Galloway, Marvin L.

Kilambi, Raj V.

English

ScholarWorks@UARK

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of ScienceVolume 40 Article 301986Usefulness of Microfiche Reader/Printer forStudying Fish SpeciesRaj V. KilambiUniversity of Arkansas, FayettevilleMarvin L. GallowayUniversity of Arkansas, FayettevilleFollow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaasPart of the Aquaculture and Fisheries CommonsThis article is available for use under the Creative Commons license: Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0). Users are able toread, download, copy, print, distribute, search, link to the full texts of these articles, or use them for any other lawful purpose, without asking priorpermission from the publisher or the author.This General Note is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UARK. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the ArkansasAcademy of Science by an authorized editor of ScholarWorks@UARK. For more information, please contact scholar@uark.edu, ccmiddle@uark.edu.Recommended CitationKilambi, Raj V. and Galloway, Marvin L. (1986) "Usefulness of Microfiche Reader/Printer for Studying Fish Species," Journal of theArkansas Academy of Science: Vol. 40 , Article 30.Available at: http://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol40/iss1/30Proceedings Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol. XXXX,1986 89General NotesUSEFULNESS OF MICROFICHE READER/PRINTER FOR STUDYING FISH SCALESAge assessment of fish is important in fisheries management because age data are used inestimations of growth, mortality and survival rates,and population structures. A variety ofprojectors have been used to study fish scales (Dauble and Gray, 1977; Phillips, 1974; Phillips and Webster,1960; Wright and Kolb, 1970). When determining the age of fish by the scale method, the accuracy increases when there is agreement betweentwo or more readers. Itis, thus, desirable for the readers to analyse the same scale, and photographs of fish scales can make this possible.A desk-top microfiche reader/printer (Minolta Reader/Printer RP 405) was used in analysing snakehead (Ophicephalus striatus) and largemouthbass (Micropterus salmoides) scales. For comparison, scale impressions on plastic slides and dry mounted or unmounted scales were placed betweenthe glass plates of the microfiche film carrier. These glass plates flatten even a badly warped plastic slide or a fish scale, making itpossible toobtain a focused image ofthe entire scale. The reader/printer has a wide range of interchangeable lenses providing a spectrum of magnificationsuseful for small to large fish scales.The scale image can be projected, studied and measured from a vertical screen (30.5 x 30.5 cm), the brightness and sharpness being adjustable.Photographing the scales is a simple and fast procedure once a well focused scale image is projected, the polarity can be set at positive or negative,the exposure adjusted and the photocopy is made. The photocopy is returned within seconds and the brightness or exposure time can be adjustedand another copy made ifthe quality of the first copy is unsatisfactory. The cost ofeach photograph is minimal (ten cents per copy at the Universityof Arkansas).Good quality photocopies were made for both snakehead, a tropical fish from Sri Lanka, and the largemouth bass from Crystal Lake, Arkan-sas (Figs. 1 and 2). The process ofmaking plastic scale impressions is tedious and time consuming. Different size scales require different temperatures,pressing times or pressures. This makes itdifficult to get a good impression and scales can be ruined in the process. Cleaned, dry mounted andunmounted scales can be used with the microfiche reader/printer and photocopies obtained as well (Figs. IB and 2B).The scales from older largemouth bass can be thicker inareas towards the foci. This makes it difficult to get even illumination across thedry mounted scale, though focusing is not a problem. Itcan be circumvented by taking two or more photocopies at different illumination settingsand all the annuli can be identified. This procedure is certainly the least time consuming, however, good quality plastic impression slides ofscalesfrom an older fish are preferable so that all the annuli can be seen on one photocopy.Many academic institutions and public libraries have microfiche reader/printers available. This instrument has many advantages over theconventional scale projectors. Plastic impression slides as wellas dry mounted or unmounted scales can be viewed on the screen and photographed.The photographs and the microfiche