572 research outputs found
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Whose river? The changing waterscape of the upper Arkavathy under urbanisation
Full text linkUrban areas in India have been experiencing unprecedented population and economic growth in the last decade. As cities grow and incomes rise, a new challenge has arisen: that of supplying domestic water reliably, and of reasonable quality, to this rapidly growing urban
population, while ensuring that the well-being of future generations is not jeopardised
Drivers of fish diversity and turnover across multiple spatial scales: Implications for conservation in the Western Ghats, India
Full text linkFreshwater ecosystems are extraordinarily rich in theiraquatic life. They sustain other terrestrial life and offer numerous ecosystem services to humankind. Fishisone of the most important componentsof freshwater ecosystems(Darwall et al., 2008). However, the status of freshwater habitat and associated aquatic life including that of fishes is in danger due to intense anthropogenic impacts such as small and big dams, water diversion schemes for irrigatedagriculture, deforestation, removal of riparian cover, sandmining and pollution. As a result, freshwater fishesare being driven to extinction. The extinction risk for riverine fishes is believed to be far greater than terrestrial organisms, and may even haveexceeded the natural rate of overall species extinction (Ricciardi and Rasmussen, 1999; Dias et al., 2017).
Studies that quantify various anthropogenic threats to biodiversity of the Tropical Asian streams and rivers are inadequateas compared to those in the temperate regions.Streamsare being fragmented, disconnected and exploitedheavily for rising human developmental needs.Ecologistshave emphasizedthe need for their restoration, quantification of such threats and detail mapping ofaquatic biodiversity(Strayer et al., 2010; Dudgeon et al., 2010; 2011; Araujo et al., 2013; Alexandre et al., 2013; Shimadzu et al., 2013; Sakaris, 2013; Bae et al., 2016).Therefore thereis a need to address fish responses to the disturbances to the habitat at different spatial scales. Often lack of crucial information on species distribution, habitat ecology and species responses to different anthropogenic threats at multiple spatial scales impedesour ability to prioritize river conservation.
My PhD research integrates some of these ideas and quantifies the native fish diversity and factors that drive this diversity in four river sub-basins of the Western Ghat biodiversity hotspot in India. Thestudy primarily assesses the fish diversity at multiple nested spatialscalesi.e. segment, habitat, stream order, and sub-basin. Two river basins (Mhadei and Malaprabha) have numerous hydrological barriers in the form of small checkdams, impoundments, barrages as well asother forms of disturbances such as substrate mining, fishing,and pollution from domestic and agricultural uses of rivers. Such disturbances have severely degraded the water quality and fish health in India (Daniels, 2002). The other two river sub-basins (Bhadra and Tunga) are hydrologically less modified but havelocal disturbances such as water diversion for agriculture, plantations and pollution
A tree cut is not the same as a tree planted: understanding ‘quick fix’ solutions to development consequences
Full text linkTraffic and trees have recently found a persistent presence in everyday discussions among people and newspapers in the city of Bangalore. In an attempt to tackle traffic, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has proposed building the widely contested steel flyover and other road widening projects which will result in cutting of several trees across the city. Cutting of trees is, of course, only one of several important reasons why these projects can be deemed featherbrained. In this article, I will stick with trees. BDA has defended that they will plant 60,000 saplings as compensatory afforestation which is much more than the trees that may be cut. This seems like a rational solution, or is it
What the 45-day annual fishing ban in Tamil Nadu means for fisheries conservation
Full text linkCoastal Tamil Nadu will be abuzz with news reports announcing the start of the annual 45-day fishing ban for mechanised boats commonly called trawlers. The reports will also tell us that fish prices may soar due to falling fish supplies. Vindicated as a means to reduce fishing effort and aid conservation, the annual 45-day fishing ban between April 15 and May 31 was ordained in Tamil Nadu in 2001. This restricted fishing period – implemented by the state – was a result of protests and agitations held by small-scale fishers to curb near-shore trawling that had been going on for several decades. What does this ban mean for fisheries conservation
Canine Conundrum: domestic dogs as an invasive species and their impacts on wildlife in India
No full textDomestic dogs are increasingly being recognized as a conservation threat for native species. In many places, their impacts may be as severe as other invasive predators such as cats and rats. We conducted the first ever sub-continent scale assessment of the impacts of dogs on native species in India using an online key informant survey and reports from national print media. Dogs reportedly attacked 80 species, of which 31 were IUCN Red list threatened species, including four Critically Endangered species. Larger bodied mammals such as ungulates and carnivores, were most commonly reported to be attacked, although this may be an observation
