High-throughput microCT scanning of small specimens: preparation, packing, parameters and post-processing
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High-throughput microCT scanning of small specimens : preparation, packing, parameters and post-processing. / Hipsley, Christy A.; Aguilar, Rocio; Black, Jay R.; Hocknull, Scott A.
In: Scientific Reports, Vol. 10, 13863, 2020.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - High-throughput microCT scanning of small specimens
T2 - preparation, packing, parameters and post-processing
AU - Hipsley, Christy A.
AU - Aguilar, Rocio
AU - Black, Jay R.
AU - Hocknull, Scott A.
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - High-resolution X-ray microcomputed tomography, or microCT (μCT), enables the digital imaging of whole objects in three dimensions. The power of μCT to visualize internal features without disarticulation makes it particularly valuable for the study of museum collections, which house millions of physical specimens documenting the spatio-temporal patterns of life. Despite the potential for comparative analyses, most μCT studies include limited numbers of museum specimens, due to the challenges of digitizing numerous individuals within a project scope. Here we describe a method for high-throughput μCT scanning of hundreds of small (< 2 cm) specimens in a single container, followed by individual labelling and archival storage. We also explore the effects of various packing materials and multiple specimens per capsule to minimize sample movement that can degrade image quality, and hence μCT investment. We demonstrate this protocol on vertebrate fossils from Queensland Museum, Australia, as part of an effort to track community responses to climate change over evolutionary time. This system can be easily modified for other types of wet and dry material amenable to X-ray attenuation, including geological, botanical and zoological samples, providing greater access to large-scale phenotypic data and adding value to global collections.
AB - High-resolution X-ray microcomputed tomography, or microCT (μCT), enables the digital imaging of whole objects in three dimensions. The power of μCT to visualize internal features without disarticulation makes it particularly valuable for the study of museum collections, which house millions of physical specimens documenting the spatio-temporal patterns of life. Despite the potential for comparative analyses, most μCT studies include limited numbers of museum specimens, due to the challenges of digitizing numerous individuals within a project scope. Here we describe a method for high-throughput μCT scanning of hundreds of small (< 2 cm) specimens in a single container, followed by individual labelling and archival storage. We also explore the effects of various packing materials and multiple specimens per capsule to minimize sample movement that can degrade image quality, and hence μCT investment. We demonstrate this protocol on vertebrate fossils from Queensland Museum, Australia, as part of an effort to track community responses to climate change over evolutionary time. This system can be easily modified for other types of wet and dry material amenable to X-ray attenuation, including geological, botanical and zoological samples, providing greater access to large-scale phenotypic data and adding value to global collections.
U2 - 10.1038/s41598-020-70970-7
DO - 10.1038/s41598-020-70970-7
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 32807929
AN - SCOPUS:85089501661
VL - 10
JO - Scientific Reports
JF - Scientific Reports
SN - 2045-2322
M1 - 13863
ER -
ID: 255687602