ID: 65031
Title: Taxonomic status of Drosophila pallidosa and the biological species concept
Author: B. N. Singh
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (10) 1050-1056 (2023)
Subject: Taxonomic status of Drosophila pallidosa and the biological species concept
Keywords: Biological species concept, Drosophila ananassae, Drosophila pallidosa, genetic diversity, speciation genetics.
Abstract: The genus Drosophila is an interesting biological model which shows extensive diversity at the level
of species. About 50 years ago, Bock and Wheeler described a new species of Drosophila, D. pallidosa just on the basis of sexual isolation and differences in sex comb teeth number. However, there
is similarity in male genitalia and absence of post mating reproductive isolation and it is considered
sibling to D. ananassae, which is a domestic and cosmopolitan species. On the other hand, D. pallidosa is endemic to certain islands such as South Pacific Island of Samoa and Fijii where they are
sympatric and remain reproductively isolated by sexual isolation.
In these two sibling species, results of various investigations have been reported pertaining to taxonomic status, morphometric traits, metaphase karyotypes, etc. show similarities and differences
which is basis of suggestion that D. pallidosa is in statu nascendi. However, its description as a new
species fits well with the biological species concept and it provides interesting material for future
studies in the area of speciation genetics.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Chatterjee, S. and Singh, B. N., Sexual isolation in Drosophila. Indian
Rev. Life Sci., 1989, 9, 101–135.
Singh, B. N., Mode of mating preference and the direction of evolution in Drosophila. Indian J. Exp
Literature cited 2: Singh, B. N., Hundred years of research on inversion polymorphism in Drosophila. Curr. Sci., 2019, 117, 761–775.
Singh, B. N., Population and behaviour genetics of Drosophila
ananassae. Genetica, 1996, 97, 321–332.
ID: 65030
Title: Octopodiform drill holes on the larger foraminifera Nummulites obtusus (Sowerby, 1840) from the Harudi Formation (middle Eocene) of Kutch, Gujarat, India
Author: Rosina syed, Sampa sarkar, S. sengupta
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (10) 1047-1049 (2023)
Subject: Octopodiform drill holes on the larger foraminifera Nummulites obtusus (Sowerby, 1840) from the Harudi Formation (middle Eocene) of Kutch, Gujarat, India
Keywords: Octopodiform drill holes, foraminifera Nummulites obtusus, Harudi Formation, middle Eocene of Kutch, Gujarat, India
Abstract: Evidence of fossil predators enables us to
infer the importance and evolution of predation, predator ethology and prey defence
mechanisms in deep time1
. Foraminifera, an
ubiquitous component of the marine seafloor community with a high preservation
potential, are often subjected to predation
.
However, bioerosion traces do not necessarily reflect predation traces because live
foraminiferans may bear parasite feeding
traces, and dead foraminiferal tests may be
subjected to boring by protoplasm-scavenging taxa or endoliths
. Here, we report
octopodiform (terminology after VillegasMartín et al.
4
) drill holes on the middle
Eocene larger foraminiferan Nummulites
obtusus (Sowerby5
) from Kutch, western
India. We have collected 35 N. obtusus
Form B specimens bearing the octopodiform
drill holes. These drilled foraminiferans were collected from the ‘obtusus
bed’ of the Harudi Formation (middle Eocene) exposed along the flanks of the Rato
river, north of the Harudi (23°30′30″,
68°41′10″) village in Kutch, Gujarat6,7.
Collected specimens are housed in the Micropalaeontology Laboratory of Calcutta
University under the collective number
CU/RR/35.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Klompmaker, A. A., Kelley, P. H., Chattopadhyay, D., Clements, J. C., Huntley, J.
W. and Kowalewski, M., Earth-Sci. Rev.,
2019, 194, 472–520.
Culver, S. J. and Lipps, J. H., In Predation–Prey Interactions in the Fossil Record
(eds Kelley, P. H., Kowalewski, M. and
Hansen, T. A.), Kluwer Academic, New
York, USA, 2003, pp. 7–32.
