Previous   |    Next

doi:10.14379/iodp.sp.359.2014

Sampling and data sharing strategy

Shipboard and shore-based researchers should refer to the IODP Sample, Data, and Obligations Policy and Implementation Guidelines (www.iodp.org/program-documents). This document outlines the policy for distributing IODP samples and data to research scientists, curators, and educators. The document also defines the obligations that sample and data recipients incur. The Sample Allocation Committee (SAC; composed of the Co-Chief Scientists, Staff Scientist, and IODP Curator on shore and a curatorial representative on board ship) will work with the entire scientific party to formulate a formal expedition-specific sampling plan for shipboard and postcruise sampling.

Every member of the science party is obligated to carry out scientific research for the expedition and publish the results. For this purpose, shipboard scientists are expected to submit research plans and sample requests 3 months before the beginning of the expedition (web.iodp.tamu.edu/sdrm). Based on sample requests (shore based and shipboard) submitted by this deadline, the SAC will prepare a tentative sampling plan that will be revised on the ship as dictated by recovery and cruise objectives. The sampling plan will be subject to modification depending on the actual material recovered and collaborations that may evolve between scientists during the expedition. Given the range of specific objectives for Expedition 359, great care will be taken to maximize shared sampling to promote integration of data sets and enhance scientific collaboration among members of the scientific party. This planning process is necessary to coordinate the research to be conducted and to ensure that the scientific objectives are achieved. Modifications to sample requests and access to samples and data during the expedition and the 1 y postexpedition moratorium period will require approval by the SAC.

The minimum permanent archive will be the standard archive half of each core. All sample frequencies and sizes must be justified on a scientific basis and will depend on core recovery, the full spectrum of other requests, and the cruise objectives. Some redundancy of measurement is unavoidable, but minimizing the duplication of measurements among the shipboard party and identified shore-based collaborators will be a factor in evaluating sample requests.

If some critical intervals are recovered, there may be considerable demand for samples from a limited amount of cored material. These intervals may require special handling, a higher sampling density, reduced sample size, or continuous core sampling by a single investigator. A sampling plan coordinated by the SAC may be required before critical intervals are sampled. Success will require collaboration, integration of complementary data sets, and consistent methods of analysis. Substantial collaboration and cooperation between members of the science party are highly encouraged.

Shipboard sampling will be restricted to acquiring ephemeral data types and to limited low-resolution sampling (e.g., for stratigraphic purposes [biostratigraphy and magnetostratigraphy], physical properties, and geochemical and microbiological analyses). Shipboard biostratigraphic and paleomagnetostratigraphic sampling will also be restricted to rapidly produce age models that are critical to the overall objectives of the expedition and to planning for higher resolution postcruise sampling. The shipboard sampling strategy for analyses conducted during the expedition must be approved by the Co-Chief Scientists, Staff Scientist, and curatorial representative on board ship.

Sampling for the majority of individual scientist’s personal research will be postponed until a shore-based sampling party implemented between 3 and 5 months after the expedition at the Kochi Core Center (KCC) at Kochi University in Kochi, Japan. The KCC repository houses cores from the Pacific Ocean (west of the western boundary of the Pacific plate), Indian Ocean (north of 60°), Kerguelen Plateau, and Bering Sea. Limited low-resolution sampling of selected sites or cored sections that may not require multihole stratigraphic correlation may be conducted during the expedition given time availability and SAC approval.

All collected data and samples will be protected by a 1 y postcruise moratorium, during which time data and samples will be available only to the Expedition 359 science party and approved shore-based participants. This moratorium will extend 1 y following the completion of the postcruise sampling party (not 1 y from the end of the time at sea). We anticipate that specific shipboard and shore-based scientific party members may require specific sampling methods. For example, Rhizon sampling may be requested for high-resolution or trace metal clean pore water sampling, and microbiological sampling often requires rapid sample processing.

Top of page   |    Previous   |    Next