Biologists use X-ray machines to
study endangered Klamath fish
By Ron Brown
KDRV - Medford, Oregon
December 8, 2008
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. -- Fish biologists
are using mammography equipment to study
endangered sucker fish.
Researchers say there are three species
of sucker fish in the Klamath Basin: The
Lost River, the Shortnose, and the
Klamath large-scale. The Lost River and
Shortnose are on the endangered species
list.
Oregon Institute of Technology students
in the radiology program are using
digital X-ray machines, normally for
breast exams, to X-ray and identify the
sucker fish.
"In this case, the detail that we see
with soft tissue in the breast actually
enables us to image the vertebrae in the
little sucker fish. And, in that case,
we're actually counting the number of
vertebrae to determine what species of
sucker fish they are," says Debbie
Caldwell with the OIT Medical Imaging
Department.
By enlarging the X-rays and confirming
with other markers, such as head shape
and lip size, biologists can better
estimate the fish populations. The fish
range in size from 3/4 inch to 4.5
inches long.
This is the second year that the USFW
technicians have brought their fish
samples to the OIT radiology lab. By
working here, they avoid a trip to
Oregon State University.
There is a video of
the news broadcast at the link below.
~ KBB
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