Save

Simplification of preparation techniques for scanning electron microscopy of Cladocera: preparing filtering limbs and ephippia for efficient studies of ultrastructure

In: Crustaceana
Authors:
P. J. Juračka 1Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 7, Prague 2, CZ-128 44, Czech Republic

Search for other papers by P. J. Juračka in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
V. Sacherová 1Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 7, Prague 2, CZ-128 44, Czech Republic

Search for other papers by V. Sacherová in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
I. Dobiášovská 2Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 5, Prague 2, CZ-128 44, Czech Republic

Search for other papers by I. Dobiášovská in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
D. Bovšková 1Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 7, Prague 2, CZ-128 44, Czech Republic

Search for other papers by D. Bovšková in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Z. Novosadová 2Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 5, Prague 2, CZ-128 44, Czech Republic

Search for other papers by Z. Novosadová in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
V. Kořínek 1Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 7, Prague 2, CZ-128 44, Czech Republic

Search for other papers by V. Kořínek in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
A. Petrusek 1Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 7, Prague 2, CZ-128 44, Czech Republic

Search for other papers by A. Petrusek in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Download Citation Get Permissions

Access options

Get access to the full article by using one of the access options below.

Institutional Login

Log in with Open Athens, Shibboleth, or your institutional credentials

Login via Institution

Purchase

Buy instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):

$40.00

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is widely used in studies on crustacean systematics and functional morphology. The surface ultrastructure of cladoceran ephippia may carry valuable information for taxonomy, and its analysis may be also helpful in palaeoecological studies focusing on ephippia preserved in old sediments. SEM is also commonly used in analyses of cladoceran filtering limbs, which not only serve for filtering of food particles, but are also taxonomically important structures. In this study, we describe an efficient method for preparing both ephippia and limbs for SEM analyses. The workflow minimizes physical manipulation, which may reduce the risk of damage or loss of material, and allows a relatively large amount of material to be studied. We also evaluated the effects of two strong chemical agents used to remove unwanted biofilm from both ephippia and limb surfaces. This approach may further facilitate SEM analyses in systematic, ecological and palaeoecological surveys of Cladocera.

La microcopie électronique à balayage (MEB) est largement utilisée dans les études sur la systématique et la morphologie fonctionnelle des crustacés. L’ultrastructure de la surface des éphippies de cladocères peut apporter des informations précieuses pour la taxonomie, et son analyse peut aussi être utile lors dans les études paléoécologiques des éphippies conservées dans les sédiments anciens. La MEB est aussi couramment utilisée dans l’analyse des appendices filtreurs des cladocères, qui ne servent pas seulement à la filtration des particules alimentaires, mais sont aussi des structures taxonomiquement importantes. Dans cette étude, nous décrivons une méthode efficace de préparation à la fois des éphippies et des appendices pour les analyses en MEB. Le processus utilisé minimise la manipulation physique, ce qui peut réduire le risque de dommage ou de perte de matériel, et permet l’étude d’une relative grande quantité de matériel. Nous avons aussi évalué les effets de deux puissants agents chimiques utilisés pour retirer le biofilm indésirable à la surface à la fois des éphippies et des appendices. Cette approche pourra ultérieurement faciliter les analyses en MEB pour l’étude systématique, écologique et paléoécologique des Cladocera.

Content Metrics

All Time Past 365 days Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 538 74 7
Full Text Views 182 1 0
PDF Views & Downloads 28 2 0