Premium
The design of terrestrial and aquatic micro‐environmental chambers for use in low powered video, cine and photomicrography
Author(s) -
Lawrence Michael J.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
journal of microscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0022-2720
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2818.1981.tb01246.x
Subject(s) - microscope , large format , computer science , optics , depth of field , session (web analytics) , video recording , materials science , remote sensing , computer graphics (images) , geology , computer vision , physics , world wide web
SUMMARY The observation, recording and control of active biological specimens is time consuming and not easily achieved in low powered microscopy. To overcome this, perspex micro‐environmental chambers have been designed to enable the control of temperature, air and water flow, illumination and image format to suit individual species and specimens. When the chambers are in use, they are ‘closed’ systems and can be maintained for long periods; up to several days if required. Two separate systems have been developed (aquatic and terrestrial) and both allow the use of integrated illuminated systems. The chambers are made from perspex and the viewing area, the ‘windows’, are made from high quality optical glass. These chambers have been designed to match television format (3:4) and retain the specimen and ensure it remains in the field of view during a video, cine or photomicrographic recording session. The chambers can be used in vertical or horizontal observation systems and are attached to the microscope focusing substage. It also allows the use of incident and transmitted illumination systems including bright field, with or without polarized light observations, and dark field. The assembly of the chambers appears complex but is easily achieved.