Guidelines for Shipping Samples

Thank you for your interest in contributing specimens to the Cassiopea Global Phylogeny Project. To ensure samples arrive safely, are usable for genomic and morphological analyses, and comply with shipping regulations, please follow the guidelines below. If you have any questions at any stage, feel free to reach out ([email protected])! Help with shipping logistics is always available.

What to Ship

We welcome contributions of whole animals or tissue subsamples from Cassiopea specimens across all life stages and geographic regions.

For each specimen, please aim to provide:

DNA tissue (for genomic sequencing)
Morphological voucher (whole animal or representative portion)
In situ photograph(s), if available
Basic metadata (see checklist below)

Partial contributions are still valuable. Please don’t hesitate to contribute even if you cannot provide everything listed.

Preservation Guidelines

DNA Tissue (Required for Genomics)

Preserve tissue in ≥95% ethanol or RNA/DNA Shield
Use a tissue piece 3-5 cm³ (oral arm or bell margin preferred)
Change ethanol after 24 hours if possible
Keep samples cool and out of direct light

Morphological Voucher (Strongly Encouraged)

Whole animal or representative portion
Preserve in 4–10% buffered formalin (preferred for morphology) or 70–95% ethanol
If using formalin, do not place DNA tissue in the same container

⚠️ Never mix DNA tissue and formalin-fixed material in the same vial

Labeling & Metadata (Very Important)

Clear labeling and complete metadata are essential for linking genomic data, morphology, and geography. Please follow the guidelines below.

Labeling (Inside Each Vial)

Each container should be clearly labeled (inside the vial if possible) with:

Collector name
Collection date
Collection locality (GPS coordinates if available)
Temporary specimen ID (your internal code is fine)

Please ensure labels are written in pencil or ethanol-resistant ink.

Metadata to Include (Email or Printed Sheet)

Please send the following information by email or include a printed sheet in the package:

Collector name and affiliation
Collection date
Collection locality (country, site name, GPS if available)
Habitat description (e.g., lagoon, mangrove, reef flat)
Depth
Preservation method used
Any field notes (e.g., abundance, color, behavior)

Packaging & Shipping

Use leak-proof screw-cap tubes (Parafilm strongly recommended)
Place each vial in a sealed plastic bag
Ship at ambient temperature (no ice or dry ice required)

For international shipments:

If you are unsure about customs forms or carrier options, please email before shipping, we’re happy to help.

📌 Where to ship samples?

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📍 Feresa Cabrera Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

  UCSC/Coastal Biology Building

  130 McAllister Way

  Santa Cruz, CA 95060

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For samples consolidation Feresa will be processing extraction and sequencing samples at the CnidoLab at the University of California, Santa Cruz then distributing morphological vouchers to designated taxonomic experts for morphological analysis