ID: 66378
Title: South Asian Summer Monsoon: Processes, Prediction and Societal Impacts
Author: Reviewed by (Ranjan Kelkar, Sulochana Gadgil)
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (12) 1246-1246 25 June (2025)
Subject: South Asian Summer Monsoon: Processes, Prediction and Societal Impacts
Keywords: None
Abstract: If we search the available scientific literature with ‘monsoon’ as the search term, we will be flooded with literally thousands of papers as search results. On the contrary, if we look for books about the monsoon, we would face a drought with just a few titles displayed. The bestseller so far has been Alexander Frater’s travelogue Chasing the Monsoon, which he wrote in 1991 and is now available in its 21st edition. The other most popular book has been The Monsoons by P. K. Das, published by the National Book Trust India in 1968. It is a science book written with the lay reader in mind, and has since been updated four times and translated into several languages. For the monsoon researchers, however, whether in India or elsewhe the definitive book has so far been Southwest Monsoon by Y. P. Rao, published in 1976 as a monograph of the India Meteorological Department.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1:
Literature cited 2:


ID: 66377
Title: Trees of Bangalore (2 Vol. set)
Author: Reviewed by ( Madhav Gadgil)
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (12) 1245-1245 25 June (2025)
Subject: Trees of Bangalore (2 Vol. set)
Keywords: None
Abstract: Trees of Bangalore by K Sankara Rao in two volumes is a most attractive, indeed charming, coffee table book focusing on not just flowering trees, but also shrubs, woody climbers, canes, palms and cycads of the city. It covers a total of 795 plant species, each with a number of photographs, a careful description of the morphology, and English, Kannada, and often Hindi and Sanskrit names. Technical terms used in the morphological descriptions are carefully explained with the help of not just verbal, but also a 22-page pictorial glossary with over 260 photographs. This pictorial glossary is itself a feast for the eyes for any plant lover. There are other books on trees of various cities such as Delhi and Mumbai, but none comes close to this book in the wealth and clarity of the information. The 795 species have been recorded from the natural dry deciduous forest of the Bannerghatta National Park, LalBagh Botanical Garden, a number of institutional campuses such as that of the Indian Institute of Science, Foundation for the Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions and the University of Agriculture Science. This is supplemented by records of trees of some sacred groves and those associated with temples, as well as around the old villages, along streets, in business places, and in house yards.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1:
Literature cited 2:


ID: 66376
Title: Bridgeoporus kanadii, a new colossal species of Bridgeoporus (Basidiomycota, Fungi) from Arunachal Pradesh, India
Author: Arvind Parihar, Manoj Emanuel Hembrom and Arijit Ghosh
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (12) 1234-1241 25 June (2025)
Subject: Bridgeoporus kanadii, a new colossal species of Bridgeoporus (Basidiomycota, Fungi) from Arunachal Pradesh, India
Keywords: Bridgeoporus, macrofungi, molecular phylogeny, morphology, taxonomy
Abstract: The hidden realm of fungi in India’s biodiversity hotspots continues to yield fascinating discoveries. Arunachal Pradesh, a treasure trove of natural wonders, has recently surprised scientists with the unearthing of a giant, unique wood-decaying species of macrofungi. But the intrigue does not stop with scientists! To spark curiosity and interest for mycology among the common people, reference specimens of this giant fungus will be showcased at the Industrial Section Indian Museum (ISIM), Kolkata. This species is described in the present article with morphology and molecular phylogeny. This new species is also the initial generic record of the macrofungal genus Bridgeoporus from India.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Cooke, W.B., Oxyporus nobilissimus and the genus Oxyporus in North America. Mycologia, 1949, 41(4), 442–455. Gilbertson, R. L. and Ryvarden, L., North American Polypores. Vol. 2. Abortiporus-Lindtneria, Fungilora, Oslo, Norway, 1986. 433 p
Literature cited 2: Ryvarden, L., Genera of polypores: nomenclature and taxonomy, Synopsis Fungorum, Oslo, Norway, 1991. 363 p. Roy, A. and De, A. B., Polyporaceae of India. International Book Distributors, Dehradun, 1996. pp. 309


