FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- Some highly active shrimp are getting national attention for running on a treadmill courtesy of an Oregon professor.

Pacific University Professor of Biology Dr. David Scholnickwas on NBC's "The Today Show" to showcase the crustaceans’ moves.

The study is to understand respiratory systems of lower vertebrates and invertebrates and how fatigue can affect the immune system.

 Slideshow: Treadmill shrimp

"[We hope to] draw some attention to how our work may help us gain a better understanding of the health of marine organisms and their importance to our oceans," Scholnick said.

Scholnick was working at the College of Charelton's Grice Marine Laboratory and Hollings Marine Laboratory when he built the treadmill, to try and understand how such creatures sustain and recover from normal activities.