Efficient separation of subfossil Chironomidae from lake sediments

Abstract

The efficiency of recovering subfossil chironomid head capsules from lake sediments was investigated using a variety of methods. Preparation of the sediment by boiling in 10% KOH and washing in a 37 µm sieve, as compared to unprepared sediment, did not affect the number of head capsules recovered per volume of sediment. Sieves having meshes greater than 100 μm lose many of the smaller head capsules.