reader both make itpossible to compare a number ofdifferent scales forgeneral patterns ofannuli formation.In situations where multi-reader scale evaluation is warranted, specific photocopies could be used to insure that all the readers were evaluatingthe same scales.We express our sincere appreciation to Jaya L.Kilambi for drawing our attention to the microfiche reader/prinder and to Mr. Stephen J.Chism of the Audio-Visual Department of Mullins Library, University of Arkansas, for making the machine available to us when needed.A. From plastic scale impression of a three-year-old (T. Lmm) fish.B. From dry mounted scale of a four-year-old (T. L. 310 mm) fish.256Figure 1. Photocopies of scales of snakehead from Sri Lanka.89Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol. 40 [1986], Art. 30Published by Arkansas Academy of Science, 198690Proceedings Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol.XXXX,1986Arkansas Academy of ScienceFigure 2. Photocopies from plastic scale impression (A)and dry unmounted scale (B)of a six-year-old (T.L.393 mm) largemouth bass from CrystalLake, Arkansas.LITERATURE CITEDPHILLIPS, E. S., and D. A. WEBSTER. 1960. Improvements inmicroprojector for fish scales. Prog. Fish-Cult. 22:24-29.DAUBLE, D. D., and R. H. GRAY. 1977. Microfiche reader forprojecting fish scale images. Prog. Fish-Cult. 39:75.PHILLIPS, E. S. 1974. A portable and relatively inexpensive scaleprojector. Prog. Fish-Cult. 36:239-242.WRIGHT, S., and R. KOLB. 1970. Amicrofilm reader for fish scaleanalysis. Prog. Fish-Cult. 32:198.RAJ V. KILAMBIand MARVINL. GALLOWAY, Department of Zoology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701.A FOREST DATA BASE FOR ARKANSASThe forest-derived resources of Arkansas form the largest single group of natural resources in the State. The timber, water, and wildlife othe forest form much of the basis for our wealth as a state. Our forests, directly or indirectly, provide Arkansas with recreational opportunitiesjobs and many ofthe products that we need for shelter. The watersheds ofour forests provide Arkansas withhigh quality water to maintain lifetoirrigate our crops, forrecreation and provide avenues for transportation. The economic importance ofthe forest sector has long been recognizedEstimates place the combined influence of direct and indirect employment, services and commodities between one-quarter and one-third of thestate's gross product on a yearly basis (Troutman, et al., 1981, Forests and the Arkansas Economy, Industrial Research and Extension Center,University of Arkansas).Perhaps harder to measure, but also of significant importance, is the great diversity of ecological communities within the state. Many ofthese communities are populated with flora and fauna that exist nowhere else. The total quality of our lives are directly or indirectly influencedby these communities and the complex interrelationships that are characterized by them.Because the forest comprises a majority of Arkansas' total land base (52%) (Quick and Hedlund, 1979, Forest Statistics for Arkansas Coun-ties, Southern Forest Experiment Station, New Orleans, La.) and because itis a complex and dynamic biological community of flora and faunamuch of the basic scientific and ecological research that is carried out in the state is forest based. Much of the pure forest research that is conductecdeals not just withindividual tree biology, but with large scale mensurational and ecological information that includes stand and total forest descriptionsAdditionally, much of the economic research in the state takes into account the contribution of the forest sector to the state's economy.One problem that has existed for some time in Arkansas, especially for forest researchers, is the lack of available information on the totalforest system of Arkansas. Often information must be garnered piecemeal from many sources with the inherent problems of data inconsistencybeing rife. Requests for data often must go unanswered, or information, clearly out of date, is supplied with apology.Inorder to provide a consistent base offorest resource information toresearchers and planners in the state, planning was initiated in January1985 for a computerized forest data base. The original data base, as conceived, would have provided only information on the timber resourcesofArkansas, the influence of the forest industry sector on the state's economy and generally be a storehouse of timber-related statistics. The response90Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol. 40 [1986], Art. 30http://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol40/iss1/30