Literature cited 2: Görmüş, M. and Nielsen, J. K., J. Foramin. Res., 2006, 36, 151–164.
Villegas‐Martín, J., Ceolin, D., Fauth, G.
and Klompmaker, A. A., Palaeontology,
2019, 62, 731–756.
ID: 65029
Title: Developing resilience against emerging climate change normal of the hydro-geological hazards in Western Himalaya, India
Author: Naresh Chandra Pant and H. S. Saini
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (10) 1041-1042 (2023)
Subject: Developing resilience against emerging climate change normal of the hydro-geological hazards in Western Himalaya, India
Keywords: Developing resilience, emerging climate change, hydro-geological hazards, Western Himalaya, India
Abstract: A chain of unprecedented floods and landslides beginning in early July of 2023 in
the Western Himalaya and its adjoining
plains of Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar
Pradesh, India, shook the entire nation due
to large-scale destruction in terms of human
lives, properties, landscape and environment.
It began with the extreme rain episodes
across the width of the Himalaya, leading to
high-velocity water flowing from the steep
hill slopes along low-order streams into the
main rivers. In the stepwise process, it initially filled the river channels and was followed by extensive flooding in the alluvial
plains, inundating extensive areas of Punjab
and Haryana along River Ghagghar and
Delhi–Uttar Pradesh along River Yamuna.
In Himachal and Uttarakhand, rainfall also
triggered a sequence of landslides of different scales in the urban areas and roadsides.
These disasters have annihilated almost all
our landslide-preventing measures and
flood-taming capacity and exposed the
fragility and hollowness of our habitational
planning, especially in the hilly regions
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Saini, H. S., Pant, N. C., Lal, R. and Mujtaba, S. A. I., Curr. Sci., 2015, 108, 764–765.
Gerrard, J., Geomorphology, 1994, 10(1–4),
221–230.
Literature cited 2: Nabiyal, V., Rangari, D. K. and Kumar, M.,
J. Eng. Geol., 2018, XLIII(1 and 2), 12–22.
Ehrlich, D., Melchiorri, M. and Capitani, C.,
Land, 2021, 10, 255; doi.org/10.3390/Land10030255.
ID: 65028
Title: The dire impact of climate change on marine ecosystems
Author: S. K. Satheesh
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (10) 1035-1036(2023)
Subject: The dire impact of climate change on marine ecosystems
Keywords: Dire impact of climate change, marine ecosystems
Abstract: It is widely acknowledged globally that climate change is
an undeniable reality caused by human intervention, as
confirmed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) Assessment Reports. The concentration of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is steadily rising,
leading to an increase in the planet’s average temperature.
Climate change has also brought about several other consequences, such as severe weather patterns, rising sea levels,
deforestation, agricultural challenges, waste management
concerns, and air pollution, among others. When we talk
about the environmental impact of climate change, issues
are both global and regional in nature. However, global
concerns such as rising temperatures, sea levels, and severe
weather events require the collective efforts of the worldwide community.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1:
Literature cited 2:
ID: 65027
Title: RNA sequencing-based identification of candidate hypersensitive transcripts in Perna viridis
Author: Srinivasa Raghavan Vasudevan, Vinaya Kumar Katneni , Sudheesh K. Prabhudas and Karthic Krishnan
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (9) 1008-1012 (2023)
Subject: RNA sequencing-based identification of candidate hypersensitive transcripts in Perna viridis
Keywords: Allergen, hypersensitive transcripts, Perna viridis, RNA sequencing, unigenes.
Abstract: The Asian Green Lipped mussel, Perna viridis one of the
widely distributed bivalves act as a source of low cost
protein providing nutritious meal to the coastal population in the form of well balanced amino acids and
micronutrients. The immune system produces antibodies to certain class of proteins present in shellfish meat
thereby causing hypersensitive reactions in the body.
