Estimation of Surface Area and Volume of a Nematode from Morphometric Data.
Nematode volume and surface area are usually based on the inappropriate assumption that the animal is cylindrical. While nematodes are approximately circular in cross section, the radius varies longitudinally. We use standard morphometric data to obtain improved estimates of volume and surface area based on (i) a geometrical approach and (ii) a Bézier representation of the nematode. These new estimators require only the morphometric data available from Cobb's ratios, but if fewer coordinates are available the geometric approach reduces to the standard estimates. Consequently, these new estimators are better than the standard alternatives.
Deviot Institute, Deviot, TAS 7275, Australia; School of Human Life Sciences, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1320, Launceston, TAS 7250, Australia.
Simon
S
Brown
Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Kevin C
KC
Pedley
Deviot Institute, Deviot, TAS 7275, Australia; Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand; Faculty of Medicine and Bioscience, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4870, Australia.
David C
DC
Simcock