Digital image analysis

Knowledge graph centered on Digital image analysis with 71 nodes and 135 connections. Top connected: Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Two-form Bumble Bee, Bumble Bees, Yellow-fronted Bumble Bee, Buff-tailed Bumble Bee.

Method synopsis

Comprehensive measurement of forewing length, wing melanism, and setal length from pinned butterfly specimens using digital micrometry, photography, and microscopy. Wing melanism quantified using standardized grey-level analysis of photographs.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 6 papers using this protocol.

Procedure as described in the canonical source

Steps below were extracted from the paper that introduces this protocol — Historical changes in thermoregulatory traits of alpine butterflies reveal complex ecological and evolutionary responses to recent climate change (2016), Climate Change Responses. Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Specimen acquisition and preparation
   Obtained pinned specimens from museums with largest holdings of C. meadii from Colorado, supplemented by specimens from other museums and private collectors. Specimens were distributed randomly throughout collection boxes and measured randomly within each collection.
   Quantities: N=379 male specimens from 20 counties, spanning 1953-2013Duration: Not specifiedConditions: Museum storage conditions
   Equipment: forceps, modeling clay, pins
2. Forewing length measurement
   Removed labels with forceps, transcribed locality data, placed specimen head in modeling clay to expose ventral hindwing region for absorption measurement. Used digital micrometer to measure forewing from thoracic insertion to wing apex.
   Quantities: Single measurement per specimenDuration: Not specifiedConditions: Laboratory conditions
   Equipment: digital micrometer, forceps, modeling clay
3. Wing melanism photography
   Photographed specimens through 100-mm macro lens in RAW format with Canon Rebel XSi mounted on copy-stand. Each image included black and white standard. Selected triangulated region between wing insertion and wing margin, converted RAW to black and white using MatLab program.

Typical Equipment

• digital micrometer
• Canon Rebel XSi
• 100-mm macro lens
• copy-stand
• Wild M5 microscope
• ocular micrometer
• MatLab program

Output Measurements

• forewing length
• wing melanism grey-level
• setal length

Papers Using This Protocol (6)

Species Studied With This Protocol

Places Where Used