Biodiversity access and benefit-sharing: weaving a rope of sand

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)1 is one of the most important treaties in the history of humanity as it deals with the infinitely complex but fragile diversity of life on earth. Regulating access to genetic resources and equitable sharing of commercial benefits of biodiversity has been the most contentious issue in the negotiations under CBD. As the impasse continues, the prime objective of CBD – conservation of biodiversity – is relegated to the backyard. The Nagoya Protocol (2010)2 adopted by the Tenth Conference of Parties (CoP), concluded on 29 October 2010 in Nagoya, Japan, provides the framework to facilitate access and benefit-sharing (ABS). However, the idea of ABS itself remains a pipe dream

Ground insect community responses to habitat restoration efforts in the Attappady hills, Western Ghats, India

A reconnaissance survey was undertaken to assess the responses of ground insect communities to habitat restoration efforts in the Attappady hills, Western Ghats.Diversity patterns of various ground insect assemblages such as ants, beetles, etc. were compared across an age trajectory of restored sites. The diversity of these assemblages was correlated with age trajectory of sites. Also, patterns of recolonization by different insect trophic guilds and ant functional groups were comparable with earlier studies from different biogeographic areas

A new ant species of the genus Anochetus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from India with a remarkable nest entrance architecture

A new ant species, Anochetus daedalus, is described based on worker caste collected from a nest in secondary tropical semi-evergreen forest from Sirsi, Karnataka, India, part of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot. It is very similar to Anochetus nietneri Roger, but is distinctly different in shape of the petiole. The species is notable for constructing elaborate nest entrance which resembles ‘fort nests’ constructed by some Pheidole spp

Vombisidris humboldticola (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): a new arboreal ant species from an Indian ant plant

The 12 known species of Vombisidris range from India to Queensland, Australia, with most of them occurring in Malaysia and Indonesia 1. These ants are poorly represented in earlier collections, perhaps because they nest and forage arboreally and would thus tend to be overlooked by most ant-collectors 2. The only known species from India (Mudigere, Karnataka) is Vombisidris occidua Bolton, collected from low vegetation

Needs for policy on landscape restoration in India

In India, population growth and rapid industrialization concurrent with an ever increasing quest for better quality of life have resulted in a growing demand for energy and infrastructure, leading to significant impact on the country’s environment and ecology. Resources such as natural forests are particularly exploited through agricultural expansion, timber extraction, monoculture plantations, rail and road networks, hydroelectric projects, mineral exploration and mining. Apart from these, the Indian forests form the livelihood base for nearly 173,000 villages 1. The consequences of over exploitation of forest resources include depletion of natural resources, soil erosion and land degradation, lower productivity, groundwater depletion, reduction in species diversity and an overall increase in the extent of wasteland. At present, it is estimated that approximately 68.35 million hectares (m ha) of the total geographic area of our country is considered as wasteland, of which nearly 50% of the land is degraded non-forest land 2

Protectionism and natural history research in India

This paper provides an overview of the status of natural history research in India, and describes how some policies on wildlife protection hamper the conduct of research on insect taxonomy, knowledge of which is mentioned to be vital to wildlife conservation in the region. The opening up of natural history research in India to reputed international scientists is recommended to facilitate the characterization and conservation of biodiversity in the countr

Morphology and RAPD analysis of certain potentially entomopathogenic isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae Metsch. (Deuteromycotina: Hypocreales)

Diversity within the entomopathogenic fungi have been traditionally analyzed using morphological features but morphology alone can lead to ambiguity pertaining to identification at species level. Therefore utilization of molecular methods to detect the level of polymorphism among species helps minimize the problem. Nine isolates of Metarhizium were morphologically characterized by assessing their colour, media pigmentation, size and shape of conidia. Molecular characterization was carried out by random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis. The RAPD - PCR assay for nine isolates were performed by amplifying random sequences using three RAPD primers. The amplification products for the different isolates were compared with each other and were screened for the presence or absence of specific bands. The scored band data was subjected to cluster analysis. A genetic similarity matrix was constructed using Jaccard’s coefficient method. Colony colour varied from pale green to blackish green. Pigment production was observed for four isolates. Average width of spores ranged from 2.10 - 4.10μm and length 3.20 - 7.69 μm. The spores were grouped as either oval, round or elongated. The three primers generated a total of 166 reproducible distinct bands among the 9 isolates and the similarity was estimated on the basis of number of shared bands. The Jaccard’s similarity coefficient between isolate pairs ranged from 0.00 to 0.70 indicating a high genetic diversity. The maximum similarity was noticed between isolates MIS13 and MIS18. A dendrogram was generated from RAPD patterns of the Metarhizium isolates. Grouping of isolates into clusters correlated with similarities in their RAPD DNA patterns

Death sentence on taxonomy in India

The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 seriously curtails the scientific freedom of individual taxonomists by putting draconian regulations on the free exchange of specimens for taxonomic research and threatens to strangulate biodiversity research in India with legal as well as bureaucratic control 1. Rules and guidelines framed to implement the Biological Diversity Act, which itself is flawed and based on wrong premises, reveal the appalling ignorance on the part of the implementing agencies. Guidelines accepted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India and the National Biodiversity Authority for international collaboration in biodiversity research are testimony to this. Draft guidelines accepted by the National Biodiversity Authority stipulate that ‘Exchange and transfer of dead specimens and/or herbariums (of no commercial value) on loan for taxonomic studies and return by bona fide scientists/professors of recognized universities and Government Institutions of India who are engaged in pure classical taxonomic studies shall be done through the concerned departments/Ministries of the Government of India 2.’ Similarly, a recent notification of the Ministry of Environment and Forests,based on the above guidelines,states that ‘In case the collaborative research projects involve exchange and transfer of dead or preserved specimen(s) and/or herbarium(s) of India on loan or on any other terms for taxonomic studies as required by bona fide scientists/ professors of recognized universities and Government Institutions of India who are engaged in pure classical taxonomic studies, this shall be done with the approval of concerned Departments/Ministries of the Government of India3.’ These guidelines on implementation would achieve the ultimate bureaucratic control in the history of science in India! Proponents of these guidelines have already revealed their mettle through some ludicrous suggestions to entomologists to send pictures, not (dead) specimens, for identification 4. Being paranoid about biopiracy(!), they may even suggest that microbiologists send digital images of microbes abroad for identification, as live cultures are required for identification and they can be easily multiplied and patented

Biological Diversity Act, 2002: Shadow of permit-raj over research

It is too late in history of the world to think that there is time to produce ordered classifications of all plants, animals, fungi and micro-organisms, and then to employ these classifications to seek new kinds of generalities while these organisms are still extant. –Peter Rave

Two new genera and one new species of the tribe Adeshini (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Braconinae) from India and South Africa

Two new genera and one new species of the Braconinae tribe Adeshini are described and illustrated: Crenuladesha Ranjith & Quicke, gen. nov., type species Adesha narendrani Ranjith, 2017, comb. nov. from India, and Protadesha Quicke & Butcher, gen. nov., type species Protadesha intermedia Quicke & Butcher, sp. nov. from South Africa. The former lacks the mid-longitudinal propodeal carina characteristic of the tribe, and the latter displays less derived fore wing venation with two distinct abscissae of vein 2CU. A molecular phylogenetic analysis is included to confirm their correct placement. Since neither of the two new genera displays all of the characters given in the original diagnosis of the Adeshini a revised diagnosis is provided, as well as an illustrated key to the genera