The next generation integrated transcriptome sequencing
approach identifies all the potential allergenic proteins
expressed in an animal very effectively. The present
study describes the transcriptome of P. viridis based on
the sequence data generated using five tissues. Transcriptome level candidate allergens and epitopes were
observed and identified that might play a role in hypersensitive reaction to shellfish proteins including certain
novel candidate allergens like Ran protein and a filamin A like protein. The existence of epitope hotspots in
an important protein, arginine kinase was also observed
and the unigenes identified would be a valuable resource for conduct of functional studies.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Shinoj, P. et al., Green mussel (Perna viridis L.) farming in India:
an analysis of major growth milestones, recent decline due to disease incidence, and prospects for revival. Aquacult. Int., 2021, 29,
1813–1828.
Khan, M. A. A., Assim, Z. B. and Ismail, N., Population dynamics
of the green-lipped mussel, Perna viridis from the offshore waters
of Naf River coast, Bangladesh. Chiang Mai J. Sci., 2010, 37(2),
344–354.
Literature cited 2: Guo, X., Ford, S. E. and Zhang, F., Molluscan aquaculture in China.
J. Shellfish Res., 1999, 18, 19–31.
Rajagopal, S., Venugopalan, V. P., Van der Velde, G. and Jenner,
H. A., Greening of the coasts: a review of the Perna viridis success
story. Aquat. Ecol., 2006, 40, 273–297.
ID: 65026
Title: Transformative impact of various groundwater recharge and water conservation measures on different aquifer systems in India
Author: Subhra Satapathy, Mohanavelu Senthil Kumar, Ranjan Kumar Ray, Ratikanta Nayak and Sunil Kumar
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (9) 1005-1007 (2023)
Subject: Transformative impact of various groundwater recharge and water conservation measures on different aquifer systems in India
Keywords: Aquifer systems, artificial recharge, groundwater, transformative impact, water conservation
Abstract: Groundwater contributes to 9% of India’s GDP; 64%
of irrigation, 85% of rural water supply and over 50%
of urban water demand. Over the last decade, 54% of
India’s shallow wells became defunct due to declining
groundwater levels and thus deep wells have been constructed. This shift to deeper wells has led to more
groundwater withdrawal than natural recharge resulting
in over-extraction. Most of States and Central Government agencies focus on groundwater recharge and
conservation to address sustainability through schemes
like Jal Shakti Abhiyan and MGNREGA. These interventions between 2017 and 2020 led to a notable 12.46 bcm
increase in groundwater resources in hard-rock aquifers. This study’s findings would assist policymakers and
administrators in evaluating the effectiveness of schemes
for different aquifer, and drawing their attention to
suggests design changes for more effective recharge of
groundwater.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: GoI, Groundwater Resource Estimation Methodology-2015. Report
of the Ground Water Resource Estimation Committee (GEC-2015),
Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), Government of India,
October 2017, p. 137; http://cgwb.gov.in/Documents/GEC2015_
Report_Final%2030.10.2017.pdf (accessed on 15 March 2023).
GoI, Aquifer system of India, Ministry of Water Resources, CGWB,
Government of India, 2012, p. 103; http://cgwb.gov.in/AQM/India.pdf
(accessed on 15 March 2023).
Literature cited 2: GoI, National compilation of dynamic ground water resources of India.
Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India, June 2017, p. 280; http://cgwb.gov.
in/GW-Assessment/GWRA-2017-National-Compilation.pdf (accessed
on 15 March 2023).
GoI, National compilation of dynamic ground water resources of India.
Ministry of Jal Shakti, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation,
Government of India, June 2021, p. 401; http://cgwb.gov.in/documents/
2021-08-02-GWRA_India_2020.pdf (accessed on 15 March 2023).
