Monday, November 18, 2002

FROM: Mimi Cunningham

RE: 11 a.m., Wed., Nov. 20, UNCW Center for Marine Science

Members of the media are cordially invited to attend a media opportunity surrounding the dissection of the rare female sturgeon found in the lower Cape Fear River July 31 of this year. Dr. Thomas E. Lankford Jr., ichthyologist and assistant professor at UNCW’s Center for Marine Science, will conduct the dissection Wednesday morning.

He invites members of the media to join him at 11 a.m. when he will discuss some of the anatomical characteristics and the internal anatomy of this special find.

During the dissection, he will be removing key structures that will be used to determine the history of the fish, such as where it came from, how old it is, and whether it is contaminated with pollutants. He will also talk about how this primitive fish is designed and how its anatomy is designed for its lifestyle.

Please come to the Center for Marine Science, 5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane, off Masonboro Loop Road south of Whiskey Creek. Go to the reception desk and you will be directed how to find the lab where the dissection is taking place. We are pleased to report that CP&L, a Progress Energy Company, is providing $2,000 to underwrite the analysis of the tissue samples that will look at aging, genetics, and tissue testing of the sturgeon. The check was presented by Tom Thompson, CP&L’s senior scientist of biological assessment at the Lower Cape Fear River Program Annual Meeting on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2002.

We hope you can come.