A CT-scan of sea snake specimens

Variations of radiodensity in sea snakes revealed by Computed Tomography

Navn
Lea Hamborg Petersen
Uddannelsesgrad
Kandidat
Fagfelt
Konservering
Institut
Konservering
Program
Kandidatuddannelsen i konservering
År
2026

A comparative study across historical and recent specimens

 

Many aspects of sea snake biology remain poorly understood, particularly their diving behaviour and mechanisms of buoyancy regulation. Radiodensity is hypothesised to vary among species according to their lifestyle and may be linked to buoyancy regulation. Demineralisation has previously been observed in preserved elapid specimens and may occur gradually during long-term storage in fluids. This project examined 88 elapid specimens from the Natural History Museum of Denmark to determine whether differences in radiodensity are associated with lifestyle or storage duration.

The specimens were analysed using CT-scanning in collaboration with the Department of Forensic Medicine at Aarhus University. The resulting datasets were subsequently analysed statistically and visualised using ImageJ and 3D modelling.

Several patterns were identified in the dataset, relating to habitat, allometric scaling, and sample size. Preservation was found to have little or no effect on specimen radiodensity. The thesis was written in English and formatted as a manuscript for scientific publication. A background section precedes the manuscript, while an epilogue follows it, reflecting on the study and its broader implications.

Feel free to contact me if you are interested in the appendices containing statistics!

 

Collaboratory organisations
Department of Forensic Medicine, Aarhus University (AU), Aarhus, Denmark
Natural History Museum of Denmark (NHMD), Copenhagen, Denmark

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Scanning session at the Forensic Department at Aarhus University.
A selection of CT-scanned elapid snake specimens visualised using the software ImageJ.
Me at the CT-scan session photographing the specimens placement on the patient table
3D-model of four outliers from the dataset containing their last meals.
Snake specimens (of the species Hydrophis brookii) from the Herpetology collection at NHMD, selected for CT-scan.
Scanning session at the Forensic Department at Aarhus University.
A selection of CT-scanned elapid snake specimens visualised using the software ImageJ.
Lea at the CT-scan session photographing the specimens placement on the patient table.
3D-model of four outliers from the dataset containing their last meals.
Snake specimens (of the species Hydrophis brookii) from the Herpetology collection at NHMD, selected for CT-scan.
CV
Konkurrencer, publikationer og priser
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Analysis of ‘Byne’s Disease’ in the Bivalvia Collection of the Natural History Museum of Denmark

Scientific publication of Bachelor's thesis, in the journal Studies in Conservation. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00393630.2025.2589504
Uddannelse og relevante kurser
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Bachelor's degree in Natural History Conservation

Thesis: “Analysis of ‘Byne’s Disease’ in the Bivalvia Collection of the Natural History Museum of Denmark”
Focus: A case study of the Bivalvia collection at the Natural History Museum of Denmark (NHMD), examining the presence of ‘Byne’s disease’ in bivalves and evaluating the collection factors that accelerate shell degradation, later published as sole author in the peer-reviewed journal Studies in Conservation.

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Master's degree in Conservation

Thesis: “Variations of radiodensity in sea snakes revealed by Computed Tomography: A comparative study across historical and recent specimens”
Focus: Using the CT scanner at the Forensic Department, Aarhus University (AU), Denmark, to assess how preservation and lifestyle affect radiodensity in sea and terrestrial elapids. Following the exam, a manuscript will be submitted to a journal.
Andre aktiviteter
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SPNCH 2022

Participated in the SPNCH 2022, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Erhvervserfaring
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Assistant Conservator

Dismantling the old exhibitions at the Zoological Museum of the Natural History Museum of Denmark, while helping to prepare the objects for the new museum. Included conducting condition assessments and photographic documentation.
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Assistant Conservator

Conservation, documentation, assessment, and transportation of model ships and other maritime objects for permanent and temporary exhibitions at the Maritime Museum of Denmark, in Elsinore.
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Conservator

Volunteer work at the Greenland National Museum & Archives in Nuuk and the Ilulissat Art Museum. Working on restoring a skin suit and qajaq models, as well as organising, cleaning and registering fieldwork material from an excavation-point in Sisimiut.
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Internship

At the Maritime Museum of Denmark, in Elsinore.
IT-kompetencer
ImageJ
Specify
Rhino 3D and 3D Slicer
Microsoft Office
Adobe Creative Cloud
Sprog
Danish
English