ID: 66375
Title: Key hydrogeological aspects of landslides in Western Ghats of Maharashtra
Author: Vaibhav Belhekar and Himanshu Kulkarni
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (12) 1225-1233 25 June (2025)
Subject: Key hydrogeological aspects of landslides in Western Ghats of Maharashtra
Keywords: Antecedent rainfall, disaster, landslide hydrology, remote sensing, Western Ghats
Abstract: The frequency and intensity of landslides in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India, have increased. The present study examines the unprecedented series of landslides in the Choravane watershed in July 2021, where 94 landslides were triggered by prolonged and intense rainfall. Many occurred in undisturbed forested areas, indicating that the landslides are not always associated with human-modified slopes. Our findings highlight the role of extended rainfall, distinctive lithology of the Deccan Volcanic Province and groundwater dynamics, particularly subsurface saturation and pore pressure, in landslide initiation. These insights have implications for hazard prediction and mitigation.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Highland, L. and Bobrowsky, P., The Landslide Handbook — A Guide to Understanding Landslides. U. S. Geological Survey Circular 1325, Reston, Virginia, 2008, p. 129. NDMA, National Landslide Risk Management Strategy. National Disaster Management Authority, Government of India, 2019.
Literature cited 2: Gariano, S. L. and Guzzetti, F., Landslides in a changing climate. Earth-Sci. Rev., 2016, 162, 227–252. Kale, V. S., Nulkar, G., Upasani, D., Tamboli, A., Aslekar, U. and Kulkarni, H., Landslides of Western Maharashtra: rapid appraisal for developing improved preparedness and early warning systems for landslides in Western Maharashtra and Konkan Regions, Maharashtra State. Advanced Centre for Water Resources Development and Management, Pune, India, 2022.


ID: 66374
Title: Authentication and trade of true cinnamon: need for regulation and promotion of sustainable cultivation
Author: V. Sundaresan
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (12) 1210-1214 25 June (2025)
Subject: Authentication and trade of true cinnamon: need for regulation and promotion of sustainable cultivation
Keywords: Authentication, Ceylon cinnamon, cinnamaldehyde, Cinnamomum verum, coumarin, trade regulation.
Abstract: Humans have been incorporating spices into their diets for centuries. Initially, spices served to mask unpleasant flavours and odours in food, but over time, they became essential for enhancing taste and aroma. Cinnamon has been one of the most coveted spices globally for thousands of years, following black pepper. True cinnamon comes from the bark of Cinnamomum verum, a species native to Sri Lanka and often referred to as ‘Ceylon cinnamon’. Due to the limited availability and ever-growing demand for Ceylon cinnamon, many similar-looking species from the Cinnamomum genus are falsely marketed as genuine cinnamon. This practice raises health concerns because these substitutes often contain coumarin, a potentially harmful compound. Consequently, there is a pressing need to ensure proper identification and regulation of cinnamon in trade to protect consumers and uphold quality standards.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Yuan, H., Ma, Q., Ye, L. and Piao, G., The traditional medicine and modern medicine from natural products. Molecules, 2016, 21, 559; https://doi:10.3390/molecules21050559. Press Information Bureau, Export of Herbal Medicines, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, 2019; https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.as -px?PRID=1594929 (accessed on 8 September 2024).
Literature cited 2: The Economic Times, 2023; https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ small-biz/trade/exports/insights/india-exported-ayush-herbalproducts-worth-1240-6-million-dollars-in-last-two-years-govt-torajya-sabha/articleshow/102560037.cms?from=mdr (accessed on 8 September 2024). Mrityunjaya, M., Pavithra, V., Neelam, R., Janhavi, P., Halami, P. M. and Ravindra, P. V., Immune-boosting, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory food supplements targeting pathogenesis of COVID-19. Front. Immunol., 2020, 1, 570122; https:// doi:10.3389/fimmu.2020.570122.


