Benthic infaunal baseline survey data (february) of the sediments around the exploration Well 14/09-A Little Blue

Collected in 0.1m2 grab sample. Sieved in field through 500m sieve. Washed samples fixed in 10% formalin and stained with Rose Bengal. Two samples with greatest volume at each station (nominally the A and B samples) were sent for further sorting and analysis. Third sample retained, but not sorted. Samples washed again in laboratory through 500?m sieve then hand sorted. Organisms identified to a range of taxonmic resolutions including Family, genus, species and morphospecies. Taxa grouped by phyla and then species within each phyla. Where identidication unsure or unknown, species designation is to a higher taxonomic level. Where genus know, but unique unidentified species designated with an alphabetical code after Genus (i.e. A, B, C etc.). Where positive identification was not possible because of damage, or because they were juveniles, these are designated by 'damaged' or 'juv.' respectively after the lowest identifiable taxonomic level. DMR Associates (Dr M. Sheader) Oceanography Department SOC, Southhampton, SO14 3ZH