ID: 65025
Title: Nimbia: the discoid organisms from Ediacaran Sonia Sandstone of Jodhpur Group, Marwar Supergroup, western India
Author: Hukmaram, Anshul Harsh, Pawan Kumar and V. S. Parihar
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (9) 999-1004 (2023)
Subject: Nimbia: the discoid organisms from Ediacaran Sonia Sandstone of Jodhpur Group, Marwar Supergroup, western India
Keywords: Discoid organisms, fossil remains, hydrodynamic forces, Nimbia species
Abstract: In this study, we report well-preserved fossil remains
of Nimbia from the Ediacaran Sonia Sandstone of Jodhpur Group, Marwar Supergroup in the Sursagar area
of Jodhpur district, Rajasthan, western India. Here, two
species of Nimbia, namely Nimbia occlusa and Nimbia
dniesteri, have been recorded on medium- to fine-grained
sandstone bedding surfaces. The N. occlusa forms are
circular to ovate and elliptical imprints with a smooth
and flat central part and enclosed by a single thick,
annular marginal rim, whereas the N. dniesteri remains
are circular to sub-circular discoid impressions with a
trapezoidal structure. Here, the recorded N. occlusa is
common compared to the N. dniesteri fossil forms in the
Ediacaran Sonia Sandstone. These Nimbia fossil forms
are found in the Sonia Sandstone in terrestrial to marginal marine habitats with moderate hydrodynamic f
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Narbonne, G. M., The Ediacara biota: Neoproterozoic origin of animals
and their ecosystems. Annu. Rev. Earth Planet Sci., 2005, 33, 421–
442.
Xiao, S. and Laflamme, M., On the eve of animal radiation: phylogeny, ecology and evolution of the Ediacara biota. Trends Ecol.
Evol., 2009, 24, 31–40.
Literature cited 2: Laflamme, M., Darroch, S. A. F., Tweedt, S. M., Peterson, K. J.
and Erwin, D. H., The end of the Ediacara biota: extinction, biotic
replacement, or Cheshire cat? Gondwana Res., 2013, 23, 558–573.
. Liu, A. G., Brasier, M. D., Bogolepova, O. K., Raevskaya, E. G.
and Gubanov, A. P., First report of a newly discovered Ediacaran
biota from the Irkineeva Uplift, East Siberia. Newsl. Stratigr.,
2013, 46(2), 95–110.
ID: 65024
Title: Predicting potential distribution, range change and niche dynamics for Saraca asoca (Roxb.) De Wilde: a threatened medicinal plant under climatic change
Author: Monalisa Jena , Manas Ranjan Mohanta , Bipin Charles , N. A. Aravind, G. Ravikanth and Sudam Charan Sahu
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (9) 989-998 (2023)
Subject: Predicting potential distribution, range change and niche dynamics for Saraca asoca (Roxb.) De Wilde: a threatened medicinal plant under climatic change
Keywords: Climate change, distributional changes, ecological niche models, niche overlap, Saraca aso
Abstract: In the Anthropocene era, understanding the impact of
climate change on niche shift, species distribution, and
habitat change is increasingly important for the conservation of biodiversity. In this respect, species distribution
models have been considered an important tool over
the last decade. The present study illustrates distributional change, niche dynamics and climatic shifts of Saraca asoca (Roxb.) De Wilde in India, a proven medicinal
plant and a listed threatened species by IUCN, under
different climate change scenarios using MaxEnt. The
robustness of the model was satisfactory (AUC = 0.936),
indicating a good fit. There could be a significant gain
in suitable habitat between the present and future scenarios, ranging from a minimum of 52,275.17 km2
(RCP 2.6) to a maximum of 95,994.62 km2 (RCP 4.5). In
the future, the suitable habitat range would shift towards
colder regions of India, where cultivation of S. asoca
could be taken up, thus enabling effective management
of the natural habitat and population of the species.
This study will help understand the effects of climate
change on S. asoca and its implications for conservation
of the species
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Patwardhan, A. et al., Distribution and population status of threatened
medicinal tree Saraca asoca (Roxb.) De Wilde from Sahyadri–
Konkan ecological corridor. Curr. Sci., 2016, 111(9), 1500–1506.
Bhalerao, S. A., Verma, D. R., Didwana, V. S. and Teli, N. C.,
Saraca asoca (Roxb.), De. Wild: an overview. Ann. Plant Sci., 2014,
3(7), 770–775.
