Sampling

Samples were collected in October 2016 by dredging at various localities close to South Island, New Zealand, in the vicinity of Stewart Island. Samples were either fixed for sectioning techniques in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in 0. 1 M sodium-cacodylate buffer (ph 7.4) for several days (~ 5) at 4 °C, or for fluorescence staining in 4% paraformaldehyde in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (PB; ph 7.4) for one hour. Afterwards, samples were rinsed several times in PB and further processed or stored until further preparation in PB with ~ 0.1% NaN₃ added. Samples for microCT were fixed and stored in 70% ethanol.