Autofluorescence imaging, an excellent tool for comparative morphology

Abstract

Summary Here we present a set of methods for documenting (exo‐)morphology by applying autofluorescence imaging. For arthropods, but also for other taxa, autofluorescence imaging combined with composite imaging is a fast documentation method with high‐resolution capacities. Compared to conventional micro‐ and macrophotography, the illumination is much more homogenous, and structures are often better contrasted. Applying different wavelengths to the same object can additionally be used to enhance distinct structures. Autofluorescence imaging can be applied to dried and embedded specimens, but also directly on specimens within their storage liquid. This has an enormous potential for the documentation of rare specimens and especially type specimens without the need of preparation. Also for various fossils, autofluorescence can be used to enhance the contrast between the fossil and the matrix significantly, making even smallest details visible. ‘Life‐colour’ fluorescence especially is identified as a technique with great potential. It provides additional information for which otherwise more complex methods would have to be applied. The complete range of differences and variations between fluorescence macrophotography and different types of fluorescence microscopy techniques are here explored and evaluated in detail. Also future improvements are suggested. In summary, autofluorescence imaging is a powerful, easy and fast‐to‐apply tool for morphological studies.

Sine Systemate Chaos? A Versatile Tool for Earthworm Taxonomy: Non-Destructive Imaging of Freshly Fixed and Museum Specimens Using Micro-Computed Tomography

“…The list of methodologies comprises optical projection tomography [18], magnetic resonance imaging [19], synchrotron-radiation micro-computed tomography [20], [21], autofluorescence imaging [22], and micro-computed tomography [23]. Recent reviews provide a comprehensive overview of non-invasive imaging techniques and their application to terrestrial and marine organisms [24], [25].…”

ChtVis-Tomato, a genetic reporter for in vivo visualization of chitin deposition in Drosophila

“…A number of studies have used cuticle autofluorescence to analyze cuticle structure (Klaus et al, 2003;Zill et al, 2000;Haug et al, 2011). To determine if autofluorescence was impacting our studies we compared the fluorescence of a variety of ChtVisTomato-expressing cells and tissues to wild type.…”

The evolution of a key character, or how to evolve a slipper lobster

“…Specimens from Paris have been documented using the macrofluorescence settings described by Haug et al (2011a) and Haug and Haug (2011). In most cases grey scale images of fluorescence images were produced by deleting blue and green channel, desaturating the red channel and optimizing the histogram.…”

“…Only the fluorescence images reveal the differences of the articulated situation of the distal articles and the conjoined condition of the proximal ones. Hence, fluorescence imaging again proves to be valuable in revealing important details (for further discussions, see for example Haug et al, 2009bHaug et al, , 2011aKerp and Bomfleur, 2011, and references therein).…”