RAPID PREPARATION METHOD FOR SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY OF LUGOL PRESERVED ALGAE

A method that utilizes samples preserved and stored in Lugol solution is described. The samples are postfixed in osmium tetroxide, rapidly dehydrated in absolute ethanol and dried by the critical point drying technique. Aliquots of several samples can be processed simultaneously. Surface details of algae stored in Lugol and processed by this method are comparable to those found in conventional preparative procedures. No loss of nannoplankton or other small sized fractions have been observed. 1978 Blackwell Science Ltd