Orginallypublished as D4387-84.Last previous edition D4387-84(1997).2Annual Book of ASTM Standards,Vol 11.01.3Annual Book of ASTM Standards,Vol 11.05.1Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959,United States.NOTICE:This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.Contact ASTM International(www.astm.org)for the latest information.5.Descriptions of Grab Samplers5.1 Ponar Grab Sampler(see Fig.1)is designed to obtainquantitative samples of macroinvertebrates from sediments inlakes,rivers,estuaries,oceans,and similar habitats.Thisdevice is most useful for collecting benthic macroinvertebratesfrom coarse and hard substrates,such as coarse sand,gravel,TABLE 1 Standard Classification of Grab Sampling Devices for Collecting Benthic Macroinvertebrates