Preprints
2023
Plant size, latitude, and phylogeny explain within-population variability in herbivory
Robinson M*, ..., Bagchi S ..., Pawar R ..., et al* (2023). Plant size, latitude, and phylogeny explain within-population variability in herbivory. Science 382(6671):679-683.
DOI: 10.1126/science.adh8830 *The Herbivory Variability Network ABSTRACT Interactions between plants and herbivores are central in most ecosystems, but their strength is highly variable. The amount of variability within a system is thought to influence most aspects of plant-herbivore biology, from ecological stability to plant defense evolution. Our understanding of what influences variability, however, is limited by sparse data. We collected standardized surveys of herbivory for 503 plant species at 790 sites across 116° of latitude. With these data, we show that within-population variability in herbivory increases with latitude, decreases with plant size, and is phylogenetically structured. Differences in the magnitude of variability are thus central to how plant-herbivore biology varies across macroscale gradients. We argue that increased focus on interaction variability will advance understanding of patterns of life on Earth. |
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Community composition, and not species richness of microbes, influences decomposer functional diversity in soil
Roy S, Karapurkar J, Baidya P, Jose M, Bagchi S (2023). Community composition, and not species richness of microbes, influences decomposer functional diversity in soil. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 187:109225.
DOI: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2023.109225 ABSTRACT Diversity-function relationships in producers, and how these are influenced by consumers, are well known. However, these are not well known for microbial decomposers in soil. It is also unknown whether and how consumers such as large mammalian herbivores influence soil microbial decomposer diversity-function relationships. We used a 14-year-old herbivore-exclusion experiment in the Trans-Himalayan drylands of northern India to address whether microbial functions vary with microbial diversity (both species richness and composition), and whether herbivores alter the diversity-function relationships. We analyzed soils from n = 10 paired grazed-and-fenced plots three times during the growth season of 2019. Data were from 16S rDNA gene amplicon sequencing of 7.6 million reads covering 1937 operational taxonomic units (OTU) of bacteria across 47 phyla (of which 924 OTUs were identifiable to genus level), and 1800 catabolic profiles across 30 substrates related to carbon metabolism. We found that functional diversity was positively related to microbial community composition, but not to species richness; it was also unaffected by large mammalian herbivore-exclusion to indicate resilience and resistance. This positive relationship between community composition and functional diversity challenges the prevailing notion of functional redundancy in hyper-diverse soil microbial communities since certain combinations of species could outperform others and determine decomposition processes and services. Structural equation models suggested that the strength of this relationship is favoured by availability of soil moisture. Microbial functions varied more strongly with temporal variables (e.g., seasonality) than with spatial variables (e.g., edaphic factors such as soil texture and pH). Although interpretations can be constrained by which and how many functions are investigated, the relationship was generalizable and robust once 16 or more functions were quantified. Decomposition in drylands may be particularly susceptible to how the identity of the microbial species, and not the number of species, responds to rising precipitation variability under ongoing and projected climate change. |
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The positive effect of plant diversity on soil carbon depends on climate
Spohn M, Bagchi S, ... et al. (2023). The positive effect of plant diversity on soil carbon depends on climate. Nature Communications 14: 6624.
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42340-0 Press & Media coverage: | AlphaGalileo | PHYS.ORG | forksning (Swedish) | ABSTRACT Little is currently known about how climate modulates the relationship between plant diversity and soil organic carbon and the mechanisms involved. Yet, this knowledge is of crucial importance in times of climate change and biodiversity loss. Here, we show that plant diversity is positively correlated with soil carbon content and soil carbon-to-nitrogen ratio across 84 grasslands on six continents that span wide climate gradients. The relationships between plant diversity and soil carbon as well as plant diversity and soil organic matter quality (carbon-to-nitrogen ratio) are particularly strong in warm and arid climates. While plant biomass is positively correlated with soil carbon, plant biomass is not significantly correlated with plant diversity. Our results indicate that plant diversity influences soil carbon storage not via the quantity of organic matter (plant biomass) inputs to soil, but through the quality of organic matter. The study implies that ecosystem management that restores plant diversity likely enhances soil carbon sequestration, particularly in warm and arid climates. |
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Environmental heterogeneity modulates the effect of plant diversity on the spatial variability of grassland biomass
Daleo P, ... Bagchi S, ... et al. (2023). Environmental heterogeneity modulates the effect of plant diversity on the spatial variability of grassland biomass. Nature Communications 14: 1809.
