Statement_of_Need.pdf

Statement Of Need

The USGS Alabama Coop Research Unit has a need to purchase a new upright microscope. Microscopes are routinely used for histological analyses of fish tissues, including gonads, liver, and muscle samples, which are important for assessing reproductive condition, health status, and physiological responses to environmental stressors. Accurate staging of oocyte maturation and reproductive development often requires detailed microscopic imaging to quantify cellular structures and document developmental changes. A mounted digital camera greatly improves this process by allowing researchers to capture high-quality images with enhanced optimal correction that can be used for image analysis software, archiving, and repeatable measurements.

Specifications:

The microscope should be brand name or equivalent to Nikon Eclipse Ci Upright Microscope and meet or exceed the salient characteristics:

- Upright microscope with light intensity management that automatically stores and recalls brightness settings for each objective lens with right-handed mechanical stage, adjustable eyepiece tilt (10–30°), extendable binocular head, customizable stage height, and low-force focusing knobs

- Encoded nosepiece that automatically communicates the magnification of the objection lens being used to the PC/software, ensuring proper calibration

- LED system that uses bright optics and edge-to-edge uniform illumination

- Optics with a 60mm parfocal distance and 200mm tube lens for optimum balance to numerical aperture and working distance

- 2x ultra-wide Achromat objective lens

- 4x, 10x, 40x objectives that are optimized for fluorescence microscopy (has better optical correction than standard microscope lenses)

- Large field-of-view imaging of 25mm (measured diagonally with a 1x lens)

- Color camera, 23.9 megapixel, with 6k imaging capabilities

- All-inclusive imaging software for image capture and analysis

Delivery Date: 45 days after award

Delivered to:

TBD

Auburn University 382 Mell St 319 Swingle Hall Auburn, AL 36849

The microscope and camera system are important tools for graduate student training, technical assistance, and education within the U.S. Geological Survey Cooperative Research Units Program. These systems support age and growth studies using otoliths, scales, fin rays, and other calcified structures while allowing students and researchers to magnify, measure, and annotate growth increments with greater accuracy and consistency. Captured images support quality assurance, long-term data records, and collaborative review while providing hands-on training in microscopy and image analysis. The system also enhances scientific communication and outreach by enabling rapid capture of high-resolution images for manuscripts, technical reports, presentations, grant proposals, and student training materials.