ID: 66373
Title: Association of RANK gene variants with its circulatory level and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with and without osteoporosis
Author: Priya Dixit , Israr Ahmad, Shah Waliullah and Tabrez Jafar
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (12) 1200-1209 25 June (2025)
Subject: Association of RANK gene variants with its circulatory level and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with and without osteoporosis
Keywords: BMD, haplotype, osteoporosis, receptor activator of nuclear factor κ B, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand.
Abstract: The present study aims to explore the possible association pattern of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANK) gene variants (rs 35211496 and rs 1805034) with its circulatory level and bone mineral density (BMD) in North Indian postmenopausal women. In this case-control study, we recruited 165 postmenopausal osteoporotic women as cases (age 54.44 ± 6.00) and 165 healthy postmenopausal women as controls (age 54.47 ± 6.46). BMDs were taken in all subjects using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry at different skeletal sites, and genotyping was carried out using polymerase chain reaction and the restriction fragment length polymorphism method. RANK serum levels were also assessed in all enrolled subjects by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Findings from the present study indicated that subjects with homozygous mutant TT genotype of rs35211496 (NC_000018.10 : g.62354528C > T) and rs1805034 (NC_000018.10 : g.62360008C > T) showed significantly low BMD at forearm, lumbar spine, hip and femoral neck and increased RANK level as compared to CC and CT genotypes. Furthermore, at rs1805034, a significant difference was noted in the frequency of RANK genotypes and alleles among osteoporotic cases and controls (P = 0.021; 0.005) respectively.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Khosla, S., Pathogenesis of age-related bone loss in humans. J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., 2013, 68(10), 1226-35. Nachtigall, M. J., Nazem, T. G., Nachtigall, R. H. and Goldstein, S. R., Osteoporosis risk factors and early life-style modifications to decrease disease burden in women. Clin. Obstet. Gynecol., 2013, 56(4), 650-653.
Literature cited 2: Cheung, C. L., Xiao, S. M. and Kung, A. W., Genetic epidemiology of age-related osteoporosis and its clinical applications. Nat. Rev. Rheumatol., 2010, 6(9), 507-517. Ansari, M. G. A. et al., Influence of bone mineral density in circulating adipokines among postmenopausal Arab women. Saudi J. Biol. Sci., 2020, 27(1),374-379.


ID: 66372
Title: Basmati rice varietal differentiate using Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data in Google Earth Engine
Author: Dharmesh Verma, Manik H. Kalubarme , A. N. Singh, Brajendra and Ritesh Sharma
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (12) 1188-1199 25 June (2025)
Subject: Basmati rice varietal differentiate using Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data in Google Earth Engine
Keywords: Basmati rice varieties, Chlorophyll Index Red (CIred-edge), Chlorophyll Index Green (CIgreen), Google Earth Engine, Random Forest.
Abstract: A study on Basmati rice variety differentiation was carried out in two districts of Haryana, using Sentinel-1 SAR and Sentinel-2 MSI time series data and a Random Forest (RF) classifier on the Google Earth Engine cloud computing platform. The fortnightly composite stack of VH-VV difference and Sentinel-2 multispectral bands and their Red-edge indices, Chlorophyll Index (CIgreen and CIred-edge), was analysed. Basmati varieties could be distinguished into long- and shortduration and early Basmati. The accuracy of the RF classifier model was validated by computing the AUC and receiver operating characteristic curves. AUC was > 0.9, ensuring the best model fitting and high accuracy. The results revealed that long-duration Basmati varieties are being replaced by shorter-duration varieties.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Siddiq, E. A., Vemireddy, L. R. and Nagaraju, J., Basmati rices: genetics, breeding, and trade. Agric. Res., 2012, 1(1), 25–36; d10.1007/S40003-011-0011-5. Vineet Kumar, Mamta Kumari and Saha, S. K., Discrimination of basmati and non-basmati rice types using polarimetric target decomposition of temporal SAR data. Curr. Sci., 2016, 110(11), 2166.
Literature cited 2: Verma, D., Singh, A. N., Kalubarme, M. H., Saroha, G. P., Sharma, R. and Brajendra, Varietal discrimination, acreage estimation and yield prediction of basmati aromatic rice in North-Western India using satellite data. In: Remote Sensing of Agriculture and Land Cover/Land Use Changes in South and Southeast Asian Countries, 2022, pp. 163–186; doi:10.1007/978-3-030-92365-5_9. Patel, N. K., Medhavy, T. T., Patnaik, C. and Hussain, A., Multitemporal ERS-1 SAR data for identification of rice crop. J. Indian Soc. Remote Sensing, 1995, 12, 2259–2266.


