Rotational Scanning Electron Micrographs (rSEM): Anovel and accessible tool to visualize and communicate complex morphology.

David K-B Cheung,Nesrine Akkari,Adam J Brunke,Thomas Pape,Carina Mara Souza

doi:10.3897/zookeys.328.5768

Abstract

An accessible workflow is presented to create interactive, rotational scanning electron micrographs (rSEM). These information-rich animations facilitate the study and communication of complex morphological structures exemplified here by male arthropod genitalia. Methods are outlined for the publication of rSEMs on the web or in journal articles as SWF files. Image components of rSEMs were archived in MorphBank to ensure future data access. rSEM represents a promising new addition to the toolkit of a new generation of digital taxonomy.

Highlights

In the effort to discover, describe and organize the planet’s biodiversity, taxonomists are faced with the challenge of providing clear and concise diagnostic characters in species descriptions, often involving structures with complex morphology
Multifocal, ‘stacked’ images of external structures or habitus are standard in most taxonomic descriptions and recent advances in micro-computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) promise to yield exciting new character data from both external and internal morphology (i.e., Hart et al 2003, Beutel et al 2008, Mietchen et al 2008); even from non-sclerotized specimens preserved in alcohol (Faulwetter et al 2013) or living specimens (Lowe et al 2013)
The workflow described will generate interactive, information-rich animations that facilitate both the study and communication of complex morphology in systematics (Figs 3–5). rotational scanning electron micrographs (rSEM) combine sharply detailed scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs into a single, holistic representation of a structure that may even reveal diagnostic characters visible but yet unnoticed when using a light microscope

Summary

Introduction

In the effort to discover, describe and organize the planet’s biodiversity, taxonomists are faced with the challenge of providing clear and concise diagnostic characters in species descriptions, often involving structures with complex morphology. Multifocal, ‘stacked’ images of external structures or habitus are standard in most taxonomic descriptions and recent advances in micro-computed tomography (μCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) promise to yield exciting new character data from both external and internal morphology (i.e., Hart et al 2003, Beutel et al 2008, Mietchen et al 2008); even from non-sclerotized specimens preserved in alcohol (Faulwetter et al 2013) or living specimens (Lowe et al 2013).

Results

Conclusion