New research centre to monitor water quality

Water quality will be monitored using an unusual method at a new research centre worth millions which is being built in the Czech Republic.

Due to their excellent receptors, American crayfish will be employed to sense any changes in water quality by recording and monitoring their heart activity.

The Research Institute for Fish Culture and Hydrobiology is based at the University of South Bohemia, which consists of seven faculties and three associated institutes.

Director Pavel Kozak said that the creatures will assist the centre in designing equipment that can perform a similar function to them.

"Crayfish research is only one part of what the new centre will do. There are also other focuses like fish meat quality, technology of caviar production and innovation of systems for monitoring water quality," he stated.

Mr Kozak added that the main research at present is focused on trying to eliminate the negative impact of the non-native species.

Written by Joseph Hutton