-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- Von: Norbert Kessel [mailto:webmaster@forstbuch.de] Betreff: Microscopic Preparation Techniques for Plant Stem Analysis (Gärtner, Schweingruber) Dear Madam or Sir, we want to inform you, that the title Microscopic Preparation Techniques for Plant Stem Analysis from Holger Gärtner and Fritz H. Schweingruber has appeared. *About the book:* This booklet results from the experiences of teaching “Wood Anatomy of Tree Rings” courses, during which we realized that there is a deficit regarding available information on the practical aspect of wood anatomical work. We aim to present basic preparation techniques in wood anatomy, in an understandable way and supported by many photographs and illustrations. This booklet is intended for experts and beginners in wood anatomy that come from various fields of research such as dendrochronology, ecology, archeology, geography, forestry and botany. We provide instructions on how to produce permanent, high-quality micro sections, using techniques which are simple to apply. The methods proposed are suitable for analyzing living and dead wood as well as bark, from herbs, shrubs and trees, growing in wet to dry environments. Special attention is given to the use of collecting, polishing and sectioning tools for observations on sample surfaces and micro slides. Various ecologically significant and well-established staining methods are demonstrated to highlight cell contents and cell walls from very soft to very dense and even artificial material such as plywood. Furthermore, bleaching and staining processes are described to allow analysis of fibers and fungal hyphae in decomposed wood. By presenting many practical tips and tricks (e.g. using cheap disposal blades, unrolling sections, avoiding cell-wall destruction, sectioning very soft material and charcoal, and preparation errors), we intend to support scientists and reduce frustration that may occur during laboratory work. This booklet does not intend to present all existing microscopic preparation techniques, but instead intends to provide advice on the most common techniques. We encourage readers to apply the techniques presented herein, and also to further develop the techniques based on their experiences and results. *About the authors**:* Dr. Holger Gärtner (born 1965) studied Geography and Geology at the University of Heidelberg. At the end of the year 2000 he established the Laboratory of Dendrogeomorphology at the Department of Geosciences, Geography, University of Fribourg (Switzerland). In 2001 he finished his PhD on variations in annual growth rings of roots caused by exposure due to various geomorphic processes. Since 2002 he is working as a research scientist responsible for the laboratory of wood anatomy at the Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf (Switzerland). Prof. Dr. Fritz Hans Schweingruber (born 1936) studied Botany and Archeology in Bern and Zürich (Switzerland) and Tucson (USA). Leader of the working Group Dendrochronology at the Swiss Federal Institute of Forest, Snow and landscape Research WSL and Professor at the University of Basel. Development of the Northern Hemnispheric Dendroclimatological Network together with K. Briffa (Norwich), Stepan Shiyatov (Ekaterinburg) and Eugene Vaganov (Krasnoyarsk). Author of several books about dendroecology, wood anatomy of dwarf shrubs and herbs in cooperation with Annett Börner and Ernst-Detlef Schulze (Jena, Germany). Leader of numerous dendroecological field weeks. Emeritus since 2001. Since 2001, the authors are teaching an international course on wood anatomy and tree-ring ecology. The techniques presented in the book are mostly based on the experiences made during these annual courses. *Bibliographic details**: * ISBN: 978-3-941300-76-7 Umfang: 334 Seiten Format: 22,5x17 cm Preis: 22 Euro *Related titles in our publishing house:* Schweingruber: Anatomy of European Woods Schweingruber: Der Jahrring Akkemik, Yaman: Wood Anatomy of Eastern Mediterranean Species Grosser: Die Hölzer Mitteleuropas Reading excerpts: www.forstbuch.de www.forestrybooks.com You can order all titles in our publishing house, if you have any questions, you can contact us anytime (english/frensh/italian/german). Regards Dr. Norbert Kessel www.forstbuch.de www.verlagkessel.de www.forestrybooks.com // more than 150 scientific titles