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37395-y ABSTRACT Plant productivity varies due to environmental heterogeneity, and theory suggests that plant diversity can reduce this variation. While there is strong evidence of diversity effects on temporal variability of productivity, whether this mechanism extends to variability across space remains elusive. Here we determine the relationship between plant diversity and spatial variability of productivity in 83 grasslands, and quantify the effect of experimentally increased spatial heterogeneity in environmental conditions on this relationship. We found that communities with higher plant species richness (alpha and gamma diversity) have lower spatial variability of productivity as reduced abundance of some species can be compensated for by increased abundance of other species. In contrast, high species dissimilarity among local communities (beta diversity) is positively associated with spatial variability of productivity, suggesting that changes in species composition can scale up to affect productivity. Experimentally increased spatial environmental heterogeneity weakens the effect of plant alpha and gamma diversity, and reveals that beta diversity can simultaneously decrease and increase spatial variability of productivity. Our findings unveil the generality of the diversity-stability theory across space, and suggest that reduced local diversity and biotic homogenization can affect the spatial reliability of key ecosystem functions. |
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On the nesting behaviour of Polyrhachis illaudata Walker, 1859 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Shakur M.A. (2023). On the nesting behaviour of Polyrhachis illaudata Walker, 1859 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Entomologist's Monthly magazine 159: 33-36
DOI: 10.31184/M00138908 ABSTRACT Polyrhachis illaudata Walker, 1859, is known to have variability in nesting locations ranging from nesting in the ground to nesting under the bark of tree trunks. Here I describe the brood chambers of P. illaudata from the nests encountered beneath the bark of Silver Oak (Grevillea robusta A.Cunn. ex R.Br.) and report the presence of pupal cocoons in this species. |
Functional substitutability of native herbivores by livestock for soil carbon stock is mediated by microbial decomposers
Roy S, Naidu DGT, & Bagchi S (2023). Functional substitutability of native herbivores by livestock for soil carbon stock is mediated by microbial decomposers. Global Change Biology 29(8): 2141-2155
DOI: https://10.1111/gcb.16600 Press & Media coverage: | AlphaGalileo | PHYS.ORG | Eurasia Review | La Nueva España (Spanish)| | Science X | EurekAlert! AAAS | Bioengineer.org | AZO Life Sciences | | The Hindu | Deccan Herald | Eos (Earth and Space Science News) | Mongabay | | Mongabay (YouTube) | Others | ABSTRACT Grazing by large mammalian herbivores impacts climate as it can favor the size and stability of a large carbon (C) pool in the soils of grazing ecosystems. As native herbivores in the world's grasslands, steppes, and savannas are progressively being displaced by livestock, it is important to ask whether livestock can emulate the functional roles of their native counterparts. While livestock and native herbivores can have remarkable similarity in their traits, they can differ greatly in their impacts on vegetation composition which can affect soil-C. It is uncertain how these similarities and differences impact soil-C via their influence on microbial decomposers. We test competing alternative hypotheses with a replicated, long-term, landscape-level, grazing-exclusion experiment to ask whether livestock in the Trans-Himalayan ecosystem of northern India can match decadal-scale (2005–2016) soil-C stocks under native herbivores. We evaluate multiple lines of evidence from 17 variables that influence soil-C (quantity and quality of C-input from plants, microbial biomass and metabolism, microbial community composition, eDNA, veterinary antibiotics in soil), and assess their inter-relationships. Livestock and native herbivores differed in their effects on several soil microbial processes. Microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) was 19% lower in soils under livestock. Compared to native herbivores, areas used by livestock contained 1.5 kg C