Tag: Biodiversity and Environment

In News Recently, Researchers have identified genes in Africa’s local food crops that can improve resistance to drought. About Orphan crops Meaning: Orphan crops are nutritious local food crops that could play a crucial role in combating hunger.  These crops are not traded internationally but have adapted themselves to grow in harsh weather conditions.  Crops: […]

Context Indian Virtual Herbarium is generating a lot of interest and turning out to be an eye-catching endeavour. About Indian Virtual Herbarium It is a database of dried plants that maximises the usefulness of the collections. Apart from digital images of the herbarium specimens, the label data on each species include all information about the […]

In Context Recently, India has designated five new wetlands of international importance, taking the total number of Ramsar sites in the country to 54. More about the news The new sites are: Karikili Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu,  Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest in Tamil Nadu, Pichavaram Mangrove Forest in Tamil Nadu,  Pala wetland in Mizoram,   […]

In News Recently, a study by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) on snow leopards has thrown up interesting insights on the elusive mountain cat and its prey species.   About Snow leopard Scientific Name: Panthera uncia. Habitat: Cold High Mountains. These are found in 12 countries including China, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia & […]

In News Recently, Scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun and the Himachal Pradesh forest department have calculated the density and population of Asiatic black bears in two Protected Areas (PAs) of Himachal Pradesh. About Asiatic Black Bears The scientists calculated the population density of the bears for Darangati Wildlife Sanctuary and Rupi Bhaba. […]

In News Recently, a study revealed that the marine heat wave that hit the western Indian Ocean and the northern Bay of Bengal the most will be a permanent feature by the end of the century. Major outcomes of the recent study From 1901 to 2012: the western Indian Ocean warmed up by 1.28°C against […]

In News Recently, water hyacinth was used to make eco-friendly products, generate employment in rural West Bengal. Water Hyacinth About: Scientifically known as Eichhornia crassipes Mart. (Pontederiaceae) It is an aquatic weed common in water bodies across South Asia, including India.  This is not an indigenous species but was introduced to India during the British […]

In Context Recently, four new species of corals were recorded in the Indian waters of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Major Findings: The newly recorded species are: Truncatoflabellum crassum,  T. incrustatum ,  T. aculeatum , and  T. irregulare  They are a part of the family Flabellidae.  These species belong to the group “azooxanthellate corals”. These […]