Software gets dirty job done

A TOOL developed by the owners of Edinburgh Zoo is helping preserve the wetlands of Brazil.

By The Newsroom

Published 1st Feb 2011, 13:54 BST

Updated 1st Feb 2011, 22:43 BST

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) has created DeltaDiet software to assist in the conservation of the Pantanal freshwater wetlands.

DeltaDiet is helping scientists understand the nutritional needs of animals by speedily analysing faecal samples from plant-eating creatures.

Dr Arnaud Desbiez, the RZSS conservation and research co-ordinator for Latin America, said: "To date over 250 plants have been characterised, and we have been able to examine the diet of several species through the different seasons of the year."