Description

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Context :

Species: A New species of water flea (a tiny crustacean) was discovered from moss growth found on walls of Korigad Fort near Pune.
- Water fleas are small aquatic animals belonging to crustacea group and are usually found in rivers, ponds, and pools.
Scientific Name: Bryospilus (Indobryospilus) bharaticus n. Sp.
Significance: First discovery of this genus in Tropical Asia.

Research and Publication

Publication: Journal of Crustacean Biology (Oxford Academic), September 2024.
Study Context: Part of a larger survey of crustaceans in the biodiverse Western Ghats.

Characteristics of the Species:

Habitat: Lives in semi-terrestrial environments, specifically in the thin layer of water on mosses.
Relatives: Similar species found in rainforests of West Africa, South and Central America, and New Zealand.
Adaptations: Has unique features that help it survive in semi-terrestrial conditions.

Ecological and Historical Significance

Biodiversity: Supports the Western Ghats' status as a rich and biodiverse region.
Environmental Sensitivity: Found in pristine environments with little human disturbance, likely sensitive to environmental changes.
Evolutionary History: Potential Gondwanan relict, indicating an old evolutionary history. Ancestors likely existed before the breakup of Gondwanaland around 200 million years ago.
- Gondwanaland: A prehistoric supercontinent that included present-day South America, Africa, Australia, Antarctica, and India.

Conservation Implications

Important to protect semi-terrestrial habitats from human disturbance.
Rising air pollution could affect such species and their habitats.
Many new organisms await discovery in similar habitats around Pune, such as ARAI Tekdi.

Source:

TOI

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. With reference to the discovery of a new crustacean species in the Western Ghats, consider the following statements:

The new species discovered is a type of water flea named Bryospilus bharaticus.
This is the first discovery of the Bryospilus genus in Tropical Asia.
The species was found in deep ocean waters off the coast of the Western Ghats.
The discovery supports the Western Ghats' status as a biodiverse region with potential Gondwanan relicts.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1, 2, and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, and 4

Answer: (b)

Explanation:

● Statement 1 is correct: The new species discovered is a type of water flea named Bryospilus bharaticus. This tiny crustacean was found in moss growth on the walls of Korigad Fort near Pune.

● Statement 2 is correct: This is the first discovery of the Bryospilus genus in Tropical Asia. The discovery was published in the Journal of Crustacean Biology in September 2024.

● Statement 3 is incorrect: The species was not found in deep ocean waters. Instead, it was discovered in a semi-terrestrial environment, specifically in the thin layer of water on mosses growing on walls.

● Statement 4 is correct: The discovery supports the Western Ghats' status as a biodiverse region with potential Gondwanan relicts. The species' evolutionary history indicates that its ancestors were likely present before the breakup of the supercontinent Gondwanaland around 200 million years ago.