Norway 2

Ragnhild Skraastad (20)

City/Region: Stadsbygd, Sør-Trøndelag fylke E-mail: sago7@nameplanet.com Hobbies: Literature, outdoor life Career: Physician School: The Rudolf Steiner School in Trondheim

Diurnal Butterflies on Stadsbygd

Concerned primarily about man's increasing negative impact on her local environment, Ragnhild decided to conduct an extensive field investigation into the life of diurnal butterflies that can be found in her native village of Stadsbygd on the Trondheim fjord in Mid-Norway. Her intent was to make a survey to show how changes in physical habitats affects butterfly populations. Her results demonstrate that when one particular butterfly preferred habitat is disturbed, the population of diurnal butterflies inside their inhabitated area becomes rapidly exposed to the dangers of extermination. Ragnhild also clearly showed that areas which have been untouched by man for a long time have far a richer biodiversity than newly created areas. This indicates that the fast changes in the landscape caused by humans poses a significant threat both to butterflies and other creatures.