Morphological studies
Morphological
studies will be undertaken using sectioned material (see Pfister
1979, Pfister 1993). These studies generally involve freezing
microtome sections appropriately stained and viewed with bright
field or Nomarski optics. Developmental studies will be based
on fresh or preserved material sectioned with a freezing microtome
or on paraffin or plastic embedded material. Photomicrographs
will be made as well as drawings to illustrate diagnostic characters.
In addition we will assemble digital images of relevant morphological
characters for comparison. These will be especially important
in facilitating accurate specimen identification (see below, "Dissemination
of Results").