Standard diatom cleaning and mounting protocol (Bacillariophyceae)

Knowledge graph centered on Standard diatom cleaning and mounting protocol (Bacillariophyceae) with 15 nodes and 28 connections. Top connected: Sphagnum, Washington, aquatic macrophytes, Glacier National Park, Big Therriault Lake.

Method synopsis

Standard protocol for collecting freshwater diatoms from various substrates, cleaning with acids to remove organic matter, and mounting for microscopic examination. Includes both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy preparation.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 1 paper using this protocol.

Procedure from a recent peer-reviewed implementation

Steps below were extracted from the most recent peer-reviewed implementation of this protocol in the corpus — Neidiopsis hamiltonii sp. nov., N. weilandii sp. nov., N. levanderi and N. wulffii from western North America (2014), Diatom Research. Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Collect diatom samples
   Diatoms were collected from all available near-shore substrata, including aquatic macrophytes, rocks, fine sediments and woody debris, using a tablespoon or a large-bore pipette with suction bulb
   Quantities: Samples collected from 13 different locations across western North AmericaDuration: Not specifiedConditions: Various aquatic habitats including streams, lakes and ponds
   Equipment: tablespoon, large-bore pipette with suction bulb
2. Preserve samples
   Subsamples were combined in a single container and preserved with Lugol's (IKI) solution before transport to the laboratory
   Quantities: Single container per collection siteDuration: Not specifiedConditions: Laboratory transport conditions
   Equipment: Lugol's (IKI) solution
3. Clean diatom material
   Samples were treated with sulfuric acid (H2SO4), potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to remove organic matter. After several rinses in distilled water, the cleaned diatom material was mounted permanently on slides using Hyrax mounting medium
   Quantities: Not specifiedDuration: Not specified

Typical Equipment

• tablespoon
• large-bore pipette with suction bulb
• Lugol's (IKI) solution
• sulfuric acid (H2SO4)
• potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7)
• hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)
• Hyrax mounting medium
• microscope slides
• Leica DM LB2 research microscope
• Spot Insight Model 14.0 monochrome digital camera
• Hitachi S4700 Type II cold field emission SEM
• aluminum stubs
• Pelco Model 3 Sputter Coater
• gold
• palladium
• Spot Software version 4.5

Output Measurements

• valve morphology
• valve dimensions
• striae density
• taxonomic identification

Papers Using This Protocol (1)

Species Studied With This Protocol

Places Where Used