m−2 less soil-C. Structural equation models showed that alongside the effects arising from plants, livestock alter soil microbial communities which is detrimental for CUE, and ultimately also for soil-C. Supporting evidence pointed toward a link between veterinary antibiotics used on livestock, microbial communities, and soil-C. Overcoming the challenges of sequestering antibiotics to minimize their potential impacts on climate, alongside microbial rewilding under livestock, may reconcile the conflicting demands from food-security and ecosystem services. Conservation of native herbivores and alternative management of livestock is crucial for soil-C stewardship to envision and achieve natural climate solutions. |
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2022
Loss of grazing by large mammalian herbivores can destabilize the soil carbon pool
Naidu DGT, Roy S, & Bagchi S (2022). Loss of grazing by large mammalian herbivores can destabilize the soil carbon pool. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA (PNAS) 119 (43): e2211317119
DOI: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2211317119 Showcase: | Kudos | Press & Media coverage: | The Times of India | The Hindu | India Today | The Week | Sci Dev Net | Scroll | | Down To Earth | The Hindu (Sunday Science) | Mongabay | GreenSavers (Portuguese)| | The Weather Channel | Earth.Com | AZo Cleantech | The Quint | | Other outlets | | Green Humour | ABSTRACT Grazing by mammalian herbivores can be a climate mitigation strategy as it influences the size and stability of a large soil carbon (soil-C) pool (more than 500 Pg C in the world’s grasslands, steppes, and savannas). With continuing declines in the numbers of large mammalian herbivores, the resultant loss in grazer functions can be consequential for this soil-C pool and ultimately for the global carbon cycle. While herbivore effects on the size of the soil-C pool and the conditions under which they lead to gain or loss in soil-C are becoming increasingly clear, their effect on the equally important aspect of stability of soil-C remains unknown. We used a replicated long-term field experiment in the Trans-Himalayan grazing ecosystem to evaluate the consequences of herbivore exclusion on interannual fluctuations in soil-C (2006 to 2021). Interannual fluctuations in soil-C and soil-N were 30 to 40% higher after herbivore exclusion than under grazing. Structural equation modeling suggested that grazing appears to mediate the stabilizing versus destabilizing influences of nitrogen (N) on soil-C. This may explain why N addition stimulates soil-C loss in the absence of herbivores around the world. Herbivore loss, and the consequent decline in grazer functions, can therefore undermine the stability of soil-C. Soil-C is not inert but a very dynamic pool. It can provide nature-based climate solutions by conserving and restoring a functional role of large mammalian herbivores that extends to the stoichiometric coupling between soil-C and soil-N. |
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Evolutionary history of grazing and resources determine herbivore exclusion effects on plant diversity
Price J, J Sitters, ..., Bagchi, S, ... et al (2022). Evolutionary history of grazing and resources determine herbivore exclusion effects on plant diversity. Nature Ecology & Evolution 6(9): 1290–1298.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-022-01809-9 ABSTRACT Ecological models predict that the effects of mammalian herbivore exclusion on plant diversity depend on resource availability and plant exposure to ungulate grazing over evolutionary time. Using an experiment replicated in 57 grasslands on six continents, with contrasting evolutionary history of grazing, we tested how resources (mean annual precipitation and soil nutrients) determine herbivore exclusion effects on plant diversity, richness and evenness. Here we show that at sites with a long history of ungulate grazing, herbivore exclusion reduced plant diversity by reducing both richness and evenness and the responses of richness and diversity to herbivore exclusion decreased with mean annual precipitation. At sites with a short history of grazing, the effects of herbivore exclusion were not related to precipitation but differed for native and exotic plant richness. Thus, plant species’ evolutionary history of grazing continues to shape the response of the world’s grasslands to changing mammalian herbivory. |
