United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Environmental Monitoring and
Support Laboratory
Cincinnati OH 45268
Research and Development
EPA/600/S4-86/002 Aug. 1986
v>EPA Project Summary
RECEIVED
NOV 2 11986
V1RONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
LIBRARY. Rf'iiu* V
Manual for Identification of
Marine Invertebrates: A Guide
to Some Common Estuarine
Macroinvertebrates of the Big
Bend Region, Tampa Bay,
Florida
James K. Culter
This manual addresses 233 of the
most common taxa (196 species) in the
Big Bend Regions of Tampa Bay. These
taxa are also found in large regions of
the Gulf of Mexico and portions of the
southeast Atlantic coast.
The guide presents the following: a
list of taxa; photographs and descrip-
tions for identifying each species; tech-
niques of collection, preservation, and
storage; a glossary; and bibliographies
with references cited in the text and
other publications which provide addi-
tional information on taxonomy and
ecology.
This Project Summary was devel-
oped by EPA's Environmental Monitor-
ing and Support Laboratory, Cincinnati,
OH, to announce key findings of the re-
search project that is fully documented
in a separate report of the same title
(see Project Report ordering informa-
tion at back).
Introduction
The guide is intended to be used as an
identification aid for biologists with a
limited knowledge of invertebrate tax-
onomy as well as those with more ex-
tensive training.
Most of the macroinvertebrates de-
scribed in the guide were collected from
soft sediments during a thermal envi-
ronmental impact study of the Big Bend
Region of Tampa Bay, Florida. Taxa in-
cluded are limited to specimens that
were considered common and in good
condition after processing.
The guide includes 233 taxa (196 spe-
cies) from fourteen of the most com-
monly encountered marine invertebrate
phyla. Many of the taxa presented have
wide distribution that includes large re-
gions of the Gulf of Mexico as well as
portions of the southeast Atlantic coast.
In addition to species descriptions,
the guide discusses the geographic re-
gion covered, techniques of collection,
preservation and storage, and taxo-
nomic considerations. An extensive
glossary defines the terms used in the
text and also includes terms frequently
used in taxonomic literature. The bibli-
ography contains references for the less
experienced investigators who require
more in-depth reading.
Condensed taxonomic descriptions,
presented in the order of relative abun-
dance of species in the samples, pro-
vide the necessary information to iden-
tify a species, while photographs
provide a realistic image of the animals.
Such a holistic approach is valuable in
obtaining rapid, preliminary identifica-
tions.
Taxonomic Considerations
The guide utilizes recent classification
schemes and provides a detailed sys-
tematic breakdown for those groups
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that are most frequently encountered.
In these cases, definitions for families
are also given which may be useful in
separating groups such as polychaetes,
amphipods, and isopods, which may all
look alike to readers who lack extensive
experience with invertebrates. During
benthic studies individuals are collected
in all stages of growth, and juvenile
specimens do not always exhibit all the
characteristics needed to identify a spe-
cies.
It is desirable to have taxonomic ex-
perts verify identifications. Requests for
assistance should always be made in
advance of sending specimens.
Identification of invertebrates re-
quires a large, diverse terminology. In
order to avoid confusion, the simplest
possible terminology was used for de-
scriptions. This, in conjunction with the
various illustrations and glossary,
should enable the reader to fully com-
prehend descriptions in the text.
James K. Cutter is with Conservation Consultants, Inc., Palmetto, FL 33561.
Donald J. Klemm is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
The complete report, entitled "Manual for Identification of Marine In vertebrates
A Guide to Some Common Estuarine Macroinvertebrates of the Big Bern
Region, Tampa Bay, Florida," (Order No. PB 86-166 352/AS; Cost: $22.95,
subject to change) will be available only from:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
Enivronmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Cincinnati, OH 45268
'-4
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Center for Environmental Research
Information
Cincinnati OH 45268
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
EPA/600/S4-86/002
0000329 PS
U S ENVIR PROTECTION AGENCY
REGION 5 LIBRARY
230 S DEARBORN STREET
CHICAGO It- 60604
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