High resolution X-Ray Micro-Computed Tomography (Micro-CT): a novel method for biometric quantifications in foraminifera

高分辨率X射线微计算机断层扫描（Micro-CT）是一种新的方法，用于产生非侵入性洞察不透明的对象。它提供了亚微米分辨率的三维图像，并允许详细的生物计量的生长速度和内部和外部结构。显微层析成像在工程过程和各种自然科学应用（包括生物和古生物材料的研究）中发挥着越来越重要的作用。近年来，显微镜测试成像已成为一种创新和强大的工具，以破译个体发育和生长历史的微体化石随着时间的推移，解开系统发育关系和进化过程。其他研究提供的证据表明，物种对环境强迫表现出不同的生长反应。我们已经广泛使用新的Micro-CT扫描了大量的底栖和浮游有孔虫的形态类型。我们已经成功地使用纳米焦点X射线辐射源编译了高分辨率图像，其体素分辨率（体积像素）为1µm。研究三维生长模式; 2.）在个体发育过程中量化体积增长率。这个建议是支持新的生物识别Micro-CT研究，以分析多室有孔虫的生长模式，并推断有孔虫壳的生物识别响应环境的限制。特别是，我们将分析增长模式，容积室膨胀和计算对数/线性增长或偏差的定量函数。

High resolution X-Ray micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) is a novel method for generating non-invasive insight into opaque objects. It provides three dimensional images with submicron resolution and allows detailed biometric quantifications of growth rates and of internal and external structures. Microtomography plays an increasingly important role in engineering processes and various natural science applications (including the study of biological and paleontological material). In recent years, imaging of microscopic test has emerged as an innovative and powerful tool to decipher the ontogeny and growth history of microfossils over time and to untangle phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary processes. Additional studies have provided evidence that species exhibit different growth responses to environmental forcing. We have made extensive use of the new Micro-CT to scan a large range of morphotypes of benthic and planktic foraminifera. We have successfully compiled high-resolution images using a nanofocus X-ray radiation source with a 1µm voxel resolution (volumetric pixel) to 1.) study three-dimensional patterns of growth and 2.) quantify rates of volume accretion during ontogeny. This proposal is for the support of novel biometric Micro-CT studies to analyze growth patterns in multilocular foraminifera and to infer the biometric response of foraminiferal shells to environmental constraints. In particular we will analyze modes of growth, volumetric chamber expansions and compute quantitative functions of logarithmic/linear growth or deviations thereof.