Species in News

Description

Cyrtobagus salvinia

• Context: Used to eradicate the invasive weed Salvinia molesta from the Sarani reservoir in Betul district, Madhya Pradesh.
• Biological Details: Exotic beetle from Brazil, targets and eradicates Salvinia molesta, dies naturally post-eradication.
• Bioremediation: Implemented by ICAR-DWR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Directorate of Weed Research), started in April 2022, completed within 15 to 18 months.
• Economic and Social Impact: Restored livelihoods for fishermen by reviving fish populations; initial challenges included high cost and impracticality of manual removal.
• Conservation Status: No risk, as the beetle dies naturally after eradicating the weed.

Squalus hima

• Context: Newly discovered species of deep-water dogfish shark found in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Kerala.
• Biological Details: Genus Squalus, family Squalidae, commonly known as spurdogs; differs in vertebrae count, teeth, and fin structure from other species.
• Discovery: Discovered by Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) at Sakthikulangara fishing harbour, Kerala; significant for new species identification and conservation.
• Economic and Social Impact: Important for commercial products like liver oil used in cosmetics and anti-cancer products; challenges include high exploitation for liver oil, fins, and meat.
• Conservation Status: Critical due to high commercial exploitation for liver oil, fins, and meat; important for conservation efforts.

PYQ:

[2018] Why is a plant called Prosopis juliflora often mentioned in the news?

(a) Its extract is widely used in cosmetics.

(b) It tends to reduce the biodiversity in the area in which it grows.

(c) Its extract is used in the synthesis of pesticides.

(d) None of the above.