How to Sample “Glacier Fleas”

Sampling is simple and easy to carry out during regular activities on the glacier; conditions may vary depending on the specific glacier. Participants will be provided with a sampling kit. If you have any questions, dedicated support will be available—including in the field—via phone contact.

You can download a PDF with detailed sampling instructions at this link.

The Sampling Kit

Provided by the project:
1 entomological aspirator,
2 × 50 ml Falcon tubes with 96% alcohol,
3 × 15 ml Falcon tubes,
5 Eppendorf tubes,
1 plastic pipette.

The sampling kit is lightweight and easy to carry in a backpack.
Collected samples can either be picked up in person by the project organizers or sent by courier to the University of Siena at the end of the sampling campaign (at the project’s expense).

     

How Samples Are Processed

Once collected, the samples must be kept away from sunlight and heat, and once at home or in the office, they should be stored in a freezer. Contact the project coordinators to arrange for the collection of the samples (at the project’s expense). The samples will then be analyzed under a microscope for identification, and two DNA fragments (cox1 and 16s) will be sequenced for genetic comparison with all other collected populations

Feedback and Results for Participants

As samples are analyzed—between summer and autumn—participants will receive information about the species collected.
Once the full analysis is complete (between autumn and winter), results will be shared and discussed with contributors.

Those interested may also take part in drafting outreach and scientific publications based on the findings.