A 3D imaging and visualisation workflow, using confocal microscopy and advanced image processing for brachyuran crab larvae

Seyit Kamanli, Terue Kihara, Alex Ball, Paul Clark

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Confocal laser scanning microscopy is an excellent tool for non-destructive imaging of arthropods and can provide detailed information on morphology including fine surface detail. A methodology is presented here for the visualisation by confocal microscopy of arthropods, using brachyuran crab zoeal stages as examples and post-processing techniques derived from micro-CT protocols to improve the final images. This protocol is divided into description of the pre-processing steps (cleaning, staining, digesting and mounting), confocal laser scanning microscopy and data visualisation using open-source, freeware programmes ImageJ and Drishti. The advantages of using ImageJ to standardise stack data and Drishti for surface rendering are discussed. The methodology has been comprehensively tested using data acquired from all four brands of confocal microscope (Leica, Nikon, Olympus and Zeiss).
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)307-323
Number of pages17
JournalJournal of Microscopy
Volume266
Issue number3
Early online date7 Mar 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2017

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