From NALINM@AOL.COM Sun Apr  3 12:36:38 2005
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 18:59:31 EST
From: NALINM@AOL.COM
To: nathistory-india@Princeton.EDU
Subject: New SCORPION species discovery ? (Karnataka)


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FWD - HINDU - MARCH 24, 2004
 
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A scorpion from the canopy

By Bharath Kumar H.

CHITRADURGA, MARCH 23. A group of Bangalore-based scientists has
identified a canopy-dwelling scorpion in Karnataka's Kodagu district,
possibly for the first time outside the Amazon forests.

The team from the Institute of Wood Sciences and Technology, studying
`canopy biota', collected it from among thousands of canopy arthropod
species in the first study of its kind in India. Y.B. Srinivasa, who is
accompanied by A.N. Arun Kumar, another researcher, said: ``A few
thousand species of arthropods were collected... These included the first
Asian species of a canopy-dwelling scorpion. Fourteen individuals of this
species that belong to the genus Isometrus were sampled... ''

According to Mr. Srinivasa, such species have not so far been found
outside the Amazon forests. Only two species of scorpions, Titys
canopensis and T. Adisi (of the family Buthidae) from Manaus, Brazil have
been reported to be exclusive to the canopies. "If the information we
have is correct, then this will be only the second time in the world that
canopy scorpions are reported and the first from outside the Amazonian
forest,'' he said.

Dr. Manju Siliwal, an arachnologist with the Zoo Outreach Organisation,
Coimbatore, who is working on the taxonomy of the species, said that this
`canopy species' does not resemble any of the 11 species of Isometrus
known to occur in India.

However, she said another round of stratified sampling has to be done to
arrive at a final inference.

Mr. Srinivasa explained: ``Both the young ones and adults featured in the
collection indicate that this species may be living and breeding among
the canopies. It suggests their life cycle revolves around canopies.''

He says this species could be exclusive to the canopies. "They are found
in canopies that are 20 to 40 metres above the ground. If they can move
from ground to canopy, why are they are going up there? And how? There
are many questions that remain to be answered.

They need different kinds of adaptations to live on the ground and in the
canopy. "Their `pedipalp' (frontal limbs) seem to be weak when compared
to that of regular species found on the ground,'' Mr. Srinivasa said.
``We are studying these species in depth. We are sending the pictures and
details to experts elsewhere in the world for their opinion. We will go
for another round of sampling soon,'' he added.

Mr. Srinivasa said the `canopy layer' refers to the uppermost stratum of
vegetation in closed tropical rainforests that are the hotspots of
terrestrial biological diversity. They are a world in themselves. The
canopies with their branches, twigs, leaves, flowers, fruits and myriad
other epiphytes constitute a plethora of niches colonised by insects,
mammals, birds and so on. Separating the earth's surface from the upper
atmosphere, the canopies play a pivotal role in the forest system and the
global climate.

He added: ``The rich tropical forests of India have remained unexplored.
Although India boasts of being home to two of the 12 mega-biodiversity
hotspots of the world, quantitative studies in this third dimension
haven't taken off.''

Science and adventure

Sharing his excitement, Mr. Srinivasa said: "Our study was simply great.
It was a golden blend of science and adventure. We accessed the
rainforest canopies at Makutta forests in Coorg district using the
single-rope technique. Samples were obtained using an insecticide fog
generated from a thermal fogger.''

The insecticide used was a rapidly acting pyrethroid. Following fogging,
the arthropods get knocked down and are collected below.

Insecticide fogging is widely appreciated in the understanding of the
diversity and community structure of arthropods in the canopies.

http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/24/stories/2005032402362200.htm