Subtle and not so subtle clues indicate the abundance of microbial communities - coloration of the surface of sediments or water, the availability of materials that might act as food, seasons, presence of consumers, and so on. When samples are collected, they should be returned to the laboratory for observation fairly quickly. If they have been concentrated during the sampling procedure, for example sdamples were taken with a plankton net, then the samples may degrade quickly. Avoid significant or sudden changes in temperature. Retain some fluid that can be filtered as used as trhe basis of a medium. Keep a record of where you sampled.

Typical sampling gear includes:

• buckets
• 50 - 500 ml wide-mouthed flasks / jars
• sealable plastic bags
• sealable plastic containers - such as sandwich boxes
• wok-spoon
• forceps
• scissors
• trowel
• stiff perspex tubing
• tape - for containers
• indelible pens - to write on tape
• notebook

Some folk like to take notes, GPS readings, temperature, pH etc. etc.

Water column sampling - using plankton nets

Water column sampling using traps

Muds (intertidal and freshwater)

Sediments that are under water

Sands - Uhlig extraction

Anoxic sites