Abstract
Continuous improvements in the resolution of three-dimensional imaging have led to an increased application of these techniques in conventional taxonomic research in recent years. Coupled with an ever increasing research effort in cybertaxonomy, three-dimensional imaging could give a boost to the development of virtual specimen collections, allowing rapid and simultaneous access to accurate virtual representations of type material. This paper explores the potential of micro-computed tomography (X-ray micro-tomography), a non-destructive three-dimensional imaging technique based on mapping X-ray attenuation in the scanned object, for supporting research in systematics and taxonomy. The subsequent use of these data as virtual type material, so-called “cybertypes”, and the creation of virtual collections lie at the core of this potential. Sample preparation, image acquisition, data processing and presentation of results are demonstrated using polychaetes (bristle worms), a representative taxon of macro-invertebrates, as a study object. Effects of the technique on the morphological, anatomical and molecular identity of the specimens are investigated. The paper evaluates the results and discusses the potential and the limitations of the technique for creating cybertypes. It also discusses the challenges that the community might face to establish virtual collections. Potential future applications of three-dimensional information in taxonomic research are outlined, including an outlook to new ways of producing, disseminating and publishing taxonomic information.
Highlights
Morphology-based taxonomy has been at the heart of systematic research for over two centuries
This study explores the potential of micro-computed tomography to create high-throughput morphological and anatomical data to support systematic and taxonomic studies by using polychaetes as a demonstration taxon for macro-invertebrates
Afterwards, specimens were removed from the chemical and left to dry for several hours, causing them to desiccate while retaining their morphology
Summary
Morphology-based taxonomy has been at the heart of systematic research for over two centuries. The formal description and naming of species and other biological units is still central to biodiversity research (Budd and Olsson 2007, Deans et al 2011) This highly accelerated data acquisition creates an imbalance between availability of data and the human power to interpret them and to create new knowledge. Besides releasing funds for training and education, much funding has been allocated to the field of cybertaxonomy, allowing the development of internet-based tools and resources aiming to boost taxonomic research and to accelerate the process of new species descriptions and systematic analyses These developments include online resources such as name-based registers These developments include online resources such as name-based registers (e.g. Catalogue of Life – http://www.catalogueoflife.org, the Global Names Architecture – http://www. globalnames.org, ZooBank – http://www.zoobank.org, the World Register of Marine Species – http://www.marinespecies.org), biogeographic databases (e.g. the Ocean Biogeographic Information System – http://www.iobis.org, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility – http://www.gbif.org), aggregators and curators (e.g. Fishbase – http:// www.fishbase.org, Encyclopedia of Life – http://www.eol.org), virtual research environments targeted towards taxonomy (Scratchpads – http://www.scratchpads.eu), increasing availability of literature, both for legacy literature (Biodiversity Heritage Library – http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org) as well as an increase in open access literature and journals aiming at rapid publication of taxonomic treatments, including new publication models such as semantically enhanced information (Penev et al 2010)
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