bias. Approximately 68% of the attacks were carried out by dogs unaccompanied by humans. Most of the attacks were carried out by packs of dogs with 45% of these attacks leading to the death of the prey. Nearly 48% of the incidents were reported in and around wildlife protected areas, suggesting that dogs are an important large-scale edge effect around protected areas in India. For Critically Endangered species that are already suffering from serious population declines due to other causes, the impact of dogs may seriously impede population recovery efforts. Mitigating the impacts of dogs on wildlife requires a multi-pronged approach of responsible dog ownership, restriction in free-ranging behaviour, and strong population control measures, especially around sensitive conservation areas
ET By invite - investing crores but passing the buck
Full text linkAfter decades of neglect, statuto ry bodies--municipalities or dedicated sewerage boards-are coming under pressure from citizens, central governments, pollution control boards and the courts to improve sewage treatment.Unfortunately , in the absence of knowledge-based and participatory decision-making, the responses of these bodies are often schizophrenic.The recent moves by Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) are a classic example
Conflicting Laws are criminalising forest communities for exercising their rights
Full text linkIt was a balmy morning in the forests of Mannekpur as community members gathered to discuss the atrocities they continued to face from the forest department. The governance of Indian forests has been a fairly complicated issue since India was under colonial rule. Human dominion over these forests has shaped their ecosystems just as much as they have influenced human livelihoods. However, the colonial legacy of our forest laws continues to insist that we treat the complex and dynamic forests of India as a pristine ecosystem that should be free of human habitation
An endophytic fungus, Gibberella moniliformis from Lawsonia inermis L. produces lawsone, an orange-red pigment
No full textLawsone (2-hydroxy-1, 4-napthoquinone), also known as hennotannic acid, is an orange red dye used as a popular skin and hair colorant. The dye is produced in the leaves of Lawsonia inermis L, often referred to as the ‘‘henna’’ tree. In this study, we report the production of lawsone by an endophytic fungus, Gibberella moniliformis isolated from the leaf tissues of Lawsonia inermis. The fungus produced the orange-red dye in potato dextrose agar and broth, independent of the host tissue. Presence of lawsone was confirmed spectrometrically using HPLC and ESI–MS/MS analysis. The fragmentation pattern of lawsone was identical to both standard lawsone and that extracted from plant
tissue. This is a first report of lawsone being produced by
an endophytic fungus, independent of the host tissue. The study opens up interesting questions on the possible
biosynthetic pathway through which lawsone is produced
by the fungus
Species Adulteration in the Herbal Trade: Causes, Consequences and Mitigation
No full textThe global economy of the international trade of herbal products has been increasing by 15% annually, with the raw material for most herbal products being sourced from South and Southeast Asian countries. In India, of the 8000 species of medicinal plants harvested from the wild, approximately 960 are in the active trade. With increasing international trade in herbal medicinal products, there is also increasing concern about the widespread adulteration and species admixtures in the raw herbal trade. The adverse consequences of such species adulteration on the health and safety of consumers have only recently begun to be recognised and documented. We provide a comprehensive review of the nature and magnitude of species adulteration in the raw herbal trade, and identify the underlying drivers that might lead to such adulteration. We also discuss the possible biological and chemical equivalence of species that are used as adulterants and substitutes, and the consequences thereof to consumer health and safety, and propose a framework for the development of a herbal trade authentication service that can help regulate the herbal trade market
Forest Rights in Baiga Chak, Madhya Pradesh
No full textThe Baiga Chak, an upland region in Dindori district of eastern Madhya Pradesh, is a prime location for the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006. Not only is 86% of the population Adivasi (Scheduled Tribe),2 but an overwhelming majority of them are Baiga, one of 75 particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) among India’s several hundred Scheduled Tribes (STs) (Ministry of Tribal Affairs 2017). More over, Baiga Chak3 is entirely made up of 52 forest villages established, as elsewhere,since the colonial period, to create a permanent supply of labour for forestry operations (Prasad 1994), and wherein the forest department continues to play a key role in administration. This makes three community provisions in the FRA—community forest resource (CFR) rights, habitat rights (HRs) for PVTGs, and the conversion of forest villages into revenue villages—particularly relevant to this area