Kosovar biologist Halil Ibrahimi believes the restrictions related to the coronavirus were not all bad. As a result of the measures, he was able to finish a research project and raise public awareness about the pollution of rivers in Kosovo. And, since his research was completed during the pandemic, Ibrahimi decided to name a newly discovered insect after the coronavirus.
Ibrahimi spent years working on a research report on an insect species found in Kosovo's Bjeshket e Nemuna national park. That species now has the name Potamophylax coronavirus.
Ibrahimi is a professor of the Natural Sciences Faculty at Pristina University. When he collected the insects in the national park, he found that the creatures were quite different from other species in the Balkans. For example, the insects are much smaller and live in areas about 2,000 meters above sea level.
Ibrahimi announced the new name for the species in a scientific publication this month. "Coronavirus was the most vivid thing during the time when the species was discovered," he said.
Vivid is a term that means producing a clear, strong, or sharp feeling.
During his research, Ibrahimi also discovered that conditions along the Lumbardhi i Deçanit River, where the new species was found, had worsened in recent years. The river damage is likely linked to the building of a hydropower plant.
Kosovo, and the Balkan countries in general, have a long history of environmental pollution of all kinds.
Ibrahimi compared the effects of pollution on the insects to the coronavirus crisis.
"It has the same effect on the species living in the rivers as the coronavirus is causing to humankind these days," he said.
The overall environmental situation in Kosovo has worsened over the years. This is likely a result of increased building, traffic and industrial pollution, as well as government efforts to push the use of small hydropower plants.
A 2020 report by Kosovo's Ministry of Economy and Environment noted that "uncontrolled use of water resources and damage to river beds still remains one of the forms of degradation of our water resources."
Degradation is a term that means the process of damaging or ruining something.
Ibrahimi suggested that people should "rethink their attitude toward the environment" because these insects are "the first barrier before the pollution comes to the humans."
He added that insects are the first sign "that something is going wrong in the environment."
Now that the coronavirus and the insect are forever linked by name, Ibrahimi suggests that government agencies should take measures to stop further damage to the environment. "And," he added, "people must start considering these insect species as part of their own life."
I'm John Russell.
Florent Bajrami and Llazar Semini reported on this story for the Associated Press John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor.