Usefulness of Microfiche Reader/Printer for Studying Fish Species

UARK (University of Arkansas )

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science Volume 40 Article 30 1986 Usefulness of Microfiche Reader/Printer for Studying Fish Species Raj V. Kilambi University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Marvin L. Galloway University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas  Part of the Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons Recommended Citation Kilambi, Raj V. and Galloway, Marvin L. (1986) "Usefulness of Microfiche Reader/Printer for Studying Fish Species," Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science: Vol. 40 , Article 30. Available at: https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol40/iss1/30 This article is available for use under the Creative Commons license: Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0). Users are able to read, download, copy, print, distribute, search, link to the full texts of these articles, or use them for any other lawful purpose, without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author. This General Note is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UARK. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science by an authorized editor of ScholarWorks@UARK. For more information, please contact scholar@uark.edu. Proceedings Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol. XXXX,1986 89General NotesUSEFULNESS OF MICROFICHE READER/PRINTER FOR STUDYING FISH SCALESAge assessment of fish is important in fisheries management because age data are used inestimations of growth, mortality and survival rates,and population structures. A variety ofprojectors have been used to study fish scales (Dauble and Gray, 1977; Phillips, 1974; Phillips and Webster,1960; Wright and Kolb, 1970). When determining the age of fish by the scale method, the accuracy increases when there is agreement betweentwo or more readers. Itis, thus, desirable for the readers to analyse the same scale, and photographs of fish scales can make this possible.A desk-top microfiche reader/printer (Minolta Reader/Printer RP 405) was used in analysing snakehead (Ophicephalus striatus) and largemouthbass (Micropterus salmoides) scales. For comparison, scale impressions on plastic slides and dry mounted or unmounted scales were placed betweenthe glass plates of the microfiche film carrier. These glass plates flatten even a badly warped plastic slide or a fish scale, making itpossible toobtain a focused image ofthe entire scale. The reader/printer has a wide range of interchangeable lenses providing a spectrum of magnificationsuseful for small to large fish scales.The scale image can be projected, studied and measured from a vertical screen (30.5 x 30.5 cm), the brightness and sharpness being adjustable.Photographing the scales is a simple and fast procedure once a well focused scale image is projected, the polarity can be set at positive or negative,the exposure adjusted and the photocopy is made. The photocopy is returned within seconds and the brightness or exposure time can be adjustedand another copy made ifthe quality of the first copy is unsatisfactory. The cost ofeach photograph is minimal (ten cents per copy at the Universityof Arkansas).Good quality photocopies were made for both snakehead, a tropical fish from Sri Lanka, and the largemouth bass from Crystal Lake, Arkan-sas (Figs. 1 and 2). The process ofmaking plastic scale impressions is tedious and time consuming. Different size scales require different temperatures,pressing times or pressures. This makes itdifficult to get a good impression and scales can be ruined in the process. Cleaned, dry mounted andunmounted scales can be used with the microfiche reader/printer and photocopies obtained as well (Figs. IB and 2B).The scales from older largemouth bass can be thicker inareas towards the foci. This makes it difficult to get even illumination across thedry mounted scale, though focusing is not a problem. Itcan be circumvented by taking two or more photocopies at different illumination settingsand all the annuli can be identified. This procedure is certainly the least time consuming, however, good quality plastic impression slides ofscalesfrom an older fish are preferable so that all the annuli can be seen on one photocopy.Many academic institutions and public libraries have microfiche reader/printers available. This instrument has many advantages over theconventional scale projectors. Plastic impression slides as wellas dry mounted or unmounted scales can be viewed on the screen and photographed.The photographs and the microfiche reader both make itpossible to compare a number ofdifferent scales