Calvert Stewards are partnering with the National Park Service to collect dragonfly larvae from different nature parks.

As part of our Dragonflies and Damselflies of Calvert County research program, the Dragonfly Mercury Project engages citizen scientists such as students and visitors to collect juvenile dragonflies in national parks. Dragonfly larvae live for years underwater eating insects and even small fishes. Mercury builds up inside the larvae and can give scientists insight into the health of the waters in which they live. Mercury is a toxic pollutant that can harm human health and wildlife health. Mercury often enters parks as air pollution from distant, human-caused, sources, like coal-burning power plants.

Visit the National Park Service Project Website for more information on the project and results.

Project Description (pdf)