Literature cited 2: Sabita, Sheel, R. and Kumar, B., Qualitative and quantitative
screening of phytochemicals in polar and non-polar solvent extracts
of stem bark and leaves of Saraca indica (L.). IOSR JBB, 2018,
4(5), 18–29.
Haridasan, K., Anupam, S., Bhuyan, L. R., Hegde, S. N. and
Ahlawat, S. P., SFRI Information Bulletin No. 16 – Field Manual
for Propagation and Plantation of Medicinal Plants, State Forest
Research Institute, Itanagar, 2003.
ID: 65023
Title: Factors hindering the adoption of innovations in the arid agro-ecosystems of India
Author: Shirish Sharma, N. P. Singh and P. C. Ranjith
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (9) 983-988 (2023)
Subject: Factors hindering the adoption of innovations in the arid agro-ecosystems of India
Keywords: Adoption of innovations, agricultural technologies, arid agro-ecosystems, rural development.
Abstract: This study deals with the factors hindering the adoption
of innovations in the arid agro-ecosystems of India.
Adoption of agricultural technologies helps increase
agricultural output, which can impact poverty levels
and environmental degradation. The present study was
conducted in Rajasthan, India, to identify the technology
adoption of agricultural households and various socioeconomic and socio-personal factors affecting the same.
Among several coping strategies for climate vulnerability,
other than a shift towards rainfed crops, reducing the
number of irrigations, deepening existing wells and advancing or delaying irrigation were common in the arid
ecosystems. Some important policy measures have been
drawn from this study. First, the sustainable development
of groundwater resources, particularly in the low-productive eastern region, would go a long way in improving
agricultural productivity in the country. Agricultural
productivity can also be improved by increasing fertilizer use. Second, it proves cost-reducing technologies
and creates awareness of better resource-saving options
for better returns. Finally, advisory services and the
availability of extension personnel are important in rural
development.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Meinzen-Dick, R., Raju, K. V. and Gulati, A., What affects organization and collective action for managing resources? Evidence from canal
irrigation systems in India. World Dev., 2002, 30(4), 649–666.
Dasgupta, B., India’s green revolution. Econ. Polit. Wkly, 1977, 12,
241–260.
Literature cited 2: Carletto, C., Savastano, S. and Zezza, A., Fact or artifact: the impact
of measurement errors on the farm size–productivity relationship. J. Dev.
Econ., 2013, 103, 254–261.
Foster, A. D. and Rosenzweig, M. R., Microeconomics of technology
adoption. Annu. Rev. Econ., 2010, 2(1), 395–424.
ID: 65022
Title: Tectonic restoration of the Achankovil Suture Zone, South India: correlation with Ranotsara Shear Zone, Madagascar
Author: Mallipeddi Prasanthi Lakshmi*, Thadikonda Sambasivarao and Shaik Parveen Begum
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (9) 955-969 (2023)
Subject: Tectonic restoration of the Achankovil Suture Zone, South India: correlation with Ranotsara Shear Zone, Madagascar
Keywords: Aeromagnetic data, lithological units, magnetic anomaly, suture zones, tectonic restoration.
Abstract: The total magnetic intensity (TMI) image of the southernmost part of the Indian peninsular shield exhibits a
conspicuous NW–SE trending mega lineament of 200 km,
associated with Achankovil Suture Zone (AKSZ) across
the Southern Granulite Terrain (SGT) that evolved
during East African Orogeny. This crustal scale anomaly
of 200 nT amplitude, is significant to understand the
regional tectonics and the possible linkage between
AKSZ and Ranotsara Shear Zone (RSZ) of Madagascar.
The structural trends are inferred from magnetic data
surrounding AKSZ and RSZ to reconstruct the Gondwana fragments of the SGT and south Madagascar.
