Objectives: Development of innovative and efficient protocols for observation and recording of phylogenetically informative morphological characters from recent and fossil specimens where dissection is impossible by using advanced techniques as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), micro-computed tomography (μCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Such protocols are highly relevant for the study of rare type specimens, rock and amber fossils, as well as other specimens for which destructive examination is prohibitive.
Expected Results: Much more informative phylogenetic datasets involving critical taxa but represtented by incompletely preserved or rare specimens and therefore otherwise generating massive undesirable "missing data".
Researching student: Anne-Sarah Ganske