Will planting Causarina give protection against another tsunami?

Ever since the 2004 tsunami flattened coastal villages, the Tamil Nadu government has been raising sea walls and protective plantations on a priority basis to blunt the impact of sea waves. It touts the plantations as the first line of defence against tsunamis and cyclones. Ecologists warn it could be a step towards another kind of disaster.

Simulation helps enhance photosynthesis

food production in plants is still not optimum because their slow adaptation to changes in the environment such as higher levels of carbon dioxide. Due to this, photosynthesis is still below par. So, how can plants enhance photosynthesis? Many biotechnologists have tried to increase the production by altering genes in plants, but were not sure of the specific genes to target.

Karnataka villagers suspect biodiversity register

The biodiversity register of Heggarni panchayat in Karnataka is ready. Or, is it? The committee evaluating the register--part of the nationwide programme to document people's knowledge of biodiversity--is not sure whether villages have pooled in all their knowledge. There is room for doubt. People in Heggarni in Uttar Kannada district suspect that information about their biodiversity may be "misused".

Plants form protective networks

plantsform systems--constant and temporary--to defend themselves from herbivores. A new study from the Netherlands says temporary systems like production of protective chemicals work better in the short term. Such systems conserve energy, which plants use for several things, including reproduction. Permanent structures like thorns and leathery leaves use up a lot of energy. Such structures are a waste in the event of no herbivore attack.

Encyclopaedia of natural world

If a consortium of scientists has its way there will be a Wikipedia style database for the natural world soon. An effort to collate information on the 1.8 million species of animals, plants and other forms of life into a single online database was launched in May, this year. Over the next 10 years, the Encyclopedia of Life project will create web pages for all these species.

National biodiversity plan admits India has failed to conserve biodiversity

The Union ministry of environment and forests (moef) says India's vast gene pool in agriculture and livestock has been widely ignored, creating a food security risk in the country

Indian scientists return with rare plant samples from Arctic

India sent its first team to the Arctic recently. Two of its members have returned with a variety of samples, some dating back to millions of years. ARCHITA BHATTA spoke with them

First Indian study on species discovery pattern

there is little chance for a new bird or butterfly being discovered in the Western Ghats now, says a recent study. It has, however, not ruled out the discovery of frogs and grasses. First time in India, a team of researchers including scientists from the University of Agricultural Sciences in Bangalore have classified the patterns of

Review of 'Trees of Delhi', a book by Pradip Krishen

Concrete jungle is a phrase often used to describe a lot of urban areas. Delhi is no exception. It's certainly not the archetypal naturalist's delight. But Pradip Krishen is no archetypal naturalist he is a filmmaker, photographer and author. Krishen has now written a book that every tree lover in the city would want to carry to the field. And the field remains a variegated one, as Krishen shows.

New global map that charts plant diversity

now it will be easier to gauge the likely impact of climate change on the services plants provide human beings. Researchers at the University of California and the University of Bonn in Germany have produced a global map of estimated plant species' richness. The map, which accompanies a study published on April 3, 2007, in the Proceeding of National Academy of Sciences (Vol 104, No 14) highlights areas of particular concern for conservation.