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nutrients and herbivores impact grassland stability across spatial scales through different pathways
Chen Q, ...., Bagchi, S, ... et al (2022). Nutrients and herbivores impact grassland stability across multiple spatial scales through different pathways. Global Change Biology 28(8):2678-2688.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16086 ABSTRACT Nutrients and herbivores are well-known drivers of grassland diversity and stability in local communities. However, whether they interact to impact the stability of aboveground biomass and whether these effects depend on spatial scales remain unknown. It is also unclear whether nutrients and herbivores impact stability via different facets of plant diversity including species richness, evenness, and changes in community composition through time and space. We used a replicated experiment adding nutrients and excluding herbivores for 5 years in 34 global grasslands to explore these questions. We found that both nutrient addition and herbivore exclusion alone reduced stability at the larger spatial scale (aggregated local communities; gamma stability), but through different pathways. Nutrient addition reduced gamma stability primarily by increasing changes in local community composition over time, which was mainly driven by species replacement. Herbivore exclusion reduced gamma stability primarily by decreasing asynchronous dynamics among local communities (spatial asynchrony). Their interaction weakly increased gamma stability by increasing spatial asynchrony. Our findings indicate that disentangling the processes operating at different spatial scales may improve conservation and management aiming at maintaining the ability of ecosystems to reliably provide functions and services for humanity. |
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META-ANALYSIS OF INDUCED ANTI-HERBIVORE DEFENCE IN PLANTS FROM 647 MANIPULATIVE EXPERIMENTS WITH NATURAL AND SIMULATED HERBIVORY
Ojha M, Naidu DGT & Bagchi S (2022). Meta-analysis of induced anti-herbivore defence traits in plants from 647 manipulative experiments with natural and simulated herbivory. Journal of Ecology 110(4):799-816.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.13841 ABSTRACT
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Data for "META-ANALYSIS OF INDUCED ANTI-HERBIVORE DEFENCE IN PLANTS FROM 647 MANIPULATIVE EXPERIMENTS WITH NATURAL AND SIMULATED HERBIVORY"
Influence of human land use and invasive species on beta diversity of tropical ant assemblages
Baidya P & Bagchi S (2022). Influence of human land use and invasive species on beta diversity of tropical ant assemblages. Insect Conservation and Diversity. 15(1):73-85.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12536 Press & Media coverage: | The Goan | Lokmat (मराठी) | Times of India | The Navhind Times | BBC News (related) | ABSTRACT Understanding how biodiversity is distributed is increasingly becoming important under ongoing and projected human land use. Measures of beta diversity, and its partitions, can offer insights for conservation and restoration of biodiversity. We ask how different species, functional groups, and land use contribute to beta diversity, and whether invasive species have a negative influence on beta diversity. We address these questions using ant assemblages (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) at 277 sites distributed across five geomorphic land use types in Goa, India. We recorded 68 species (35 genera, 7 subfamilies) of which five were invasive. We classified them into eight functional groups. Oecophylla smaragdina—a common tropical arboreal species, and Anoplolepis gracilepis—a globally significant invasive, contributed the most to beta diversity. Large-bodied omnivores which may influence soil functions contributed more to beta diversity than small-bodied predators. Lateritic plateaus contributed most to beta diversity, whereas human-influenced plantations contributed the least. Beta diversity across sites was related to species turnover, whereas nestedness was more prominent for functional groups. This indicates how species replace one another with change in land use, but functional roles are lost despite such turnover. Sites with human land use had higher incidence of invasive species, and invaded sites contributed less to beta diversity than non-invaded sites. Human land use strongly influences diversity and distribution of ant assemblages. Land use may spare local species richness, but not functional groups. A small number of invasive species exert negative influence even in very speciose communities. |
