Marine Biology (2+1)

Introduction

Staining and mounting techniques are primarily used for the microscopic examination and anatomical studies of specimens. Therefore animals such as invertebrate larvae, doliolids, salps, Oikopleura, Sagittae , etc., given their transparency, are best suited for staining and whole mounting. On the other hand, animals which possess a thick cuticle or shell, such as copepods and pteropods, are not suitable for staining and mounting as they are opaque. Staining and mounting techniques differ, however, according to the species of zooplankters and their integuments.