From: Bert De Groef
Subject: Free the frogs
My research team and I have launched a crowd funding project in an attempt to raise money to fund our research into the effect of some common pesticides (juvenile hormone analogs – a class of insect growth regulators) on the hormone balance and the development of amphibians. Amphibians, one third of which is already threatened with extinction, are particularly vulnerable to the effects of pollutants because of their aquatic lifestyle and their permeable skin. The pesticides that we are examining may not kill the animals, but are likely causing subtle effects that disturb the animals’ development, growth, immunity and reproduction. These pesticides have been detected in Australian streams, home to some of the world’s unique frogs.
We thought that this is a topic that would be of interest to Friends of the Earth members. If deemed appropriately, you could help us raise the funds by getting the word out and disseminating the link: www.pozible.com/freethefrog via social media or newsletters.
We have 60 days to raise the money if the project is to be successful, so any contribution you could make is enormously appreciated (deadline 06 October 2014)!
Thank you very much in advance!
Best regards,
Bert De Groef
Lecturer & Postgraduate Coordinator
Department of Agricultural Sciences, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora VIC 3086, Australia
and
AgriBio – the Centre for Agribiosciences, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora VIC 3083, Australia
T: +61 3 9032 7436 E: b.degroef@latrobe.edu.au
