SPLATOMETER

[Matthew Smith]

Ladies & Gents

Although I am not 100% convinced myself of the validity of this survey, the
aim of the current project is to provide an initial basline count to begin
generating a series of insect abundance indices, rather like the annual
index of abundance of the UK butterfly species produced each year by the UK
NGO Butterfly Conservation.

.  
The project is organised by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds -
another UK NGO who are very conservation orientated, and not just focussed
on birds.  They are interested primarily in insects as potential food for
many bird species.  For more info, though perhaps not qite as much as some
would want, see http://www.rspb.org.uk/bugcount/index.asp.

There are no 'predetermined' results for the survey and, no, we don't all
drive brand new 4x4 SUV's over here either.

Regards from the UK.

Matt

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Bailey and Bjorklund
Subject: SPLATOMETER


A recent study with the participation of 40,000 motorists in Britain found
that on average one bug for five miles was splatting on a square grid
attached to their front license plate.  Since this the first year of the
study it is only tentatively being assumed that bug populations are down in
Great Britain.
**************

1) What was the size of the grid?
2) Urban or rural area(s)?
3) Day or night?
    a) If both, what is the statistical difference.
4) What about higher flying insects?  (a "bug" is a specific order of
insect)
    a) What about non-flying insect... why did the ant cross the road?
5) How many "bugs" (% of whole) were NOT smashed?
6) How many of the 40,000 were card carrying members of Green Peace?
7) Who is funding the "research"?
8) How does this compare with vehicle gird kills studies from the 1920s?
9) Were these Florida "love bugs", house flies, termite swarms, endangered
species?

I doubt there is a grain of real science in any of this "study".   The
predetermined result is that there are less bugs _now_ DUE TO
environmentally immoral humans and too many vehicles.

Ron Gatrelle

PS  Good thing that a million Bison never harmed a fly, and that all birds
in England are vegitarians.


 
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