Preparation of single-celled marine dinoflagellates for electron microscopy

Electron microscopy has been used successfully to study and identify single‐celled marine dinoflagellates including parasitic ones and others, such as those that cause red tide. Delicate cells can be preserved for scanning electron microscopy with a combined glutaraldehydeosmium tetroxide mixture that is adjusted for the osmolality of the medium. The protocol allows resolution of fine morphological features. Preservation for transmission electron microscopy can be accomplished with a standard glutaraldehyde fixation and osmium‐tetroxide post‐fixation in a suitable buffer, but again, the osmolality of the mixture must be adjusted. The protocol allows ultrastructural resolution of vesiculated cells and has been modified for small sample sizes. Microsc. Res. Tech. 36:337–340, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.