The aeromagnetic images of conjugate rifted fragments
of this part of India and Madagascar are connected
well on both sides: the Madurai block with Antananarivo
domain and Trivandrum block with Anosyan domain,
north and south of AKSZ–RSZ respectively. Magnetic
modelling across AKSZ reveals a hidden subsurface
basic body suggesting a deep geofracture. We infer the
sequence of tectonic development of the AKSZ as: (i) the
subduction–accretion process in amalgamation of continental fragments to form Gondwana supercontinent
during the Late Neoproterozoic and (ii) Pan-African
exhumation of anomalous sub-crustal material.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Stern, R. J., Continental collision in Neoproterozoic East African
Orogen: implications for the consolidation of Gondwanaland. Annu.
Rev. Earth Planet. Sci., 1994, 22, 319–351.
Chetty, T. R. K., Proterozoic shear zones in Southern Granulite
Terrain, India. In The Archaean and Proterozoic Terrains of Southern India within East Gondwana (eds Santosh, M. and Yoshida,
M.), Gondwana Research Group Memoir, Field Science Publications, 1996, vol. 3, pp. 77–89.
Literature cited 2: Drury, S. A. and Holt, R. W., The tectonic framework of the South
Indian craton: a reconnaissance involving LANDSAT imagery. Tectonophysics, 1980, 65, T1–T5.
Dhanunjaya Naidu, G., Manoj, C., Patro, P. K., Sreedhar, S. V. and
Harinarayana, T., Deep electrical signatures across the Achankovil
shear zone, Southern Granulite Terrain inferred from magnetotellurics. Gondwana Res., 20
ID: 65021
Title: Preliminary insights into the impact between photovoltaic installations and climate change
Author: Roshan R. Rao and Monto Mani
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (9) 945-954 (2023)
Subject: Preliminary insights into the impact between photovoltaic installations and climate change
Keywords: Ambient temperature, climate change, failure probability, performance and service life, solar photovoltaics
Abstract: Solar photovoltaic (PV) installations are growing exponentially globally, with a rising fraction of solar PVs in
the renewable energy mix. Climate change is also expected to influence PV installations worldwide. Understanding the climate change impact on PV installations
has been the scope of many recent studies. This article
reviews recent studies on climate change impacts on
PV installations based on the present scenario, and examines the effect of rising temperatures on the performance
and service life of PV installations. On the contrary,
PV installations may also cause an increase in the local
ambient temperature. The impact of PV installations
on the local and global climate is yet to be established.
Comprehensive studies need to be undertaken to examine
the impact between climate change and the performance
of PV installations.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Turconi, R., Boldrin, A. and Astrup, T., Life cycle assessment
(LCA) of electricity generation technologies: overview, comparability
and limitations. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev., 2013, 28, 555–565
Weckend, S., Wade, A. and Heath, G., IRENA and IEA-PVPS,
end-of-life management: solar photovoltaic panels. International
Renewable Energy Agency and International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems. IEA-PVPS Report Number T12-06, 2016
Literature cited 2: Ludt, B., How to decommission a solar array, and why is it important
to plan ahead? 2019; https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/
2019/03/how-to-decommission-a-solar-array-and-why-its-important to-plan-ahead/.
Nemet, G. F., Net radiative forcing from widespread deployment of
photovoltaics. Environ. Sci. Technol., 2009, 43, 2173–2178
ID: 65020
Title: Maintaining agricultural sustainability through carbon footprint management
Author: Sumit Sow, Shivani Ranjan, Biswaranjan Behera, Mainak Ghosh, Sanjay Kumar and Swaraj Kumar Dutta
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (9) 939-944 (2023)
Subject: Maintaining agricultural sustainability through carbon footprint management
Keywords: Agricultural management, carbon footprint, climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, soil health.
Abstract: Global awareness of climate change issues, particularly changes in air temperature, has increased
dramatically over the last half a century. Concerns regarding ecosystem sustainability and human
existence on Earth arise due to population expansion, rising surface temperatures and increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Agriculture accounts for approximately 18% of the total GHG emissions, largely in the form of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. As a result, limiting GHG
emissions is critical to alleviating the consequences of climate change, which is attainable if the
concept of carbon footprint is understood. Cereal production produces more GHG emissions than
other farming methods, including vegetables and fruits. ‘Carbon footprint’ is a popular term in agriculture and environmental research due to its involvement in environmental impact assessments and
global climate change. GHG emissions are influenced by changes in land use, soil type and agricultural management approaches. Therefore, it is important to consider how agricultural management
practices, particularly those involving the soil and related systems, affect the relationships between
photosynthesis and GHG emissions. This study deals with the concept of carbon footprint in agriculture and various mitigation measures for its management
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Babur, E. and Dindaroglu, T., Seasonal changes of soil organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon in different forest ecosystems. In
Environmental Factors Affecting Human Health, IntechOpen,
2020, vol. 1, pp. 1–21.
