Acquistion of Digital Imaging Instrumentation for Light Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy

摘要：Didier已被授予费城自然科学学院的Dominique A.Didier博士和Jon K.Gelhaus博士，以获得用于扫描电子显微镜(SEM)的数字成像系统和用于光学显微镜的3D成像系统。这些新设备将成为科学院阿尔伯特·M·格林菲尔德数字成像中心的一部分，这是一个多用户设施，由科学院生物多样性研究小组的所有单位共享，包括图书馆和分子系统学和进化小组。这些新的收购将加强正在进行的以收集为基础的研究，并促进从我们的自然历史收集中收集和分发数据。数字成像系统和3-D成像系统将使研究从直径几微米到至少30厘米的样品和标本成为可能。这项技术对于我们四个最重要的收藏中正在进行的合作研究尤为重要：轮虫、昆虫、软体动物和硅藻。其中许多无脊椎动物分类群从未被研究过，可能是全球稀有或濒危的，也可能是环境健康的生物指标，因此对分类学家和环境生物学家都很重要。利用新系统的组合成像能力，显微标本的内部和外部形态可以在一幅图像中完美地显示出来，这将有助于对这些重要生物标本的修订和鉴定进行分类学研究。数字图像将用于出版物、野外指南、分类检索表和互联网产品的制作。此外，数字图像很容易在世界各地的同事之间共享，并将极大地促进国际合作，特别是在加强与蒙古等发展中国家同事正在进行的研究方面。自然科学研究院增强的数字成像设施将显著改善该学院目前的教育机会。特别是，由NSF本科生研究体验网站资助的本科生实习生将密切参与利用这种新的数字成像技术进行的独立研究。学院还提供多项奖学金，包括加拉格尔博士后奖学金，用于研究学院世界排名的轮虫集合，以及杰瑟普和麦克亨利奖学金，供研究生在我们的收藏中进行研究。这些享有盛誉的奖学金支持使用包括数字成像中心在内的所有学院设施。此外，通过与当地学院和大学的合作，学院的研究人员有同事以及本科生、硕士和博士生在他们的实验室工作，他们中的大多数人在他们的研究中使用数字成像技术。最重要的是，这种新的数字成像技术将使将标本图像和数据带给全球科学家、学生、业余爱好者和普通公众成为可能。

ABSTRACT: DidierA grant has been awarded to Drs. Dominique A. Didier and Jon K. Gelhaus at The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia to obtain a digital imaging system for the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a 3-D imaging system for light microscopy. This new equipment will become part the Academy's Albert M. Greenfield Digital Imaging Center, a multi-user facility that is shared by all units of the Academy's Biodiversity Research Group, including the Library and the Molecular Systematics and Evolution Group. These new acquisitions will enhance ongoing collections-based research and facilitate the collection and distribution of data from our natural history collections.Together the digital imaging system and the 3-D imaging system will enable the study of samples and specimens ranging in size from several microns in diameter to at least 30 cm in diameter. This technology is especially important for ongoing collaborative research in four of our most important collections: rotifers, insects, mollusks, and diatoms. Many of these invertebrate taxa have never been studied and may be globally rare or endangered, and may also be bio-indicators of environmental health, thus important to both taxonomists and environmental biologists. Using the combined imaging capabilities of the new systems both internal and external morphology of microscopic specimens can be visualized in perfect focus in a single image and will facilitate taxonomic research on the revision and identification of these important biological specimens. Digital images will be used in the production of publications, field guides, taxonomic keys, and Internet products. Additionally, digital images are easily shared among colleagues worldwide and will greatly facilitate international collaborations, and will be especially useful in enhancing ongoing research with colleagues in developing countries such as Mongolia.The enhanced digital imaging facilities at the Academy of Natural Sciences will significantly improve current educational opportunities at the Academy. In particular, undergraduate interns funded through an NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates Site Grant will be intimately involved in independent research that utilizes this new digital imaging technology. The Academy also offers several Fellowships including the Gallagher Postdoctoral Fellowship for research on the Academy's world-ranked collection of rotifers as well as Jessup and Mchenry Fellowships for graduate students to conduct research in our collections. These prestigious Fellowships support use of all Academy facilities, including the Digital Imaging Center. In addition, through collaborations with local colleges and Universities researchers at the Academy have colleagues as well as undergraduate, masters' and doctoral students working in their laboratories, most of whom utilize digital imaging technology in their research. Most importantly, this new digital imaging technology will make it possible to bring specimen images and data to a global audience of scientists, students, hobbyists and the general public.