title: X-ray microtomography for imaging of developing spiders inside egg cocoons.
abstract: Embryogenesis is especially sensitive to external factors. The changes in its course are often used as biomarkers of environmental impact. Since spider embryogenesis takes place inside cocoons, it is crucial to find a reliable tool to analyze this developmental phase with no intrusion into the cocoons. The aim of this study was to verify the efficacy of X-ray microtomography for non-invasive analysis of embryonic morphology and egg quantity in the cocoons of Xerolycosa nemoralis and Agelena labyrinthica from polluted and reference sites. X-ray microtomography slice images as well as 3D images and animations obtained from digital visualization of those slides were used to study the morphology of embryos and egg arrangement in the cocoons. Any disorders in embryogenesis or malformation of embryos in relation to site of origin have not been found, but inside an egg cocoon of X. nemoralis from the polluted site embryos differing form each other by one developmental stage were identified. Egg calculation revealed a K- reproductive strategy of X. nemoralis from polluted sites. Finally, future prospects and benefits, and weaknessess of this method for the study of spider cocoons have presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland. Electronic address: agnieszka.babczynska@us.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Babczyńska
authors.affiliation: X-ray Microtomography Lab, Department of Biomedical Computer Systems, University of Silesia, Będzińska 39, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland. Electronic address: marcin.binkowski@us.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Binkowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bednarek
authors.affiliation: X-ray Microtomography Lab, Department of Biomedical Computer Systems, University of Silesia, Będzińska 39, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland.
authors.forename: Sylwia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ogierman
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cibura
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Migula
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Grażyna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wilczek
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Elżbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Szulińska
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000528:radiation effects; D013112:Spiders / Q000196:embryology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D016019:Survival Analysis; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D014965:X-Rays / Q000009:adverse effects
keywords: Agelena labyrinthica; Embryos; Spiders; X-ray microtomography; Xerolycosa nemoralis