ID: 66371
Title: Simulation study on efficient decarbonisation of coal-fired power plant flue gas using ionic liquid to capture CO2
Author: Pengjin Liu, Hongwei Mu, Jiafa Du, Jianfei Sun, Yongliang Zhang* , Bin Liu and Wentao Fan
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (12) 1167-1168 25 June (2025)
Subject: Simulation study on efficient decarbonisation of coal-fired power plant flue gas using ionic liquid to capture CO2
Keywords: Aspen Plus, carbon dioxide, CO2 capture, ionic liquids, process simulation
Abstract: The carbon dioxide (CO2) emission reduction technology has the limitation of high energy consumption, and the development of new and efficient capture media is a new way to achieve green and high-value utilisation of CO2. However, ionic liquids (ILs) have attracted the attention of researchers as a novel capture medium. In this study, Aspen Plus software was used to examine the process of capturing CO2 from flue gas of coal-fired power plants using ILs. The physical properties of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Bmim][BF4]) were analysed using known experimental data, and a process flow for physical absorption of CO2 was established. Based on the established full process model, a sensitivity analysis was conducted on the absorption tower and flash tank. The process simulation results showed that increasing the number of absorption tower plates and the lean liquid flow rate benefits CO2 absorption. The optimised absorption pressure is 3.0 MPa, the number of trays is 15, the lean liquid absorbent flow rate is 500 kmol/hr, the lean liquid feed temperature is 50°C, and the optimal operating conditions for the flash evaporation tank are a recovery pressure of 0.3 MPa and a recovery temperature of 150°C. The calculation of direct equipment investment cost in the process shows that with the increase of lean liquid load, the investment cost of all equipment except for the reboiler increases.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Yuan, J. et al., Indoor carbon dioxide capture technologies: a review. Environ. Chem. Lett., 2023, 21(5), 2559-2581; https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-023-01620-3. Navik, R., Wang, E., Ding, X., Qiu, K. and Li, J., Atmospheric carbon dioxide capture by adsorption on amine-functionalized silica composites: a review. Environ Chem Lett., 2024, 22(4), 1791-183; https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-024-01737-z.
Literature cited 2: Ochedi, F. O., Yu, J., Yu, H., Liu, Y. and Hussain, A., Carbon dioxide capture using liquid absorption methods: a review. Environ. Chem. Lett., 2021, 19(1), 77-109; https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-020-01093- 8. Wang, F. C., Liu, F., Zhao, R., Wang, T., Han, T., Yang, J. Y. and Fang, M. X., Process simulation and techno-economic analysis on 150000t/year CO2 chemical absorption process from flue gas based on DEEA/MEA biphasic solvent. Proc. CSEE. 2021, 41(23), 8088; https://doi.org/10.13334/j.0258-8013.pcsee.201362.


