Scanning electron micrographs: Influence of heavy metal (Pb, Cd) exposure on shell morphogenesis in Astrammina rara, a giant agglutinated Antarctic foraminiferan protist.

Abstract: This data set comprises scanning electron micrographs of Astrammina rara exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of lead and cadmium. Specimens were shucked (i.e., shells removed) and incubated with metal-free plastic beads for two weeks. Control (no Pb or Cd) and experimental (1 and 5 ug/ml Pb; 0.5 and 1 ug/ml Cd) specimens were prepared for SEM using fixation and dehydration in ethanol (i.e., no aldehydes) and were imaged uncoated at 3keV.