Despite successful bans on the veterinary drug diclofenac in Nepal and parts of India, a decade-long undercover investigation reveals that toxic alternatives like flunixin and nimesulide are rapidly replacing it, posing a renewed existential threat to the region’s critically endangered vulture populations.

Ecology

New Delhi

Researchers from the IIITD, CSIR-IMT and DU designed NeuroPIpred, a web-based tool that uses machine learning techniques to craft insect-specific pesticides.

Bengaluru

In a recent study, researchers have reported the discovery of yet another species of frog in the Western Ghats of Kerala. This species, named Microhyla darreli belongs to the genus Microhyla, commonly known as narrow-mouthed frogs because of their triangular-shaped body and pointed snout. The frogs of this genus are widely distributed through Japan, China, India, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.

Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a free-floating perennial aquatic plant, native to the Amazon basin in South America. The beautiful, large, purple flowers make it a favourite ornamental plant. However, its beauty is only surface deep, since it has a bad reputation of being one of the worst aquatic weeds in the world.

Arunachal Pradesh

Researchers discover a new species of pitviper in Arunachal Pradesh and name it Trimeresurus arunachalensis or the Arunachal pitviper.

Bengaluru

Researchers from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, Aarhus University, Denmark, ICPO ‘Biologists for Nature Conservation’, Russia and the University of Washington, USA, have reported the effect of urbanisation on the diversity of birds.

Himachal Pradesh

Forests, with their rich biodiversity, play a critical role not only in the ecology of a region but also in social systems that involve humans. Researchers from the University of Illinois, USA, used artificial intelligence to evaluate the forest management policies in Himachal Pradesh, India.

Bengaluru

Researchers from IISc have found evidence that climate change is threatening the mountain-dwelling Royle’s pika.

Odisha

Researchers from the Natural History Museum, London, Wayanad Wild, the Wildlife Institute of India, Nature, Environment and Wildlife Society, and the Zoological Survey of India discover a new species of vine snake Ahaetulla laudankia in Odisha, India.

Imagine yourself enjoying the comforts of your home when you feel a sudden change in the atmosphere, and before you find out why, your skin starts to burn and you can hardly breathe. That’s when you realise that the place you have been living since ages has suddenly become a living hell.  Welcome to the world of marine animals!

Coimbatore

Researchers from the Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Coimbatore, and the Natural History Museum (NHM), London, UK, discover a new species of shieldtail snake, Uropeltis Bhupathyi, from the Anaikatty Hills in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

Search Research Matters