A new technique for measuring size distributions of fine ingesta/digesta particles

In: Wildlife research, Band 27, Heft 2, S. 191

Abstract

Techniques were developed to enable
convenient, high-power image analysis of (ingested) food material. A constant
volume of diluted gut sample was delivered to a large microscope slide before
being slowly evaporated in still air to leave all particles statically on the
same focal plane. Evaporation also allowed a meniscus to develop around each
particle, forcing them to separate and thereby preventing overlap and
aggregation of particles. Sub-samples were measured under four high-power
magnifications (2050, 1290, 510 and 190) to permit precise estimates of size
distributions of the very small particles. The techniques developed avoid the
need for large ingesta/digesta samples, sieving, and filtering, all of
which have limited previous studies.