Micro-CT protocols for scanning and 3D analysis of Hexaplextrunculus during its different life stages

Eva Chatzinikolaou; Kleoniki Keklikoglou

doi:10.3897/BDJ.9.e71542

Micro-CT protocols for scanning and 3D analysis of Hexaplextrunculus during its different life stages

Biodivers Data J. 2021 Sep 15:9:e71542. doi: 10.3897/BDJ.9.e71542. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Eva Chatzinikolaou¹, Kleoniki Keklikoglou^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture (IMBBC), Heraklion, Crete, Greece Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture (IMBBC) Heraklion, Crete Greece.
² Biology Department, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece Biology Department, University of Crete Heraklion, Crete Greece.

Abstract

Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is a high-resolution 3D-imaging technique which is now increasingly applied in biological studies focusing on taxonomy and functional morphology. The creation of virtual representations of specimens can increase availability of otherwise underexploited and inaccessible samples. The 3D model dataset can be also further processed through volume rendering and morphometric analysis. The success of micro-CT as a visualisation technique depends on several methodological manipulations, including the use of contrast enhancing staining agents, filters, scanning mediums, containers, exposure time and frame averaging. The aim of this study was to standardise a series of micro-CT scanning and 3D analysis protocols for a marine gastropod species, Hexaplextrunculus. The analytical protocols have followed all the developmental stages of this gastropod, from egg capsules and embryos to juveniles and adults.

Keywords: Hexaplex trunculus; gastropod; methodology; micro-CT; morphology; scanning; shell; statolith.

Eva Chatzinikolaou, Kleoniki Keklikoglou.

Grants and funding

This work was funded under the project ECCO (HFRI, Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation for the support of Post-doctoral Researchers, project ID 343).