A revised sediment trap splitting procedure for samples collected in the Antarctic sea

In order to correctly understand the rates and mechanisms of biogeochemical cycling along the water column, special attention must be paid to data analysis techniques. We propose a revised procedure combining precision and practicality to minimize sample handling errors that would affect the determination of both mass fluxes and the composition of material collected by sediment traps in the Antarctic region. The key points to take in account are: (i) the mesh size used for removing "large" particles or aggregates (from 150 micron to 1mm); (ii) the absence of filters; and (iii) the use of a microscope to pick out "swimmers". We also recommend: removal of all swimmers using a 650-micron mesh; analysis using a stereomicroscope; and quantitative subdividing using a peristaltic pump.