Appendix A: Combined IMW Dataset 



Appendix A 



Combined IMW Dataset from Central Laboratories, with 

 Inventory of Samples Collected 



The combined EMW database, including all QA/QC data, consists of two reports: 



• Collection Sites and Sample Inventory 



• Analytical Results of Tissue Concentrations 



These two reports represent the complete combined dataset of analytical results from the 

 Initial Implementation Phase of International Mussel Watch. The analytical chemistry data has 

 been reviewed by the two principle analysts, Drs. J. Sericano (GERG) and J. Readman (MEL) and 

 revisions to the database have been made based on their comments. 



The Sample Inventory is organized sequentially by Sample ID Number and includes all 

 samples collected during the Initial Implementation Phase in Latin America. The Sample Inventory 

 includes sample Identification Code, country of origin, station site name, species name, number of 

 individual organisms sampled and tissue wet weight in sample jar. A unique four-digit sample 

 number was assigned sequentially to each sample at the time of collection and indicates the 

 chronological sequence in which samples were taken. In some cases, especially in Central 

 America, one country may have been sampled in fragments over multiple sampling trips. Thus the 

 sample number is not a convenient way to identify station location. The parallel four-letter 

 Identification Code is a combination of country name and sample site name (e.g., Brazil/Cabo 

 Frio=BRCF). This Code identifies sampling stations on the map (Fig. A 1). 



At each sampling station replicate samples (i.e., "A" and "B") were usually taken. In some 

 cases, more than a single replicate set was sampled (e.g., very large embayments, different 

 sediment substrates or if more than a single species was present). All samples were transported to 

 Texas and stored frozen in solvent-rinsed glass jars until analysis. Many samples remain 

 unanalyzed and are archived temporarily at Texas A&M University. 



Sample stations in the report of analytical results are indicated in Figure Al and in this 

 report they are organized geographically , beginning in eastern Mexico (MELM) and following the 

 Central America Caribbean coastline south and east to Trinidad (TRSR) where they loop back 

 north and west to include the Caribbean sampling stations, ending at Cuba (CUCC). No IMW 

 samples were taken in Puerto Rico because the US NOAA Status and Trends program includes that 

 island. After Cuba, the sample sequence returns to continental South America in northern Brazil 

 (BRBR) and continues southerly, following the Atlantic coastline southward to Tierra del Fuego 

 (ARVS). From there, sample stations are ordered from south-to-north along the South America 

 Pacific coast to western Mexico and the US border. 



