The Bottom Sampler – a new technique for sampling bed sediments in streams and lakes

摘要

New, easy to use, liquid nitrogen-cooled equipment is described for sampling the upper layer (80–160 mm) of water sediment and associated benthic organisms in streams and lakes up to 1.2 m deep. The sediment sample has an area of 0.0531 m2 and retains its natural composition and spatial structure. The two sampler components weigh 15 kg in total, which enables sampler use by hand, even in rural areas that are not readily accessible. A successful 2-year testing period in several first and second order streams demonstrated the suitability of the apparatus for sampling sediment textures ranging from fine clay to cobbles and current velocities up to 1 m s−1.