Does long-term harvesting impact genetic diversity and population genetic structure? A study of Indian gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica) in the Central Western Ghats region in India
Edasseri Geethika, Siva Ramamoorthy & Gudasalamani Ravikanth Plant Systematics and Evolution | June 20, 2024 Phyllanthus emblica is a well-known medicinal and non-timber forest product species, widely distributed in the Indian subcontinent. Multiple disturbances like intensive fruit harvest, the spread of invasive species such as Lantana camara and Taxillus tomentosus, and other anthropogenic disturbances threaten population viability by altering […]
Isolation of cytotoxic cycloartane triterpenoids from Dysoxylum malabaricum
Nivedita Bhardwaj, Vivek Kumar Sharma, Nancy Tripathi, Kavita Pimpre, Rajesh Sonti, G. Ravikanth, Biplob Koch and Shreyans K. Jain New Journal of Chemistry | June 9, 2024 New cycloartane triterpenoids (2–4) have been recently discovered in the bark of Dysoxylum malabaricum. The extraction process involved the utilization of a cytotoxic dichloromethane-methanol extract, which underwent meticulous […]
The Musical World of Frogs
Seshadri K. S. Sanctuary Nature Foundation | June 4, 2024 One of the surest signs of the onset of monsoon is the incessant croaking of frogs and toads. The hot and humid day gives way to a cool evening and with even the slightest trickle, myriad sounds fill the air. Soon, the trickle becomes a […]
Curbing the Major and Growing Threats From Invasive Alien Species is Urgent and Achievable
Ankila Hiremath Nature Ecology & Evolution | June 3, 2024 Although invasive alien species have long been recognized as a major threat to nature and people, until now there has been no comprehensive global review of the status, trends, drivers, impacts, management and governance challenges of biological invasions. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and […]
A Remarkable New Species of Paraparatrechina Donisthorpe (1947) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Formicinae) From the Eastern Himalayas, India
Sahanashree R, Aswaj Punnath, Priyadarsanan Dharma Rajan Zookeys | May 31, 2024 A new ant species, Paraparatrechina neela sp. nov., with a captivating metallic-blue color is described based on the worker caste from the East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India. This discovery signifies the first new species of Paraparatrechina in 121 years, since […]
The Plural Realities of Plant Invasions in India: a Review of Impacts to Wellbeing
Ramya Ravi, Ankila Hiremath Environmental Development | May 23, 2024 The ecological impacts of invasive alien species are well known, as are the large-scale economic losses caused by these species. Less well known are the impacts of these species on human wellbeing. In developing countries, like India, where a large proportion of the population is […]
First record of a Yellow-green Catsnake, Boiga flaviviridis Vogel and Ganesh 2013 (Colubridae), from Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu, India
Thalavaipandi S, Maria Antony P Reptiles And Amphibians | May 12, 2024 The first-ever sighting of the Yellow-green Catsnake was documented in KMTR, making it the species’ southernmost recorded location. Yellow-green Catsnake (Boiga flaviviridis) has a consistently solid yellow underbelly, a shorter tail, and a greenish-yellow color with faint black stripes on its back. It […]
Rodent Communities in a Neglected Grassland Landscape: Investigating Species-specific Responses of Grassland Rodents to Habitat Type and Shrub Presence
Aditya Ganesh, Arjun Kannan, T. Ganesh Journal Of Arid Environments | April 4, 2024 A new study in Tirunelveli reveals how shrub encroachment impacts rodent communities. Given how essential rodents are to grassland ecosystems, it is important to understand how they respond to emerging threats. Change in vegetation structure, namely, an increase in the density […]
Rapoport’s Rule Explains the Range Size Distribution of Butterflies Along the Eastern Himalayan Elevation Gradient
Sailendra Dewan, Bhoj Kumar Acharya BioTropica | March 26, 2024 In this study, we examined the elevational range size distribution of butterflies in the Eastern Himalaya, and assessed the applicability of Rapoport’s rule using different approaches, which perhaps is the first of its kind in the Himalaya. We sampled butterflies along the elevational gradient of […]
Ecological Countermeasures to Prevent Pathogen Spillover and Subsequent Pandemics
Abi Tamim Vanak Nature Communications | March 26, 2024 Substantial global attention is focused on how to reduce the risk of future pandemics. Reducing this risk requires investment in prevention, preparedness, and response. Although preparedness and response have received significant focus, prevention, especially the prevention of zoonotic spillover, remains largely absent from global conversations. This […]
