Morphometric Analysis of Antarctic Foliose Lichens Using 3-D Digital Microscopy
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| Year of publication | 2018 |
| Type | Article in Proceedings |
| Conference | Abstract Proceedings Open Science Conference 19 – 23 June 2018 Davos, Switzerland |
| Citation | |
| Web | Conference Abstract book |
| Keywords | morphology; thallus; Placopsis contortuplicata; Dermatocarpon polyphillizum; Rhizoplaca melaophthalma |
| Description | Recently, digital microscopy is an emerging technique that combines the tools of classic light microscopy with a computerized imaging system. Here we present application of the method in morphometric analysis of Antarctic lichen thalli. The main goal of the study was to evaluate changes in 3-D structute of thalli as dependent on hydration status, and interspecific differences as well. Another goal was to provide quantitative biometrical data on size and shape of morhological structures such as fruiting bodies. Lichen thalli collected from several sites on deglaciated northern part of James Ross Island were analysed using a digital VHX-900F microscope (Keyence, Japan) with a maximum resolution of 19.5 megapixels. The microscope with built-in LEDs allowed accurate measurements of lichen surface structures viewed in real time depth composition at the magnificion ranging from 20 to 200. Data forming a 3-D view of the upper cortex were used to analyze the size of lobes, outgrowths, and fruiting bodies, respectively. Using a VHX software, we applied processing tools: 1) height profile along a selected line placed across a thallus, 2) DFP method (Depth From Defocus) which compiles different focal planes. We studied Placopsis contortuplicata, Dermatocarpon polyphillizum, Rhizoplaca melaophthalma and other species. Gained resuts on a 3-D structure are discussed: interspecific, hydration-, and developmental stage-dependent differences. |
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