forgeneral patterns ofannuli formation.In situations where multi-reader scale evaluation is warranted, specific photocopies could be used to insure that all the readers were evaluatingthe same scales.We express our sincere appreciation to Jaya L.Kilambi for drawing our attention to the microfiche reader/prinder and to Mr. Stephen J.Chism of the Audio-Visual Department of Mullins Library, University of Arkansas, for making the machine available to us when needed.A. From plastic scale impression of a three-year-old (T. Lmm) fish.B. From dry mounted scale of a four-year-old (T. L. 310 mm) fish.256Figure 1. Photocopies of scales of snakehead from Sri Lanka.89Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol. 40 [1986], Art. 30Published by Arkansas Academy of Science, 198690Proceedings Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol.XXXX,1986Arkansas Academy of ScienceFigure 2. Photocopies from plastic scale impression (A)and dry unmounted scale (B)of a six-year-old (T.L.393 mm) largemouth bass from CrystalLake, Arkansas.LITERATURE CITEDPHILLIPS, E. S., and D. A. WEBSTER. 1960. Improvements inmicroprojector for fish scales. Prog. Fish-Cult. 22:24-29.DAUBLE, D. D., and R. H. GRAY. 1977. Microfiche reader forprojecting fish scale images. Prog. Fish-Cult. 39:75.PHILLIPS, E. S. 1974. A portable and relatively inexpensive scaleprojector. Prog. Fish-Cult. 36:239-242.WRIGHT, S., and R. KOLB. 1970. Amicrofilm reader for fish scaleanalysis. Prog. Fish-Cult. 32:198.RAJ V. KILAMBIand MARVINL. GALLOWAY, Department of Zoology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701.A FOREST DATA BASE FOR ARKANSASThe forest-derived resources of Arkansas form the largest single group of natural resources in the State. The timber, water, and wildlife othe forest form much of the basis for our wealth as a state. Our forests, directly or indirectly, provide Arkansas with recreational opportunitiesjobs and many ofthe products that we need for shelter. The watersheds ofour forests provide Arkansas withhigh quality water to maintain lifetoirrigate our crops, forrecreation and provide avenues for transportation. The economic importance ofthe forest sector has long been recognizedEstimates place the combined influence of direct and indirect employment, services and commodities between one-quarter and one-third of thestate's gross product on a yearly basis (Troutman, et al., 1981, Forests and the Arkansas Economy, Industrial Research and Extension Center,University of Arkansas).Perhaps harder to measure, but also of significant importance, is the great diversity of ecological communities within the state. Many ofthese communities are populated with flora and fauna that exist nowhere else. The total quality of our lives are directly or indirectly influencedby these communities and the complex interrelationships that are characterized by them.Because the forest comprises a majority of Arkansas' total land base (52%) (Quick and Hedlund, 1979, Forest Statistics for Arkansas Coun-ties, Southern Forest Experiment Station, New Orleans, La.) and because itis a complex and dynamic biological community of flora and faunamuch of the basic scientific and ecological research that is carried out in the state is forest based. Much of the pure forest research that is conductecdeals not just withindividual tree biology, but with large scale mensurational and ecological information that includes stand and total forest descriptionsAdditionally, much of the economic research in the state takes into account the contribution of the forest sector to the state's economy.One problem that has existed for some time in Arkansas, especially for forest researchers, is the lack of available information on the totalforest system of Arkansas. Often information must be garnered piecemeal from many sources with the inherent problems of data inconsistencybeing rife. Requests for data often must go unanswered, or information, clearly out of date, is supplied with apology.Inorder to provide a consistent base offorest resource information toresearchers and planners in the state, planning was initiated in January1985 for a computerized forest data base. The original data base, as conceived, would have provided only information on the timber resourcesofArkansas, the influence of the forest industry sector on the state's economy and generally be a storehouse of timber-related statistics. The response90Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol. 40 [1986], Art. 30https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol40/iss1/30

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Usefulness of Microfiche Reader/Printer for Studying Fish Species

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