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Large mammalian herbivores and the paradox of soil carbon in grazing ecosystems: role of microbial decomposers and their enzymes
Roy S & Bagchi S (2022). Large mammalian herbivores and the paradox of soil carbon in grazing ecosystems: role of microbial decomposers and their enzymes. Ecosystems 25:976-988.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-021-00696-8 Press & Media coverage: | EOS Science News | ABSTRACT Grazing is the dominant land use across the world, and large mammalian herbivores exert strong influence over biogeochemical cycles. Grazing ecosystems feature C-rich soils, even though herbivores consume a major fraction of plant production to reduce detrital input to soil. Yet, counterintuitively, moderate grazing can promote net soil-C storage in many ecosystems compared to grazer-exclusion. We address this enigmatic influence of grazers on soil-C and test their indirect effect on proximate drivers of decomposition: microbial extracellular enzyme activity. We used a replicated long-term grazer-exclusion experiment to measure responses in above- and belowground plant biomass, soil-C stock, microbial biomass, labile/recalcitrant C pools and three enzymes relevant to the C-cycle: peroxidase—which initiates decomposition of recalcitrant matter, alongside beta-glucosidase and cellobiohydrolase—which act further downstream on more labile fractions. Consistent with other ecosystems, upto 12 years of herbivore exclusion did not increase soil-C in the fenced plots despite higher plant biomass and higher potential detrital C-inputs. Grazer-exclusion did not alter microbial biomass; peroxidase increased threefold and beta-glucosidase was doubled; cellobiohydrolase was unaffected. Grazer-exclusion also led to twofold increase in recalcitrant-C and in microbial respiration, but it did not influence labile-C. Structural equation models supported the hypothesis that grazing favours soil-C via its indirect effect on peroxidase, but they did not support that the effects can run in the opposite direction where soil-C affects enzymes. Grazer-mediated shifts in how microbes deploy enzymes emerge as a plausible mechanism that affects soil-C. These linkages may be important to maintain soil-C sequestration in drylands which support large mammalian herbivores. |
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2021
Data for "Large mammalian herbivores and the paradox of soil carbon in grazing ecosystems: role of microbial decomposers and their enzymes"
Species Loss Due to Nutrient Addition Increases with Spatial Scale in Global Grasslands.
Seabloom E, Batzer E, Chase J, Harpole S, Adler P, Bagchi S, ... et al. (2021). Species Loss Due to Nutrient Addition Increases with Spatial Scale in Global Grasslands. Ecology Letters 24:2100-2112. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.13838
ABSTRACT The effects of altered nutrient supplies and herbivore density on species diversity vary with spatial scale, because coexistence mechanisms are scale dependent. This scale dependence may alter the shape of the species–area relationship (SAR), which can be described by changes in species richness (S) as a power function of the sample area (A): S = cA^z, where c and z are constants. We analysed the effects of experimental manipulations of nutrient supply and herbivore density on species richness across a range of scales (0.01–75 m^2) at 30 grasslands in 10 countries. We found that nutrient addition reduced the number of species that could co-occur locally, indicated by the SAR intercepts (log c), but did not affect the SAR slopes (z). As a result, proportional species loss due to nutrient enrichment was largely unchanged across sampling scales, whereas total species loss increased over threefold across our range of sampling scales. |
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Consequences of migratory coupling of predators and prey when mediated by human actions.