ID: 66370
Title: Prolonged presence of Palearctic winter migrants in the Thar Desert, India: implications for climate change and avian migration phenology
Author: Manasi Mukherjee,
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (12) 1174-1175 10 June (2025)
Subject: Prolonged presence of Palearctic winter migrants in the Thar Desert, India: implications for climate change and avian migration phenology
Keywords: None
Abstract: A pair of breeding adult Western Yellow Wagtails (Motacilla flava) was recorded on 2 May 2025 at 07:45 a.m. in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, within the Thar Desert landscape. The Western Yellow Wagtail is a small, slender passerine (body length 15–16 cm, weight 15–23 g) of the family Motacillidae, distinguished by its bright yellow underparts, olivegreen upperparts and prominent supercilium. The individuals recorded during this trail were wholly bright yellow below, with a greenish back. The head was blue-grey with white eyebrow (Figure 1). The recorded plumage indicates it to be a breeding male regionally from central and Southwest Europe. The species is polytypic, with several subspecies recognised across its broad Palearctic range1 . M. flava breeds across temperate Europe and Central Asia and migrates to sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia for the non-breeding season. In India, it is a regular winter migrant, typically arriving late September and departing by February or early March1 . Bar chart data from eBird corroborate this pattern, showing a marked decline in records from March onwards in Rajasthan2 . The IUCN Red List currently classifies the Western Yellow Wagtail as Least Concern, but recent assessments indicate declining populations in parts of its range , attributed to habitat loss and agricultural intensification. Alongside this observation, Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus) and Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla), both winter migrants to the Indian subcontinent, were also recorded at the same site in late April 2025
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: 1. SoIB. State of India’s Birds factsheet: Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava (State: Rajasthan), 2023; https://stateofindiasbirds.in/species/rjeaywag1/ (accessed on 3 May 2025). Sullivan, B. L., Wood, C. L., Iliff, M. J., Bonney, R. E., Fink, D. and Kelling, S., Biol. Conserv., 2009, 142, 2282–2292; https://ebird.org/species/eaywag1/IN-RJ-JO
Literature cited 2: Dossman, C. B., Amanda D. Rodewald, Colin E. S. and Peter, P. M., Ecology, 104(2), e3938; https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.3938. Thorup, K., Tøttrup, A. P. and Rahbek, C., Oecologia, 2007, 151(4), 697–703.


ID: 66369
Title: Why is ‘North-East’ a natural laboratory of geodiversity in India?
Author: Krishanu Datta
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (12) 1171-1173 10 June (2025)
Subject: Why is ‘North-East’ a natural laboratory of geodiversity in India?
Keywords: Brahmaputra plain, Eastern Himalaya, geodiversity, Meghalaya Plateau, North-East India.
Abstract: The north-eastern part of India, consisting of seven states, namely Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura, can serve as a natural laboratory of geodiversity in India. This living laboratory can offer important insights into the geotectonic evolution of South and South-East Asia, the quaternary fluvial dynamics, the richest karst topography, the Meghalayan age, the site associated with one of the best preserved and most complete records of K–Pg boundary transitions worldwide, and the nexus among geodiversity, biodiversity and human health and wellbeing. Therefore, the concerned region requires a comprehensive geotourism policy that will not only promote its unique geological diversity but also help to conserve all kinds of geological, ecological and even cultural treasures that the region has since time immemorial.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Dikshit, K. R. and Dikshit, J. K., NorthEast India: Land, People and Economy, Springer, Dordrecht Heidelberg, the Netherlands, 2014, pp. 1–16. Baruah, S. and Hazarika, D., Curr. Sci., 2008, 95(2), 176–177.
Literature cited 2: Borah, N. and Kumar, A., Geomat. Nat. Hazards Risk, 2022, 14(1), 1–38. Soibam, I., Khuman, M. CH. and Subhamenon, S. S., Geol. Soc. Spec. Publ., 2015, 413, 301–331


ID: 66368
Title: India’s pioneering high-altitude atmospheric and climate research in the Himalayas
Author: Rajput, Abhay S. D. Gupta, Navneet K.
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (12) 1169-1170 10 June (2025)
Subject: India’s pioneering high-altitude atmospheric and climate research in the Himalayas
Keywords: None
Abstract: India is constantly upgrading its meteorological infrastructure and capabilities for making high-precision weather predictions and climate projections on regional and global scales. Advanced climate models powered by supercomputing facilities and large-scale observational data have significantly improved India’s capabilities to forecast weather and climate events, including extreme weather events such as tropical cyclones and tsunamis, on different spatio-temporal scales. However, the predictive capabilities of climate models remain restrained due to the lack of adequate observational atmospheric data from high-altitude regions1 , especially the Himalayas – the ‘Third Pole’ of the Earth2 . Such underrepresentation of the Himalayas limits our understanding of the global weather and climate processes.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Krishnan, R. et al., The Hindu Kush Himalaya Assessment (eds. Wester, P. et al.), Springer, Cham, 2019, pp. 57–97; https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92288- 1_3. Das, L. and Meher, J. K., EarthSci. Rev., 2019, 198, 102935; https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2019.102935.
Literature cited 2: Dimri, A. P. et al., Global Planet. Change, 2018, 162, 212–234; https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2018.01.015. Ouyang, L., Yang, K., Lu, H., Chen, Y., Lazhu, Zhou, X. and Wang, Y., J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 2020, 125, e2019JD031502; https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JD031502


