Saturday, June 09, 2007

Deltamethrin and dragonflies research project




Artificial ponds ready for water, and first visitor

Elmar Schuran, visiting student of odonatologist Jens Kipping, has installed test ponds for dragonfly larvae not far from HOORC’s library verandah. When filled with water, the ponds will allow scientists to observe the impact of the insecticide Deltamethrin on the development of dragonfly larvae. Deltamethrin is being sprayed in the Okavango region by the Botswana Department of Animal Health and Production to control tsetse fly. HOORC, contracted to monitor the environmental impacts of the spraying, expects that this controlled experiment will provide its researchers with a clearer picture of the long term physiological effects of the insecticide on other Delta invertebrates.



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