Singh NJ, ... Bagchi S, ... et al (2021). Consequences of migratory coupling of predators and prey when mediated by human actions. Diversity and Distributions 27:1848-1860.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi/1373 Press & Media coverage: | sverigeSRadio | Radio Sweden interview of lead author Navinder Singh | svt NYHETER | Swedish TV interview of lead author Navinder Singh ABSTRACT Aim: Animal migrations influence ecosystem structure, dynamics and persistence of predator and prey populations. The theory of migratory coupling postulates that aggregations of migrant prey can induce large-scale synchronized movements in predators, and this coupling is consequential for the dynamics of ecological communities. The degree to which humans influence these interactions remains largely unknown. We tested whether creation of large resource pulses by humans such as seasonal herding of reindeer Rangifer tarandus and hunting of moose, Alces alces, can induce migratory coupling with Golden Eagles, Aquila chrysaetos, and whether these lead to demographic consequences for the eagles. Location: Fennoscandia. Methods: We used movement data from 32 tracked Golden Eagles spanning 125 annual migratory cycles over 8 years. We obtained reindeer distribution data through collaboration with reindeer herders based on satellite tracking of reindeer, and moose harvest data from the national hunting statistics for Sweden. We assessed demographic consequences for eagles from ingesting lead from ammunition fragments in moose carcasses through survival estimates and their links with lead concentrations in eagles' blood. Results: In spring, eagles migrated hundreds of kilometres to be spatially and temporally coupled with calving reindeer, whereas in autumn, eagles matched their distribution with the location and timing of moose hunt. Juveniles were more likely to couple with reindeer calving, whereas adults were particularly drawn to areas of higher moose harvest. Due to this coupling, eagles ingested lead from spent ammunition in moose offal and carcasses and the resulting lead toxicity increased the risk of mortality by 3.4 times. Main conclusions: We show how migratory coupling connects landscape processes and that human actions can influence migratory coupling over large spatial scales and increase demographic risks for predators. We provide vital knowledge towards resolving human–wildlife conflicts and the conservation of protected species over a large spatial and temporal scale. |
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Greening of the earth does not compensate for rising soil heterotrophic respiration under climate change.
Naidu DGT & Bagchi S (2021). Greening of the earth does not compensate for rising soil heterotrophic respiration under climate change. Global Change Biology 27:2029-2038.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15531 ABSTRACT Stability of the soil carbon (C) pool under decadal scale variability in temperature and precipitation is an important source of uncertainty in our understanding of land–atmosphere climate feedbacks. This depends on how two opposing C-fluxes—influx from net primary production (NPP) and efflux from heterotrophic soil respiration (Rh)—respond to covariation in temperature and precipitation. There is scant evidence to judge whether field experiments which manipulate both temperature and precipitation align with Earth System Models, or not. As a result, even though the world is generally greening, whether the resultant gains in NPP can offset climate change impacts on Rh, where, and by how much, remains uncertain. Here, we use decadal-scale global time-series datasets on NPP, Rh, temperature, and precipitation to estimate the two opposing C-fluxes and address whether one can outpace the other. We implement machine-learning tools on recent (2001–2019) and near-future climate scenarios (2020–2040) to assess the response of both C-fluxes to temperature and precipitation variation. We find that changes in C-influx may not compensate for C-efflux, particularly in wetter and warmer conditions. Soil-C loss can occur in both tropics and at high latitudes since C-influx from NPP can fall behind C-efflux from Rh. Precipitation emerges as the key determinant of soil-C vulnerability in a warmer world, implying that hotspots for soil-C loss/gain can shift rapidly and highlighting that soil-C is vulnerable to climate change despite widespread greening of the world. The direction of covariation between change in temperature and precipitation, rather than their magnitude, can help conceptualize highly variable patterns in C-fluxes to guide soil-C stewardship. |
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2020
A new species of Protanilla Taylor 1990 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Leptanillinae) from India.
Baidya P & Bagchi S (2020). A new species of Protanilla Taylor 1990 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Leptanillinae) from India. Halteres 11:19-24
Press & Media coverage: | Mongabay | GreenHumour | Roundglass Sustain | Times of India | |The NavHind Times | The Goan | moneycontrol | ABSTRACT Protanilla flamma sp. n. from Goa, India is described, which is the thirteenth species in the genus Protanilla and the second record of this genus from the country. The new species morphologically appears close to P. lini Terayama, 2009 in terms of mandibular teeth count and the structure of petiolar and post-petiolar nodes. However, it can be very easily differentiated based on the short antennal scape which does not exceed the posterior margin of the head. |
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Nutrient availability controls the impact of mammalian herbivores on soil carbon and nitrogen pools in grasslands.
