Did you know that dragonflies are not just nature’s aerial acrobats, but also the unsung heroes in detecting mercury pollution? Thanks to a groundbreaking model developed by the USGS, in partnership with the NationalParkService, these aquatic insects are shining a light on mercury risks on protected freshwater ecosystems across the nation! The new model combines over a decade of dragonfly mercury concentrations with water quality and land cover data. This allows it to estimate mercury risks that threaten our beloved national parks and wildlife refuges. Now, park managers and policymakers can gain vital insights about mercury pollution to protect public health and public lands. Here’s to dragonflies—nature’s little pollution detectives! Learn more at the link in today's story! #DragonflyMercuryProject #Mercury #Pollution #NationalParks #ProtectedLands #ParkScience NatureNPS