DFO Quebec Region MLI museum collection

Study Extent

The lower Estuary and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence are the principal areas of interest, primarily as surveyed by scientific activities of DFO Quebec Region.

Sampling

Specimens are collected from research and monitoring surveys in the region. New and rare occurrences submitted to the institute from various sources, such as commercial fishing, are also catalogued for the collection.

Quality Control

The historical taxonomic names have been updated to currently-accepted (as of 2012) synonyms using the Taxon Match tool of the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). The coordinates from survey samples have been validated. Historical specimens with locations based on place names have been given georeferenced positions using gazetteers (Canadian Geographical Names Data Base, Toponoymie Québec, VLIMAR) and Google Earth. IdentificationRemarks: Taxon originally identified as Ciona intestinalis was modified to Ciona gelatinosa given new information on the distribution of the arctic species in 2021.

Method steps

1. Specimens entered into the collection are given a unique, sequential record number (Acquisition Number). Collecting, geography, and ecology information were recorded on catalog sheets and entered into a Microsoft Access database. The records were exported with information on taxa, capture location, date, and other available details for posting in this OBIS dataset.
2. This resource was created with assistance from OBIS Canada. DwC fields were populated after consultation between the resource creator and OBIS Canada.

Animal species (primarily fishes and invertebrates) identified to lowest level possible. A few Foraminifera are also present.

1. Porifera
   rank: phylum
2. Cnidaria
   rank: phylum
3. Ctenophora
   rank: phylum
4. Platyhelminthes
   rank: phylum
5. Nemertea
   rank: phylum
6. Cephaloryncha
   rank: phylum
7. Nematoda
   rank: phylum
8. Phoronida
   rank: phylum
9. Bryozoa
   rank: phylum
10. Brachiopoda
    rank: phylum
11. Sipuncula
    rank: phylum
12. Mollusca
    rank: phylum
13. Annelida
    rank: phylum
14. Echiura
    rank: phylum
15. Arthropoda
    rank: phylum
16. Chaetognatha
    rank: phylum
17. Hemichordata
    rank: phylum
18. Echinodermata
    rank: phylum
19. Animalia
    rank: kingdom

1. Foraminifera
   rank: phylum
2. Chromista
   rank: kingdom

1. Animalia
   rank: kingdom
2. Chordata
   rank: phylum
3. Tunicata
   rank: subphylum
4. Agnatha
   rank: superclass
5. Pisces
   rank: superclass
6. Vertebrata
   rank: subphylum

The specimens are mainly from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, but the collection also includes historical Arctic specimens, along with additional specimens from the NW Atlantic and a few from NE Pacific coasts.