A groundbreaking laboratory dedicated to the examination of animal teeth opened its doors at Lethbridge College on Wednesday, marking a pioneering venture in Canada.
Dr. Everett Hanna, an Environmental Sciences instructor at Lethbridge College, elaborated on the lab’s initial focus: cementum analysis. This technical term refers to the study of teeth to determine the age of animals. Hanna explained that, much like cement holds things in place, cementum within teeth contains annuli, which are ring-like bands and spaces, akin to growth rings in tree trunks.
He went on to emphasize the uniqueness of this process, comparing it to tree rings in the sense that it requires an intricate chemical procedure to access the annuli hidden within the tooth roots.
The lab, through its fee-for-service program, provides age estimates for various wildlife mammals. Hanna highlighted the significance of this process in hunting allocation, disease management, and understanding reproductive history. For instance, in species like black bears, annuli patterns change when females have young cubs and are lactating, allowing researchers to discern years when they have offspring and years when they do not.
The Alberta Professional Outfitters Society (APOS) played a pivotal role in establishing this lab, contributing $145,000 from their Wildlife Management Fund. This funding facilitated the acquisition of new equipment from Leica, the hiring of student lab technicians, and the appointment of a dedicated lab technician.
Corey Jarvis, president of APOS, emphasized the importance of this initiative as it provided a homegrown solution to a high-demand research field. He stressed the need for data analysis to support wildlife management decisions in Alberta and noted the time and cost savings associated with having the lab domestically available.
Dr. Hanna has ambitious goals for the lab, envisioning the analysis of 4,000 to 5,000 teeth annually. Additionally, he aims to develop processes for tracking migratory patterns, further contributing to Canadian wildlife conservation and research opportunities while training students in the process.
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