Urbanization alters the spatiotemporal dynamics of plant-pollinator networks in a tropical megacity.

Urbanization is a major driver of biodiversity change but how it interacts with spatial and temporal gradients to influence the dynamics of plant-pollinator networks is poorly understood, especially in tropical urbanization hotspots. Here, we analysed the drivers of environmental, spatial and temporal turnover of plant-pollinator interactions (interaction β-diversity) along an urbanization gradient in Bengaluru, a South Indian megacity. The compositional turnover of plant-pollinator interactions differed more between seasons and with local urbanization intensity than with spatial distance, suggesting that seasonality and environmental filtering were more important than dispersal limitation for explaining plant-pollinator interaction β-diversity.

Occurrence of Microplastics in the Gastrointestinal Tracts of Edible Fishes from South Indian Rivers.

Microplastics (MPs) in the gastrointestinal (GI) tracts of the five fish species from the Kollidam and Vellar rivers of Tamil Nadu, Southern India were evaluated. A total of 315 MPs were isolated from GI tracts of 23 fishes (Chanos chanos, Chanda nama, Chelon macrolepis, Carangoides malabaricus and Gerrus filamentosus) sampled from both rivers. MPs ranged from 109 to 129 μm (119 ± 79.

Functional diversity of farmland bees across rural-urban landscapes in a tropical megacity.

Urbanization poses a major threat to biodiversity and food security, as expanding cities, especially in the Global South, increasingly compete with natural and agricultural lands. However, the impact of urban expansion on agricultural biodiversity in tropical regions is overlooked. Here we assess how urbanization affects the functional response of farmland bees, the most important pollinators for crop production.

Atypical forms of lupus vulgaris - a case series.

Atypical presentations of cutaneous tuberculosis are not so uncommon and are frequently overlooked in clinical practice, leading to late diagnosis and increased morbidity. We report three cases of lupus vulgaris with atypical presentations. The cases mimicked other chronic skin lesions like actinomycosis, mycetoma, and so on.