Udara Willhelm Abeydeera, L. H., Wadu Mesthrige, J. and Samarasinghalage, T. I., Global research on carbon emissions: a scientometric
review. Sustainability, 2019, 11, 3972; doi:10.3390/su11143972.
Literature cited 2: Gao, T., Liu, Q. and Wang, J., A comparative study of carbon footprint and assessment standards. Int. J. Low-Carbon Technol., 2013,
9(3), 237–243; doi:10.1093/ijlct/ctt041.
Ozlu, E. and Arriaga, F. J., The role of carbon stabilization and
minerals on soil aggregation in different ecosystems. Catena, 2021,
202, 105303; doi:10.1016/j.catena.2021.105303.
ID: 65019
Title: Camera-trapping records of Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) from Shergarh Wildlife Sanctuary in the semi-arid western Indian landscape
Author: Prayas auddy, Kaushik koli , Ayan sadhu, Sedu ram Yadav ,Alok nath Gupta, Qamar qureshi Yadvendradev V. Jhala
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (9) 820-825 (2023)
Subject: Camera-trapping records of Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) from Shergarh Wildlife Sanctuary in the semi-arid western Indian landscape
Keywords: Camera-trapping records of Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata Shergarh, Wildlife Sanctuary, semi-arid, western Indian landscape
Abstract: Indian pangolins or thick-tailed pangolins,
Manis crassicaudata (the word crassicaudata derived from Latin words crassus
(thick or heavy) and cauda (tail)), are medium-sized mammals weighing between
and 18 kg. They primarily feed on termites
and ants, and their specialized feeding habit,
known as myrmecophagy, has led to specific morphological adaptations such as a long
sticky tongue and long sharp claws1
. The keratinized scales of pangolins act as an
armour, protecting them when they curl up
into a ball (referred to as ‘pengguling’, a
Malay word meaning ‘rolling up’) in response to threats
. Ironically, these scales,
which evolved to protect pangolins against
predators, now drive them to extinction as
thousands of pangolins are killed for their
scales every year by humans
. Indian pangolins face extreme risk of extinction due
to poaching, habitat loss and fragmentation
. Their habitat extends from northern
Burma and the southern Yunnan Province
in China to the eastern parts of Punjab and
Sindh in Pakistan, as well as most of India,
Nepal, and Bangladesh5
. Despite the wide
range of pangolins, little is known about
their distribution and status, except for a
few presence records obtained from the
semiarid regions of western India
, moist
deciduous forests of North Bengal
, tropical moist forests of the Western Ghats10 and
the lower Shivalik hills of Himachal Pradesh
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Karawita, H., Perera, P. and Pabasara, M.,
In Proceedings of International Forestry
and Environment Symposium, 2016, vol.
21, p. 34.
Mahmood, T., Mohapatra, R. K., Perera,
P., Irshad, N., Akrim, F., Andleeb, S. and
Panda, S., In Pangolins: Science, Society
and Conservation (eds Challender, D. W.
S., Nash, H. C. and Waterman, C.), Academic Press, London, UK, 2020, pp. 71–88;
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-815507-
3.00005-8
Literature cited 2: Yasmeen, R., Aslam, I. and Gondal, A.,
Pak. J. Sci., 2021, 73(3).
Baillie, J., Challender, D., Kaspai, P.,
Khatiwada, A., Mohapatra, R. and Nash,
H., Manis crassicaudata, Indian pangolin,
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species,
eT12761A45221874, 2014; https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-2.RLTS.T1276-
1A45221874.
