Every month scientists working on the VIMS Juvenile Fish and Blue Crab Survey handle and measure many fish and invertebrates. How do all these data make their way into the database?
Until 1987 data were manually recorded in the field then entered into a database at the lab. Most fish would have to be preserved in the field and brought back to the lab to be measured. In 1988 the survey began using electronic measuring boards connected to a computer running a database program; this allowed the survey to work more efficiently. The operator places a fish or crab on the board and touches a magnetic wand to the board at the end of the fish's tail/edge of shell; the length is electronically recorded. This process speeds measuring and eliminates the need for manual recording and entry of fish/crab lengths. Animals are returned to the water quickly and data are available for analysis within a couple of days of the field work.
Measuring a blue crab on an electronic measuring board
In addition to animal lengths, hydrographic and station data are also collected. These data include latitude and longitude, depth, tidal current stage, secchi depth, air temperature, wind direction, wind speed, weather conditions, sea state, water temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen.
Deploying the YSI water quality instrument
