Description

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Context:

In the thick forests of Southeast Asia, the Great Eared Nightjar reminds people of a dragon from ancient folklore.

The Andhra Pradesh Handicrafts Development Corporation will train artisans to manufacture eco-friendly products and decorative materials with water hyacinth.

Scientists have discovered a new species of flowering plant in the Dibang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh and it has been named Begonia neisti.

The Great-Eared Nightjar

*About*	They are birds with nocturnal habits and it is named so because its calls which are are often described as jarring. It is the Second heaviest species in the family Caprimulgidae, after Nacunda Nighthawk.
*Scientific Name*	*Lyncornis macrotis*
*Common Name*	Great Eared Nightjar
*Physical Features*	They are very large nightjars with long barred wings and a barred tail. They have long ear-tufts which are usually recumbent. They have a white throat band However, they lack white patches on the wings or tail. Its length lies between 31 to 41 cm (12 to 16 inches).
*Behaviour*	They are nocturnal and active at dusk and night. They are known for their distinctive call which is the sharp "tsiik," pause, which is followed by the two-syllable "ba-haaww".
*Weight*	Males: They have an average weight of 131 g. Females: They have an average weight of 151 g.
*Subspecies*	They exist in five subspecies. These are: L. m. cerviniceps: They are found in Bangladesh, NE India, southern China, Indochina and the northern Malay Peninsula. L. m. bourdilloni: They are restricted to South West India L. m. macrotis: They are found in the Philippines, except far west of Visayas, Palawan group and the Sulu Archipelago L. m. jacobsoni: They are found on Simeulue island in Indonesia. L. m. macropterus: Sulawesi, Sangihe and Talaud Islands, Banggai, and Sula Island of Indonesia are the places where they are found.
*Distribution*	They are found in South Asia and Southeast Asia, including the Western Ghats (India) and Sri Lanka. India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam are the countries where they are found.
*Habitat*	They are found in subtropical or moist lowland tropical forests.
*Conservation status*	IUCN: Least Concern

Water Hyacinth

*About*	They are Free-floating, perennial aquatic plants. They are the sole species of subgenus Oshunae in genus Pontederia. They are also known as the "terror of Bengal" due to invasive growth and harm to water bodies in Bengal.
*Scientific Name*	*Pontederia crassipes.*
*Distribution*	They were native to South America but now they have been naturalised globally.
*Features*	They have broad, glossy leaves and feathery, purple-black roots. Their stalk holds a spike of 8 to 5 lavender or pink flowers. They can reach up to 1 metre above the water surface.
*Growth & Reproduction*	They are extremely fast-growing and multiply through stolons, seeds, or clonal reproduction. Their seeds are viable for over 28 years. Their mats double in size within 1 to 2 weeks. They are multiplied hundredfold in 23 days. Note: Stolons They are a slender stem that grows horizontally along the ground and forms roots and new plants at nodes. They are also known as runners. Examples of stoloniferous plants are strawberries and bermudagrass. Seeds It is a sexual reproduction method that involves the formation of seeds in the process. The seeds have less maternal support than clones, but they can disperse over large distances. Clonal reproduction It is a type of asexual reproduction process which can take place through stolons, rhizomes, or other organs. Clonal reproduction produces asexual offspring that can only be dispersed over short distances.
*Pollination & Morphs*	The plant is pollinated by long-tongued bees in their native range. It has three flower morphs which are L, M and S types. Only M-morphs are dominant outside native range. The morphological types of flowers based on the differences in the lengths of the pistil and stamens, are termed "morphs" and in each individual plant, all flowers always share the same morph.
*Temperature Tolerance*	They grow in the temperature range of 12°C and 35°C and their optimal growth range is 25-30°C. They are killed by frost and cannot tolerate high salinity or water above 34°C.
*Chemical Tolerance*	Their pH tolerance lies between 5.0-7.5. They are sensitive to brackish water and their leaves generally damage at high salinity levels.
*Impacts*	Environmental Impact They compete with native species which in turn destroys the local vegetation. They can deplete dissolved oxygen due to the rapid spread in aquatic ecosystems. This harms fish and aquatic life. They also absorb heavy metals, which may cause secondary pollution upon their decay. They are also breeding grounds for disease vectors such as mosquitoes. Socio Economic Impact Their high evapotranspiration rate may lead to drying of water bodies. This in turn might affect water and food supply. Their dense mats often block waterways, which impact transport and fishing. They also have high removal costs.
*Invasiveness*	Classified as invasive in areas like Louisiana, Kerala, Tonlé Sap, and Lake Victoria. Listed as a pest in New Zealand.
*Control Methods*	Chemical This method uses herbicides e.g., 2,4-D or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, diquat and glyphosate. However, they may impact non-target species and water systems. Physical Mechanical removal using harvesters and dredges are commonly done. They are costly and labour-intensive and have a risk of fragmentation and re-growth. Biological Species such as the Weevils or Neochetina spp.), moths or Niphograpta albiguttalis, and planthoppers or Megamelus scutellaris are introduced to control the growth of water hyacinth.
*Uses*	Bioenergy Harvested biomass of the water hyacinth is used for bioenergy. Biogas produced from them have a high biomass productivity (70,000 m³/ha). Fertiliser As they decompose fast, in as little as 30 days, and can help protect soil moisture and nutrients. They can be used as compost or mulch in agriculture to improve soil fertility. Feed Water hyacinth is also used as feed for cattle, poultry, and pigs. It can be used as a substitute for soybean meal in fish feed. Textiles Paper made from Water hyacinth can be used to make clothing, home textiles, and other items. Crafts Water hyacinth can also be woven into baskets, bags, vases, coasters, and lampshades. Bioplastics They can be processed in industries into particles with high cellulose content, which can be used in bioplastics and brake pads.

Begonia Neisti

*About*	They are a new species of Begonia plant discovered by the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) and the CSIR-Northeast Institute of Science and Technology (CSIR-NEIST).
*Physical features*	They are unique plants and have variegated leaves. They feature silver circular spots of white colour and dark brownish-red patches at vein junctions. They have large leaves and distinctive white stripes on stems. Their petioles are totally different from other Begonia species. A petiole is a stalk that connects a leaf blade in a plant to a stem of a plant.
*Habitat and distribution*	They are found in moist hilly slopes along roads between Hunli and Anini in Arunachal Pradesh state..
*Flowering Period*	Their flowering period is from November to January.
*Phylogenetic Analysis*	Their advanced molecular phylogenetic analysis confirmed species distinctness and their close evolutionary relation to other Begonia species in the Indian subcontinent.
*Threats*	They face threats due to road expansion and rapid development in the state.
*Conservation Status*	They have been classified as Data Deficient (DD) under the IUCN Red List.

Important articles for reference:

Sources:

WIKIPEDIA

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements about the “Great Eared Nightjars” recently seen in the news:

They are birds with nocturnal habits.
They are found in South Asia and Southeast Asia, including Western Ghats (India) and Sri Lanka.
They are categorised as endangered under the IUCN red list.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

A.Only one

B.Only two

C. All Three

D.None

Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct:

The Great Eared Nightjars are the birds with nocturnal habits and it is named so because its calls which are are often described as jarring.

It is the Second heaviest species in the family Caprimulgidae, after Nacunda Nighthawk.

Statement 2 is correct:

They are found in South Asia and Southeast Asia, including Western Ghats (India) and Sri Lanka.