TROPICAL ECOSYSTEMS
How the stag beetle became the world’s most expensive insect and how much it costs
The stag beetle, one of the world's most expensive insects, can cost up to Rs. 75 lakh due to its rarity and perceived luck-bringing qualities. These insects thrive in warm climates, feed on sweet liquids and dead wood, and have a lifespan of 3 to 7 years. Their unique physical traits and roles in forest ecosystems make them highly valued, with applications even in medicinal practices.
Beverages maker RockClimber plans to raise $5 million, aims Rs 100 crore turnover
RockClimber targets Rs 100 crore in sales, raising $5M for expansion and online growth. Launching energy drinks and focusing on quality, they have 140 distributors, mainly targeting the Middle East and Africa. Co-founder Deepak Poduval emphasizes farmer support, tech integration, and mobile fruit processing to overcome challenges like reluctant farmers and price volatility.
Hunting behind disappearance of large animals: Study
A recent study from Aarhus University's ECONOVO Center concludes that human hunting, rather than climate change, was the primary cause of megafauna extinctions over the last 50,000 years. The loss of large animals has had significant ecological consequences, and the researchers emphasize the importance of active conservation and restoration efforts to mitigate these changes and support biodiversity.
Over 50 pc of world's mangroves at risk of collapse, climate change leading factor: IUCN
Global mangrove assessment reveals over half at risk, 1 in 5 severely, due to climate change and threats like deforestation. IUCN's Red List used to measure health of ecosystems.
From Planet to Plate: How India's culinary diversity can help you beat the heat and combat climate change
Alice Waters, renowned for advocating universal access to healthy, organic foods, emphasizes the impact of food choices on our bodies, families, communities, and environment. At a recent event featuring top Indian chefs, including Manish Mehrotra and Manjit Gill, the focus was on sustainable, indigenous ingredients and local culinary traditions. Waters' philosophy resonates with the launch of a book by the Centre for Science and Environment, highlighting recipes and traditional knowledge for sustainable food choices in a climate-affected world.
Indonesian delegation visits India to learn best practices in mid-day meal scheme & digital inclusion
Indonesian delegation explores collaboration with India on various initiatives under President-elect Prabowo, including mid-day meal scheme and digital inclusion. The visit aimed at fostering cooperation in biotechnology, agriculture, and digital infrastructure for mutual growth and development.
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'Mass bleaching event' threatens Australia's Great Barrier Reef's biodiversity
A 'mass bleaching event' is currently taking place on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, endangering diverse marine species. The seventh such event since 1998, climate change is biggest threat to coral reefs. Urgent action is needed to protect ecosystems and dependent plants and animals. Ocean temperatures have reached record levels, risking large-scale coral mortality. The frequency of bleaching events hampers reef recovery.
View: Artificial Intelligence isn't just a buzzword
While the global race in AI among countries and corporations focuses on developing the largest AI models, India is developing and deploying AI solutions to meet developmental challenges.
India Energy Storage Alliance makes case for comprehensive safety guidelines for EV batteries
Reflecting on the challenges faced globally, he underscored the need for comprehensive safety guidelines and heightened awareness. "Safety is something very important, and we at IESA have been focusing on it for the last seven-plus years," Rahul Walawalkar, President of IESA & MD, CES India said.
Research reveals climate change, logged forests force tropical mountain birds to higher elevations
The research, based on 10 years of data analysis, indicates that smaller bird species adapt better to higher temperatures, colonising logged forests, while larger species thrive in primary (undisturbed) forests.
Marine life is fleeing to the Poles due to elevated sea temperatures: Study
This mass movement of marine life, termed tropicalisation, is changing the ecological landscape of our oceans and leading to a cascade of consequences for ecosystems, biodiversity, and potentially the global economy, the researchers said.
Peru glaciers decimated by climate change: Report
Peru has lost 56% of its tropical glaciers in the last 60 years due to climate change, according to a government inventory. The melting has led to the creation of new mountain lagoons that risk overflowing and flooding. The report also revealed that 164 lagoons have been formed or are in the process of forming in the last four years. Nearly 20 million Peruvians benefit from the water that comes down from the glaciers, making the loss a significant concern for the country. The government is calling for measures to reduce pollution and protect the mountain ecosystem.