ID: 66367
Title: Survival concerns in endemic trees of India
Author: P. Venu M. Sanjappa
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (12) 1167-1168 10 June (2025)
Subject: Survival concerns in endemic trees of India
Keywords: None
Abstract: Trees are distinctive from other life forms of plants as they characterise the landscape they prevail in and live for decades with minimal attention. They are well-adapted and resilient to their situations and provide ecological, economic, cultural, and aesthetic payoffs to many beneficiaries. About 22,214 species represent the country’s entire wealth of flowering plants as per the records of the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) (Plant Discoveries, 2024). Trees constitute 3460 species, including 1262 introduced species, and 27% of them are exclusively confined to the Indian flora and are recognised as Indian endemic species (Pusalker et al., Trees of India, Vol. 1, 2025). These are restricted species; occasionally, the range is symbolised by a single population (point endemics), thereby susceptible to extinction. Their elimination here amounts to their global elimination. Our concerns naturally go with them in the prioritisation of species conservation. India, which is committed to biodiversity conservation and is a signatory to multiple conservation treaties, has a greater obligation to protect them. The IUCN Red List (1964) uses five criteria: the species’ population decline or increase/geographic range/small population size decline/very small or restricted population/quantitative analysis to assess the threat of species extinction. The guidelines for applying the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria are accessible with Version 16, March 2024, which are being adopted by many countries to prioritise species for conservation. This red list categorisation assesses information about range, population size, habitat and ecology, use and/or trade, threats, and conservation actions taken, if any. The said information on the species concerned is to be collected through extensive and intensive field explorations in their probable areas of presence. It expedites necessary conservation decisions. The species’ status can be updated and revised as one acquires more quality data from field work.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1:
Literature cited 2:


ID: 66366
Title: Dispersal record of a striped hyena from a camera trap survey
Author: Kainat Latafat, Ayan Sadhu* , Qamar Qureshi and Yadvendradev V. Jhala
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (11) 1137-1139 10 June (2025)
Subject: Dispersal record of a striped hyena from a camera trap survey
Keywords: Corbett Tiger Reserve, corridors, dispersal distance, hyena, Rajaji Tiger Reserve, Terai Arc Landscape.
Abstract: Dispersal plays a vital role in shaping large carnivores’ demography and distribution, ensuring their long-term persistence through gene flow between populations. Dispersal events of large carnivores are difficult to record as they are cryptic and disperse long distances from their area of origin. While the ecology and behaviour of striped hyena are well studied, information on dispersal is scarce. The present study documented a dispersal event of a striped hyena recorded from camera traps, where the individual dispersed from Rajaji National Park, Uttarakhand, India, and adjoining Shyampur forests to Corbett Tiger Reserve (Kalagarh), covering 85 km from its first capture, which is significantly larger than the average maximum distance travelled (4.95 km, range = 0.7–9.48 km) by hyenas, as obtained from the camera traps. Our findings emphasised the importance of large-scale camera trap surveys to study different aspects of multi-taxa systems, and depicted the functional connectivity between Corbett and Rajaji which is crucial to maintain gene flow in the larger landscape.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Howard, W. E., Innate and environmental dispersal of individual vertebrates. Am. Midl. Nat., 1960, 63, 152–161. Greenwood, P. J., Mating systems, philopatry and dispersal in birds and mammals. Anim. Behav., 1980, 28(4), 1140–1162.
Literature cited 2: Travis, J. M. et al., Dispersal and species’ responses to climate change. Oikos, 2013, 122(11), 1532–1540. Habib, B., Ghaskadbi, P., Khan, S., Hussain, Z. and Nigam, P., Not a cakewalk: insights into movement of large carnivores in human dominated landscapes in India. Ecol. Evol., 2021


