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I don't think the Vet Science department would like me very much...

20/2/2012

1 Comment

 
I'm investigating ways to image an underwater decaying carcass, so I can observe the disarticulation of skeletal elements without all that dang goopy muscle and fatty tissue getting in the way.

At first I thought I'd look at underwater x-ray (minimal disturbance to the carcass), and it turns out the only people interested in this is the navy! Not for carcasses, but for examining sonar domes on ships without having to dry-dock (Greenawald et al., 1998). So it seems unlikely that this is a feasible option.
Picture
The Navy: bringing you over-sized x-ray equipment since 1998.
I've read a paper by Richter and Wuttke (2012) that dealt with this by removing carcasses from water and using a portable x-ray to image them. If I can't get my hands on a portable x-ray, then I might have to wheel my stinky carcasses over to Vet Science... should be interesting...

References
Greenawald, E. C., Poranski Jnr, C. F., Levenberry, L. J., Bellinger Jnr., E. T., 1998. Underwater x-ray tomography of composite sonar domes via collimated backscatter imaging. Proc. SPIE 3396, 121. http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.30151

Richter, A., Wuttke, M., 2012. Analysing the taphonomy of Mesozoic lizard aggregates from Uña (eastern Spain) by X-ray controlled decay experiments. Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, published online. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12549-011-0065-1
1 Comment
Nilesh
20/2/2012 08:48:47 pm

Try using dark field imaging (2D or 3D) X-ray grating interferometry on carcasses. It could also provide the changes in the flesh, muscles and fatty tissues.

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    About the author

    Dr Caitlin Syme is a palaeontologist studying the taphonomy (preservation state) of fossil non-avian dinosaurs, crocodiles and fish from the Winton Formation, Queensland, Australia. Think forensic science or CSI for fossils, and you're on the right track!

    Posts on this blog focus mainly on vertebrate palaeontology and taphonomy, as well early career researcher (ERC) productivity tips and insights.


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