A widespread heat wave has ocean temperatures soaring to record levels
The world's oceans are experiencing the hottest temperatures in modern history, causing widespread devastation to coral reefs and other marine ecosystems. In July, the average temperature at sea reached a record high even beyond that of El Nino's impact, indicating that human-driven climate change is the root cause for the trend.
IITM, Pune signs MoU with Tezpur University to assess net ecosystem exchange of carbon dioxide in Kaziranga
The institutes will broadly collaborate in research areas such as biosphere-atmosphere exchange of green-house gases and energy, observation of meteorological and bio-meteorological parameters such as rainfall, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, radiation, soil temperature, soil heat flux, using Eddy Covariance and other systems.
Mountain environments are key to biodiversity - but the threats to them are being ignored
Increased warming in mountain environments will further amplify snow melt and reduce snow accumulation. Less snow and ice will result in a reduced availability of water downstream in the future, affecting the functioning of habitats in the mountain catchment.
This spooky season of Halloween, a look at 7 'creepy crawlies' that are absolutely crucial to Earth's ecosystems
Their alien-looking bodies might seem like the stuff of nightmares, but the vast majority of invertebrate species are harmless.
At least 20 quadrillion ants present on Earth: Study
A new study revealed that there are at least 20 quadrillion ants on Earth. The staggering figure likely underestimates the total population of the insects, which are an essential part of ecosystems around the world, said the report.
India estimated to have suffered average annual loss of USD 87 billion from extreme weather events: UN
The State of the Climate in Asia 2020 report by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), released on Tuesday, said that extreme weather and climate change impacts across Asia in 2020 caused the loss of life of thousands of people, displaced millions of others and cost hundreds of billions of dollars, while wreaking a heavy toll on infrastructure and ecosystems.
From chocolate to soybeans, tropical forests were illegally cleared to make way for everyday foods
Illegal clearance for commercial agriculture was behind the loss of 4.5 mn hectares of forest.
Indian-American soil scientist wins prestigious World Food Prize
Dr Lal, in his career spanning more than five decades and four continents, has promoted innovative soil-saving techniques benefiting the livelihoods of more than 500 million small farmers, improving the food and nutritional security of more than two billion people and saving hundreds of millions of hectares of natural tropical ecosystems.
Miyawaki forests are no substitute for natural ones: Experts
The Japanese technique of growing dense plantations in a short time is being used by activists and cosmpaniesto increase green cover.
To prevent collapse of tropical forests, protect their shape
New York, April 1 (IANS) Fires on the edges of tropical forests and their alteration by land use makes these hot ecosystems lose their shape and stability bringing a sudden, even catastrophic, transformation of land from trees to grass, researchers have found.
Peru: Trees like giants in the Amazon jungle, pink dolphins frolick and shamans make magical brews
The interaction of water and sediment between these two large rivers is very significant for Pacaya Samiria, which houses a large diversity of wildlife as well as aquatic life.
Google Street View shows how trees regulate urban ecosystems
With populations exploding in megacities like Shanghai and Delhi to over 20 million people, it is important to understand how green spaces contribute to urban sustainability.
Newly sanctioned Rs 4,500-crore supercomputing mission expected to boost scientific research
“It will completely change the way we do research. The mission will definitely bring non linear transformation for Indian science,"
What agricultural 'ecosystems on steroids' are doing to the air
In a study that identifies a new, "direct fingerprint" of human activity on Earth, scientists have found that agricultural crops play a big role in seasonal swings of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Tropical forests absorb more CO2 than thought: NASA
Forests and other land vegetation currently remove up to 30 per cent of human carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere during photosynthesis.
Loss of large predators damaging ecosystems
The decline of large predators such as lions, wolves and bears is threatening the Earth’s delicate ecosystems, changing the face of landscapes from the tropics to the Arctic, scientists have warned.
Hundreds of fish washing up dead on Florida beaches
US authorities are probing what could be killing hundreds of fish and other marine animals, including sharks and manatees, which in recent days have been washing up on beaches in southwestern Florida.
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