A) Humerus (H) length measurement. B) Ulna (U) and radius (R) length measurements. C) Olecranon (OL) and ulnar shaft (US) length measurements. D) The scapula height (ScapH) and length (ScapL) measurements. E) The third metacarpal (M) and respective proximal phalanx (P) length measurements. Image courtesy of Kinney.

 

When undergraduate researcher Katie Kinney joined EEB’s abe Scholars Program, she didn’t expect her summer to involve searching for microscopic parasites—inside bats.

Working in Dr. Cody Thompson’s mammal research lab, Katie used CT scanning and segmentation to peer inside preserved bat specimens. “I basically segmented out different organs to see if I could find any parasites living within their gastrointestinal systems,” she explained. “I was looking for anything that looked like a worm—long, thin, and with a different coloration in the scans.”

After marking potential parasite locations on the digital models, Katie dissected the specimens to confirm their findings. “We did have positive results,” she said. “It was exciting—it showed how CT imaging can be a new, non-invasive way to detect parasites in animals.”

Access to the museum’s collections made this kind of work possible. “The CT scans let us visualize skeletal structures and soft tissues we can’t see with the naked eye,” she said. “It really helps us come up with new methods for research.” Katie scanned about a dozen bats representing different species and diets—from fruit-eaters to insectivores—to explore how feeding behavior might relate to parasite presence.

Building on that experience, Katie continued her research through her honors thesis, working with Dr. Thompson—this time focusing on deer mice (genus Peromyscus). Her project analyzed how forelimb morphology changes depending on environment, species group, and sex. Using CT scans and measurements from more than 100 specimens, she found that deer mice living in warmer climates tended to have longer and more robust forelimbs.

“One explanation follows Allen’s Rule—that animals in warmer regions often have longer limbs to help with heat dissipation,” she explained.

Another possible explanation is that differences in the landscape could impact Peromyscus behavior. Species found in hot, sandy environments with little vegetation often burrow as a necessity for shelter and thermoregulation compared to species found in heavily vegetated forests with an abundance of refuges. Therefore, forelimb morphology that promotes burrowing is imperative for Peromyscus species that live in warmer climates. 

Katie’s work highlights how UMMZ’s collections continue to fuel new discoveries. By combining digital imaging, morphological analysis, and observing specimens, her research bridges the gap between traditional zoology and modern technology.