Meeting Abstract
Computed tomography scanning with x-rays is an effective method for visualizing radiodense skeletal tissues. With the addition of contrast techniques, iodine or phosphotungstic acid for example, it is also capable of revealing soft tissue anatomy. CT scanning has been expensive and the reconstructions of specimens a time consuming process that required expensive software. We report on simple techniques for scanning large numbers of specimens at the same time. The data are then digitally dissected into single specimen scans. An important question to consider when bulk scanning is resolution – it will certainly be less than can be achieved scanning a single specimen. We propose a policy of scanning fishes at a resolution that allows morphometric measurements at higher resolution than traditional 2-D techniques (i.e. calipers, ocular micrometers). The throughput that is possible with a single CT scanner and a single person doing reconstructions is demonstrated at 40 specimens per day. We expect it is possible for a single person to scan 50 specimens a day of similarly sized fishes. We are engaged in scanning a specimen of every species of fish. Each species will be scanned at a resolution sufficient for many purposes. Slice data, STL files, PLY files and JPGs of volume and surface renderings are being made available immediately through an open access model. We have scanned over 600 species. Uploading the data to the web remains a bottleneck. The processes we have developed for rapidly scanning, tracking and returning specimens are also available open access as living documents.
