Abstract High-resolution 3D imaging of species with exoskeletons such as shell-bearing mollusks typically involves destructive steps.Nondestructive alternatives are desirable since samples can be rare and valuable, and destructive steps are time-consuming and may distort the tissue.Here, we show for the first time that propagation-based phase-contrast X-ray imaging can significantly increase contrast in mollusks with intact shells.By weathertech anchorage using the recently upgraded monochromator at the SPring-8 BL20B2 synchrotron beamline, we imaged six species of mollusks, showing that X-ray phase contrast enhances soft-tissue contrast.
Features that are almost invisible in conventional attenuation-based micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) are clearly reproduced with phase-contrast imaging under the same scan conditions.Furthermore, this method can reveal features 2004 honda civic exhaust system such as growth rings in the shell and differentiate between calcite and aragonite crystal forms.Phase-contrast imaging can thus serve as a compelling alternative when destructive methods are not an option.