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

摘要：DidierA基金授予Dominique A。Didier和Jon K. Gelhaus在费城自然科学院获得了扫描电子显微镜（SEM）的数字成像系统和光学显微镜的3D成像系统。 这一新设备将成为该学院的阿尔伯特M。格林菲尔德数字成像中心，一个多用户设施，由学院的生物多样性研究组，包括图书馆和分子系统学和进化组的所有单位共享。 这些新的收购将加强正在进行的以收藏为基础的研究，并促进我们自然历史收藏数据的收集和分发。数字成像系统和三维成像系统将使直径从几微米到直径至少30厘米的样品和标本的研究成为可能。 这项技术对于我们正在进行的四个最重要的收藏品的合作研究特别重要：轮虫，昆虫，软体动物和硅藻。这些无脊椎动物中有许多从未被研究过，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。 使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个单一的图像中完美聚焦可视化，并将促进这些重要生物标本的修订和识别的分类学研究。数字图像将用于出版物、野外指南、分类检索表和因特网产品的制作。 此外，数字图像很容易在世界各地的同事之间共享，将大大促进国际合作，并将特别有助于加强与蒙古等发展中国家的同事正在进行的研究，加强自然科学院的数字成像设施将大大改善该学院目前的教育机会。 特别是，通过NSF研究经验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的独立研究。 该学院还提供了几个奖学金，包括加拉格尔博士后奖学金的研究学院的世界排名收集的轮虫以及杰瑟普和麦克亨利奖学金的研究生进行研究，在我们的收藏。 这些著名的奖学金支持使用所有学院设施，包括数字成像中心。 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，硕士生和博士生在他们的实验室工作，其中大多数人在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全球科学家、学生、业余爱好者和公众能够看到标本图像和数据。

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.