Kosovar Biologist Names Newly Discovered Insect after Coronavirus

Kosovar biologist Halil Ibrahimi believes the restrictions¹ 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 awareness² about the pollution of rivers in Kosovo. And, since his research was completed during the pandemic, Ibrahimi decided³ 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 Faculty⁴ 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 Decanit 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 Ministry⁵ of Economy and Environment noted⁶ that "uncontrolled use of water resources and damage to river beds still remains⁷ one of the forms of degradation⁸ 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."

Words in This Story

species – n. biology : a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants : a group of related animals or plants that is smaller than a genus

hydropower – n. electricity produced from machines that are run by moving water

attitude – n. the way you think and feel about someone or something

1 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

2 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 faculty   

n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员

参考例句：

• He has a great faculty for learning foreign languages.他有学习外语的天赋。
• He has the faculty of saying the right thing at the right time.他有在恰当的时候说恰当的话的才智。

5 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

8 degradation   

n.降级；低落；退化；陵削；降解；衰变

参考例句：

• There are serious problems of land degradation in some arid zones.在一些干旱地带存在严重的土地退化问题。
• Gambling is always coupled with degradation.赌博总是与堕落相联系。