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Datta-Roy, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Datta-Roy, A..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

Nuclear and mitochondrial genome assemblies of Indrella ampulla, a terrestrial gastropod endemic to the Western Ghats

Indrella ampulla is a polymorphic, brightly coloured, forest-dwelling land snail endemic to the Western Ghats of India. Studying and understanding evolutionary processes occurring within this species has remained a challenge largely due to a paucity of genomic resources. We present high-quality annotated nuclear and mitochondrial genome assemblies of I. ampulla. The nuclear genome is assembled through a hybrid approach using Illumina short reads and Oxford Nanopore long reads, with an N50 value of 632 kb and 90.3% BUSCO genome completeness. The mitogenome is 13,887 bp long. The demographic history reconstruction based on the genomic data exhibits signatures of population decline during the last 100,000 years. This genome will aid in deciphering the colour polymorphism in I. ampulla and augmenting the general understanding of the evolution of gastropods. SignificanceIndrella ampulla is a terrestrial gastropod endemic to the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, and exhibits color polymorphism. The genome of I. ampulla provides a valuable resource for understanding molluscan biology, coloration genetics, adaptation, and other evolutionary processes. Our historical demographic analysis offers insights into past population dynamics of this species endemic to the Western Ghats of India, contributing to broader research on biodiversity patterns in tropical ecosystems. The bioinformatics pipeline used in this study provides a reliable framework for assembling high-quality genomes with long-read coverage as low as 10X, making it especially useful for gastropods and other species where obtaining high coverage data is a challenge. Overall, this genome will complement future studies in phylogenomics, comparative genomics, and conservation of molluscs.

genomics↗

Unveiling Nesting Strategies: Investigating Visual Concealment and Nest-site Selection in Yellow-wattled Lapwings, Vanellus malabaricus (Boddaert, 1783)

Ground-nesting birds such as Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Vanellus malabaricus (Boddaert, 1783) employ several nesting and behavioral strategies to mitigate nest predation, which greatly influences their reproductive success and survival. Yet the breeding ecology of Yellow-wattled Lapwing has received relatively little research attention despite the species widespread presence in the Indian subcontinent. The objective of this study was to investigate the significance and impact of two visual concealment strategies commonly utilized by open ground-nesting birds: visual concealment through vegetative characteristics and camouflage using Yellow-wattled Lapwing as the model organism. We also assessed the nest-site selection of Yellow-wattled Lapwings in relation to vegetation cover and food availability, as well as their choice of nest substrate by using behavioral sampling, quadrat sampling, and digital image analysis techniques. We found that variation in hatching success could not be attributed to the analyzed camouflage mechanisms (disruptive markings and pattern complexity matching). Furthermore, the nesting pairs exhibited a preference for areas with high vegetation cover and low food availability while selecting nesting sites. We also showed that this species might exhibit an active behavioral preference for selecting nest substrates. It is important to note that this study was conducted during a single nesting season for the Yellow-wattled Lapwings, and further temporal replicates are necessary to validate and establish the findings over the long term.

ecology↗