News

• Role of livestock grazing in shaping long term population dynamics of a wild ungulate species

  

  A recent study led by Manvi Sharma, Assistant Professor, Ashoka University, Sonipat, and researchers from Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF), Bangalore, investigates the relationship between livestock grazing and the long-term population dynamics of wild herbivores. The findings highlight the need for conservation measures considering livestock influence.

  Posted on Sep 06, 2024 in Environmental Sciences, Ecology, Conservation Biology & Research

  ---

• Protecting the unprotected in the Bhagirathi basin

  

  Protecting India's rich biodiversity has usually taken the form of designating protected areas like national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Several of these are contiguous with larger landscapes that lack such protection status and that form continuous habitat ranges for many animals. In a recent study, a team of Indian researchers have highlighted the need for more focused conservation strategies in the Bhagirathi basin in Uttarakhand.

  Posted on Oct 28, 2020 in Environmental Sciences, Ecology, Conservation Biology & Research

  ---

• Human activities put dolphins at survival risk

  

  In an on-going effort to convert certain inland waterways into national waterways, many rivers are undergoing commercialization, including the Ganges. This has critically affected the habitat and survival of one of its flagship species, the endangered Ganges river dolphin. A recent study provides empirical scientific data to understand how anthropogenic interventions are impacting the already dwindling population of aquatic animals.

  Posted on Jan 29, 2020 in Environmental Sciences, Ecology, Conservation Biology & Research

  ---

• Solving the mystery of a fishy apocalypse

  

  Researchers from the Centre for Climate Studies, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, have discovered that the accumulation of chromium (a heavy metal) and low salinity might have caused mass death of fish in the Adyar estuary in Tamil Nadu in 2017.

  Posted on Sep 04, 2019 in Ecology, Conservation Biology & Research

  ---

• Is your vacation stressing out wildlife?

  

  While wildlife tourism serves as a revenue source for conservation efforts, it may have unintended consequences on the well-being of endangered mammal species. A new study reveals that tiger populations in protected areas experience elevated stress levels during the tourism season, which can negatively affect their health and reproduction.

  Posted on Sep 02, 2019 in Ecology, Conservation Biology & Research

  ---

• The insect-eating bats of Chikmagalur

  

  The coffee plantations of Chikmagalur in Karnataka have a healthy mix of crops and trees, a practice known as agroforestry. These plantations are inhabited by several species of insectivorous bats, which act as a natural pest-control system. A new study investigates the present diversity of such bat species under changing habitat conditions.

  Posted on May 03, 2019 in Agriculture, Ecology, Conservation Biology & Research

  ---

• A Gold Rush in the Mountains

  

  The caterpillar fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis), commonly known as Keera jari (in Hindi) and Yartsagunbu (in Tibetan) is famous for its use in traditional Asian medicine, sometimes selling at prices higher than its weight in gold. A recent study in the Indian Himalayas investigates how this fungus influences the livelihoods and economics of local communities and the possible ecological consequences of overharvesting and exploitation of this natural resource.

  Posted on Feb 25, 2019 in Environmental Sciences, Ecology, Conservation Biology & Research

  ---