Sun Xuerong, Brewin Robert J W, Hacker Christian, Viljoen Johannes J, Li Mengyu
Centre for Geography and Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Science, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Bioimaging Centre, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.
Front Microbiol. 2024 Jul 15;15:1429179. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1429179. eCollection 2024.
The community structure and ecological function of marine ecosystems are critically dependent on phytoplankton. However, our understanding of phytoplankton is limited due to the lack of detailed information on their morphology. To address this gap, we developed a framework that combines scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with photogrammetry to create realistic 3D (three-dimensional) models of phytoplankton. The workflow of this framework is demonstrated using two marine algal species, one dinoflagellate and one diatom sp. The resulting 3D models are made openly available and allow users to interact with phytoplankton and their complex structures virtually (digitally) and tangibly (3D printing). They also allow for surface area and biovolume calculations of phytoplankton, as well as the exploration of their light scattering properties, which are both important for ecosystem modeling. Additionally, by presenting these models to the public, it bridges the gap between scientific inquiry and education, promoting broader awareness on the importance of phytoplankton.
海洋生态系统的群落结构和生态功能严重依赖浮游植物。然而，由于缺乏关于浮游植物形态的详细信息，我们对它们的了解有限。为了填补这一空白，我们开发了一个框架，将扫描电子显微镜（SEM）与摄影测量相结合，以创建浮游植物逼真的三维（3D）模型。使用两种海洋藻类物种（一种甲藻和一种硅藻）演示了该框架的工作流程。生成的3D模型可公开获取，允许用户以虚拟（数字）和实体（3D打印）方式与浮游植物及其复杂结构进行交互。它们还允许计算浮游植物的表面积和生物体积，并探索其光散射特性，这两者对生态系统建模都很重要。此外，通过向公众展示这些模型，它弥合了科学探究与教育之间的差距，提高了人们对浮游植物重要性的更广泛认识。