ID: 65018
Title: Learning botany in the field: can we afford to give it a miss?
Author: Sunil Dutta Purohit
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (9) 930-931 (2023)
Subject: Learning botany in the field: can we afford to give it a miss?
Keywords: Learning botany in the field
Abstract: The throbbing and rich discipline that Botany
is today is due to its founders who travelled
across the Earth studying plants growing
in different parts and geographical niches
of the world. Equipped with a keen sense
of observation, they helped develop the
discipline of field botany that records the
habit and habitat of a plant and assists in
the taxonomic identification of plants, including those that appear similar but, in reality,
are different. Field study is an essential and
integral part of learning about living organisms, including plants, animals and the
teeming microbes that outnumber all plants
and animals taken together. Learning biology
in field settings is a real-time experience
which helps develop creativity, environmental awareness and a sense of accountability
towards nature among students. Observations on the natural habitats, plant habits,
ecology, growth cycle and biology provide
deep insights regarding plants that are important sources of food, fuelwood, timber
and medicine. Since neither the environment
nor the diverse living organisms inhabiting
a constantly changing interconnected world
remain the same, field botany is never static
and requires monitoring by the days, weeks,
months and years.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Dayton, P., In The Way of Natural History
(ed. Fleischner, T. L.), Trinity University
Press, 2011, pp. 65–80
Literature cited 2: Mogk, D. W. and Goodwin, C., In Earth and
Mind II: A Synthesis of Research on Thinking and Learning in the Geoscience (eds
Kastens, K. A. and Manduca, C. A.), Geological Society of America, Special Paper
No. 486, 2012, pp. 131–163
ID: 65017
Title: Study of morphological changes and natural degradation in agarwood (Acquilaria agallocha Roxb.) bark-based Sanchi manuscripts of Assam, North East India
Author: U.Das
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (8) 801-907 (2023)
Subject: Study of morphological changes and natural degradation in agarwood (Acquilaria agallocha Roxb.) bark-based Sanchi manuscripts of Assam, North East India
Keywords: Agarwood, cellulose crystallinity, lignocellulosic degradation, morphological changes, traditional manuscripts.
Abstract: No experimental study has been done so far on the
natural degradation of the traditional Sanchi manuscripts made from the bark of agarwood (aloeswood,
i.e. Acquilaria agallocha Roxb., locally known as Sanchi
tree in Assam, North East India). In this study, SEM,
FTIR, XRD and stress–strain test using UTM were
carried out on lignocellulosic Sanchi manuscripts to
determine cellulosic variations. Reduction of crystallinity index of cellulose, decrease in tensile strength
and toughness indicated the natural degradation of
Sanchi manuscript. The study reveals that the Sanchi
manuscripts are highly vulnerable to natural degradation, and therefore need scientific techniques and
treatments to prolong lignocellulosic changes.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Agrawal, O. P. and Barkeshi, M., Conservation of Books, Manuscripts and Paper Documents, INTACH Conservation Institute,
Lucknow, 1997, pp. 32–35.
Giuliani, M. R. and Nugari, M. P., A case of fungal biodeterioration
on an ancient textile. In Pre‐prints of the Ninth Triennial Meeting of the
ICOM Committee for Conservation, Washington DC, USA, 1993,
pp. 305–307.
Literature cited 2: Gupta, K. K., An introduction to the traditional practices for the
control of bio-deterioration of manuscripts. In Indigenous Traditions
and Manuscript Preservation, National Mission for Manuscripts,
New Delhi, 2006, pp. 35–59.
Rowell, R. M., Chemical modification of lignocellulosics. In Proceedings of the International Workshop on Frontiers of Surface
Modification and Characterization of Lignocellulosic Fibers (eds
Gatenholm, P. and Chihani, T.), Fiskebackskil, Sweden, 30–31
May 1996, pp. 31–47, ISBN 91-7197-593-4; https://www.fpl.fs.
usda.gov/documnts/pdf1996/rowel96c.pdf