Overview
- Researchers presented the findings at a four-day symposium hosted at CCMB’s LaCONES campus in Hyderabad.
- Environmental DNA from soil and water detected a wide array of insects, arthropods, fish, reptiles, birds, mammals, plants and microorganisms that had not been formally documented in the region.
- The team emphasized moving beyond traditional field surveys by combining genomics with ecological and evolutionary research to trace species origins and habitat change.
- Experts called for integrating gene-level insights with land-use patterns, habitat connectivity, topography and satellite land-cover mapping to guide conservation priorities.
- The Eastern Ghats were described as an ancient, fragmented and under-studied range facing growing pressures from habitat loss, fragmentation and climate change.