GALLERY: Students gather information for Delta Park

Third-year Ecology students of the University of Johannesburg gathered at Delta Park on 17 February to determine the ecology of the dam.

The students were lead by Professor of Zoology, Bettine van Vuuren and specialist of aquatic health, Richard Greenfield. On their excursion, Greenfield briefed the students on the whole process they would do. He told them of the importance of the data they would collect and how it would help better maintain the park.

Geoff Lockwood, educational officer of Delta Park, welcomed the team and told them about the history of the park. In his speech, he mentioned how he has found at least 217 species of birds. He went on to mention how the park was first built as part of a sewerage project and that some of the trees planted were done so that they could be sold for wood to a match company.

The class was split up into groups, each one with a specific task. One group would check the quality of the water; the other would catch fish, whilse the other would collect data on what type of ecosystem is found in the dam. At the end of the day the information would all be sourced as one and then taken to the labs for further examination. This whole process would be compiled by the students and the information would be given to Delta Park.

Greenfield explained that to do what they did, one would have to have a permit and use the accepted methods to catch the fish. The fish were caught and then released. They were zapped with electric volts which would not harm them but instead, shock their senses a little bit, making them easier to catch.

Details: University of Johannesburg Department of Zoology, thumekan@uj.ac.za or 011 559 2441

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