Protocols

Longitudinal grab sampling along Coal Creek mainstem during three critical hydrograph stages (peak flow, falling limb, low flow) across multiple years to characterize spatial and temporal variability ...

Systematic sampling of soil fungal communities across vegetation disturbance gradients in subalpine meadows using replicated plot design with grid-based soil core collection.

Visual counting method for arthropods on sagebrush plants involving systematic counting of mobile species first (to avoid double-counting) followed by sedentary species. Targets mutualistic and non-mu...

Systematic sampling of soil from different plant successional stages within a landslide area to compare soil properties across a chronosequence. Uses stratified random sampling within defined communit...

Spatially distributed sampling campaign conducted during peak hydrologic conditions to identify locations of enhanced dissolved organic carbon export across a watershed transect.

Complete census of sagebrush individuals within systematic 16m × 16m grids divided into 1m² cells, with measurement of plant dimensions for size estimation.

Standardized substrate tiles deployed in stream channels for algae colonization, followed by systematic scraping, filtering, and microscopic enumeration of didymo cells.

Systematic vegetation sampling along parallel transects between sites to quantify matrix composition and calculate proportional cover of different vegetation types.

Systematic collection of seeds from plants along established transects for genetic analysis. Seeds collected within defined distances of sampling points and pooled by maternal plant.

Method to quantify microbial load on different butterfly body parts by direct plating on agar media. Samples tarsi/proboscis by dragging across plate and thorax by washing technique.

Motion-activated camera deployment to detect and monitor presence of snow leopards and other wildlife in remote mountain environments.

Hummingbirds are captured using a gravity-based drop-net system that releases around a suspended feeder onto a platform when triggered.

Long-term monitoring of tundra plant communities using standardized sampling within permanently marked study areas, employing various abundance quantification methods including point frame hits, visua...

Standardized collection of lake water samples from deepest point using submersible pumps with macrozooplankton exclusion. Includes physical profiling and immediate chemical processing.

Field collection of salamanders from multiple sites with biosecurity measures including equipment sterilization between sites and controlled acclimation period before experimentation.

Systematic examination of up to 100 flowers per individual male plant to detect and categorize presence of female reproductive structures (inconstant sex expression) based on style height and stigmati...

Selection of ant nests representing different abandonment times to study legacy effects. Nests categorized as active (2016), recently inactive (2013), and older inactive (2010) to create a temporal gr...

Continuous automated collection of surface water samples from floodplain water bodies using programmable autosamplers with contamination prevention protocols and sample preservation.

Biological OsmoSampler System that preserves microbial communities in situ by adding preservative directly to the sample stream during collection. Enables molecular analysis of microbial communities f...

Fine-mesh bags were used to control pollinator access to flower stalks, allowing comparison of yeast densities between virgin and pollinator-exposed flowers. Nectar was extracted using calibrated micr...

A standardized method for collecting arthropods from vegetation by beating branches and foliage onto a collection sheet while using an aspirator to capture specimens. Sampling was conducted for exactl...

Isolation of pure bacterial cultures from bee gut homogenates followed by whole genome sequencing using Illumina MiSeq and PacBio platforms with subsequent assembly and annotation.

Standard method using heat and light gradients to extract small arthropods from soil samples into preservative solution. Constructed funnels from plastic bottles with 60-watt bulbs for 36-hour extract...

Comprehensive collection of all plant species encountered across study sites to build complete species inventories. Emphasis on collecting every species regardless of abundance.

Field survey method measuring distance to water sources and soil moisture content to characterize ecological niches of grass species. Plants are marked along transects and their microhabitat condition...

Systematic measurement of surface fuels (duff, litter, woody debris) along transects at multiple distances from plot centers using standardized fuel classifications and go/no-go methodology.

A laboratory protocol for extracting honey samples from captive bumble bee colonies and quantifying ethanol content using enzyme-based assays. Samples are collected over time from maintained colonies ...

Overnight light trapping using CDC traps with ethylene glycol preservatives to monitor abundance of potential vesicular stomatitis vectors including black flies, sand flies, and biting midges.

Modified CTAB DNA extraction protocol specifically designed to isolate microbial cells from conifer needle surfaces while excluding endophytic microorganisms from internal needle tissues.

Systematic measurement of all fallen dead wood ≥10 cm diameter with assignment to decay classes based on structural characteristics and decomposition state. Volume calculated using cylinder equations ...

Collection and analysis of foliar nitrogen and phosphorus from dominant tree and ground-layer plant species, with community-weighted averages calculated based on species cover to represent plot-level ...

Collection of soot particles from controlled fires using dead plant material in fume hood setup. Various collection surfaces positioned at different heights above fire with air duct directing smoke fl...

Integrated approach combining NEON AOP imaging spectroscopy with synchronized field collection of foliar samples for laboratory analysis and trait measurement. Designed to enable landscape-scale trait...

Fish captured by sport anglers during creel surveys are measured for weight and length, then analyzed using improved weight-length relationships and relative weight calculations to assess fish conditi...

Random collection of mayfly larvae from stream benthos using standardized D-frame nets, followed by preservation and microscopic examination for internal parasites. Used to compare parasite prevalence...

Non-invasive sampling method using swabs to collect dermal secretions containing corticosterone from amphibian skin for stress hormone analysis. This method was validated for use with axolotls and app...

Manual removal and dissection of flowers to detect and collect insects present inside flower structures, with specimen preservation for identification.

Collection of dissolved noble gases from groundwater wells using copper tubes with down-hole pumps and back-pressure valves to prevent degassing during sample collection.

Collection of continuous vertical and horizontal drill cores from shale bedrock to characterize sulfur speciation changes with depth and weathering extent. Combines drilling techniques with subsequent...

Direct measurement of soil depth using auger drilling to bedrock contact, validated with cone penetrometer resistance profiles. Distinguishes mobile regolith from weathered bedrock layers.

Regular combing of trapped marmots to count fleas displaced onto white flannel cloth, with counts standardized by body mass.

Long-term monitoring of rabbit reproduction in a controlled field enclosure using live-trapping and nest observation. Litter composition determined through hair color analysis and behavioral observati...

Systematic belt transect surveys along wetland shorelines to document occurrence and distribution of target plant species. Transects are established continuously around water body perimeters with stan...

Systematic transect sampling from forest edge to interior with perpendicular plots to assess fungal infection density in relation to distance from meadow edge. Trees categorized by size class and asse...

Systematic measurement of plant functional traits (height, SLA, LDMC, dry:wet ratio) in forb species across elevation gradients using standardized plot sampling and laboratory processing. Traits measu...

Hand-held GPS units were used to map study site locations and boundaries at Judd Falls sites.

Collection of rock samples from specific geographic locations in mountainous terrain for subsequent thermochronological analysis. Samples are GPS-located and systematically labeled for tracking throug...

Collection of leaf and root tissues from dominant grass species in established warming experiments during growing season. Samples collected separately by tissue type and combined by species within plo...

Systematic collection of hair samples from specific body sites of wild and captive mammals, targeting hair bulbs for DNA extraction.

Random sampling method involving throwing a ruler and selecting nearest individual to avoid bias toward most visible plants.