High resolution non-destructive imaging techniques for internal fine structure of bryozoan skeletons: Non-destructive imaging of bryozoans

Abstract

Many aspects of skeletal morphological research in bryozoans have involved destructive methods, such as thin sectioning of Palaeozoic fossils or removal of basal walls to view internal structures in cheilostomes. Two relatively new technologies allow non-destructive visualisation of internal zooidal skeletal structures. Tomography is shown to be very effective for cheilostome zooid cavities as it allows resolution down to 1 μm, which can resolve features such as the morphological evidence of origins of frontal shields in ascophoran cheilostomes. It also generates a three-dimensional reconstruction of the whole structure, which can resolve complex internal structures like those of Siphonicytara, or how multilaminar colonies develop the communication between layers. The Synchrotron is best suited to image the internal structures of Palaeozoic bryozoans that have mineral-filled zooidal cavities, as it can better resolve differences in composition.