ID: 66365
Title: Synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles through green route and its application in methylene blue dye degradation
Author: Jayant K. Jogi , S. K. Singhal, Ravindra Jangir , Ashish Tanna , Sangita Chavda , Nikesh Shah , Madan Singh and Divya N. Panchotia
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (11) 1133-1136 10 June (2025)
Subject: Synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles through green route and its application in methylene blue dye degradation
Keywords: Green synthesis, nanoparticles, photocatalysis, X-ray techniques.
Abstract: Zinc oxide nanomaterial, called ‘ZnO-G’ was synthesised by sol–gel auto combustion method using lemon juice. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction along with Rietveld refinement validated the single-phased hexagonal structure with P63mc wurtzite space group. The estimated average crystallite size of ZnO-G by Williamson–Hall plot was 24 nm and obtained particle size from field emission scanning electron microscopy was 70 nm. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed the purity of ZnO-G. In the presence of sunlight, maximum photodegradation (94%) of methylene blue dye was obtained by employing ZnO-G because of photo-induced charge carriers in conduction and valence bands.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Arulraj, A., Senthil, T. S., Mangalaraja, R. V., Anitha, R. and Vijayalakshmi, V., Improved photocatalytic activity for degradation of methylene blue dye using ZnO NPs. Mater. Lett., 2024, 362, 136176. Mir, N., Salavati-Niasari, M. and Davar, F., Preparation of ZnO nanoflowers and Zn glycerolate nanoplates using inorganic precursors via a convenient rout and application in dye sensitized solar cells. Chem. Eng. J., 2012, 181–182, 779–789.
Literature cited 2: Özgür, Ü., Hofstetter, D. and Morkoç, H., ZnO devices and applications: a review of current status and future prospects. Proc. IEEE, 2010, 98, 1255–1268. Salavati-Niasari, M., Davar, F. and Khansari, A., Nanosphericals and nanobundles of ZnO: synthesis and characterization. J. Alloys Compd., 2011, 509, 61–65.


ID: 66364
Title: Characterisation of plant–pathogenic fungal associate from an invasive ambrosia beetle (Euplatypus parallelus) infesting rubber plantations of South India
Author: Aathira Pratap, Jithu Unni Krishnan, Prem Das Shanmughan and Murali Revanasiddappa
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (11) 1126-1132 10 June (2025)
Subject: Characterisation of plant–pathogenic fungal associate from an invasive ambrosia beetle (Euplatypus parallelus) infesting rubber plantations of South India
Keywords: Ambrosia beetles, Fusarium ambrosium, Fusarium solani, Hevea brasiliensis, mutualistic fungus.
Abstract: Ambrosia beetle infestations in rubber plantations of northern Kerala caused rapid tree decline, impacting farmers significantly. The present study focused on isolating and identifying fungal strains associated with Euplatypus parallelus, a recently reported invasive pest in rubber trees. Two fungal associates, Fusarium solani and Fusarium ambrosium, were identified. While F. Solani is a major sporulating plant pathogen; this marks its first report from adult E. parallelus beetles. Phytopathogenicity tests confirmed both isolates as pathogenic to rubber, with F. solani exhibiting higher virulence. The findings emphasise the need for stringent phytosanitary measures to prevent the spread of this infestation to other regions.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: National Rubber Policy (NRP)-Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, 2019. Rubber Board of India – Annual Report 2022–2023.
Literature cited 2: Hiremath, S. R. and Prathapan, K. D., First report of the invasive South American pinhole borer, Euplatypus parallelus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Platypodinae), on rubber in India. Coleopt. Bull., 2019, 73(3), 714; https://doi.org/10.1649/0010065x73.3.714. Hulcr, J., Atkinson, T. H., Cognato, A. I., Jordal, B. H. and McKenna, D. D., Morphology, taxonomy, and phylogenetics of bark beetles. In Elsevier eBooks, 2015, pp. 41–84; https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12- 417156-5.00002-2