X-ray computed tomography and its potential in ecological research: A review of studies and optimization of specimen preparation.

ABSTRACT: Imaging techniques are a cornerstone of contemporary biology. Over the last decades, advances in microscale imaging techniques have allowed fascinating new insights into cell and tissue morphology and internal anatomy of organisms across kingdoms. However, most studies so far provided snapshots of given reference taxa, describing organs and tissues under "idealized" conditions. Surprisingly, there is an almost complete lack of studies investigating how an organism's internal morphology changes in response to environmental drivers. Consequently, ecology as a scientific discipline has so far almost neglected the possibilities arising from modern microscale imaging techniques. Here, we provide an overview of recent developments of X-ray computed tomography as an affordable, simple method of h

SUBMITTER: Gutierrez Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6106166 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature