Buch, Englisch, 78 Seiten, GB, Format (B × H): 170 mm x 250 mm, Gewicht: 400 g
Buch, Englisch, 78 Seiten, GB, Format (B × H): 170 mm x 250 mm, Gewicht: 400 g
ISBN: 978-3-941300-76-7
Verlag: Kessel, Norbert
This booklet results from the experiences of teaching “Wood Anatomy of Tree Rings” courses, during which we realized that there is a deficit regarding available information on the practical aspect of wood anatomical work.We aim to present basic preparation techniques in wood anatomy, in an understandable way and supported by many photographs and illustrations. This booklet is intended for experts and beginners in wood anatomy that come from various fields of research such as dendrochronology, ecology, archeology, geography, forestry and botany.We provide instructions on how to produce permanent, high-quality micro sections, using techniques which are simple to apply. The methods proposed are suitable for analyzing living and dead wood as well as bark, from herbs, shrubs and trees, growing in wet to dry environments. Special attention is given to the use of collecting, polishing and sectioning tools for observations on sample surfaces and micro slides. Various ecologically significant and well-established staining methods are demonstrated to highlight cell contents and cell walls from very soft to very dense and even artificial material such as plywood. Furthermore, bleaching and staining processes are described to allow analysis of fibers and fungal hyphae in decomposed wood.By presenting many practical tips and tricks (e.g. using cheap disposal blades, unrolling sections, avoiding cell-wall destruction, sectioning very soft material and charcoal, and preparation errors), we intend to support scientists and reduce frustration that may occur during laboratory work.This booklet does not intend to present all existing microscopic preparation techniques, but instead intends to provide advice on the most common techniques. We encourage readers to apply the techniques presented herein, and also to further develop the techniques based on their experiences and results.Kessel Publishing Housewww.forestrybooks.comwww.forstbuch.deISBN: 378-3-941300-76-7
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Weitere Infos & Material
If we had written this booklet 20 years ago, the title would have been different:“Microscopic preparation techniques for wood analysis”. However, in the last yearsit became obvious that there is a need in dendrochronology, as well as in the scienceof plant anatomy (Schweingruber et al. 2011, 2012), to study anatomical stemstructures in more detail. Many textbooks describe preparation techniques usefulin all fields of biology and botany, e.g. Kremer (2002), Mulisch & Welsch (2010), Purviset al. (1964), Rudzin (1999); or special techniques for wood anatomy e.g. Chaffey(2002), Ives (2001), Hoadley (1990). However, not a single text concentrates specificallyon xylem and phloem of plant stems, branches and roots.Based on our experience in our laboratories (Swiss Federal Research InstituteWSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland), and during more than 20 international anatomicalcourses with participants from all over the world, we have concluded that a “cookbook” for simple microscopic plant stem analysis is useful for beginners. The maingoal of this booklet is to provide instructions for producing high quality micro sectionsusing simple techniques in an efficient way. Therefore we focus on processesthat do not demand embedding plant tissues before sectioning. The main messageof this booklet is how to use traditional and new microtomes with disposablecutter blades and simultaneous multiple staining techniques. Having worked withstudents and experienced scientists with dozens of different mother tongues andsometimes with limited knowledge of the English language, we have come to theconclusion that pictures can tell better technical stories, rather than long-writteninstructions.In the last few years we have learned that new sliding microtomes, new cuttingtechniques and better staining methods allowed also the preparation of barkand very small soft stems. Since we recognized that secondary stem thickeningoccurs in al conifers and most dicotyledonous plants and that lignification occursin most terrestrial plants we overcome the boundaries between herb and tree, andbetween woody and herbaceous plants. Therefore, we analyze the xylem, phloem,cortex and phellem of plant stems in general.