Sitters J, ... Bagchi S, ... et al (2020). Nutrient availability controls the impact of mammalian herbivores on soil carbon and nitrogen pools in grasslands. Global Change Biology 26:2060-2071
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15023 ABSTRACT Grasslands are subject to considerable alteration due to human activities globally, including widespread changes in populations and composition of large mammalian herbivores and elevated supply of nutrients. Grassland soils remain important reservoirs of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). Herbivores may affect both C and N pools and these changes likely interact with increases in soil nutrient availability. Given the scale of grassland soil fluxes, such changes can have striking consequences for atmospheric C concentrations and the climate. Here, we use the Nutrient Network experiment to examine the responses of soil C and N pools to mammalian herbivore exclusion across 22 grasslands, under ambient and elevated nutrient availabilities (fertilized with NPK + micronutrients). We show that the impact of herbivore exclusion on soil C and N pools depends on fertilization. Under ambient nutrient conditions, we observed no effect of herbivore exclusion, but under elevated nutrient supply, pools are smaller upon herbivore exclusion. The highest mean soil C and N pools were found in grazed and fertilized plots. The decrease in soil C and N upon herbivore exclusion in combination with fertilization correlated with a decrease in aboveground plant biomass and microbial activity, indicating a reduced storage of organic matter and microbial residues as soil C and N. The response of soil C and N pools to herbivore exclusion was contingent on temperature – herbivores likely cause losses of C and N in colder sites and increases in warmer sites. Additionally, grasslands that contain mammalian herbivores have the potential to sequester more N under increased temperature variability and nutrient enrichment than ungrazed grasslands. Our study highlights the importance of conserving mammalian herbivore populations in grasslands worldwide. We need to incorporate local-scale herbivory, and its interaction with nutrient enrichment and climate, within global-scale models to better predict land–atmosphere interactions under future climate change. |
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Change in snow leopard predation on livestock after revival of wild prey in the Trans-Himalaya.
Bagchi S, Sharma RK, Bhatnagar YV, (2020). Change in snow leopard predation on livestock after revival of wild prey in the Trans-Himalaya. Wildlife Biology 2020: wlb.00583
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2981/wlb.00583 ABSTRACT Human–wildlife conflict arising from livestock-losses to large carnivores is an important challenge faced by conservation. Theory of prey–predator interactions suggests that revival of wild prey populations can reduce predator's dependence on livestock in multiple-use landscapes. We explore whether 10-years of conservation efforts to revive wild prey could reduce snow leopard's Panthera uncia consumption of livestock in the coupled human-and-natural Trans-Himalayan ecosystem of northern India. Starting in 2001, concerted conservation efforts at one site (intervention) attempted recovery of wild-prey populations by creating livestock-free reserves, accompanied with other incentives (e.g. insurance, vigilant herding). Another site, 50km away, was monitored as status quo without any interventions. Prey remains in snow leopard scats were examined periodically at five-year intervals between 2002 and 2012 to determine any temporal shift in diet at both sites to evaluate the effectiveness of conservation interventions. Consumption of livestock increased at the status quo site, while it decreased at the intervention-site. At the intervention-site, livestock-consumption reduced during 2002–2007 (by 17%, p=0.06); this effect was sustained during the next five-year interval, and it was accompanied by a persistent increase in wild prey populations. Here we also noted increased predator populations, likely due to immigration into the study area. Despite the increase in the predator population, there was no increase in livestock-consumption. In contrast, under status quo, dependence on livestock increased during both five-year intervals (by 7%, p=0.08, and by 16%, p=0.01, respectively). These contrasts between the trajectories of the two sites suggest that livestock-loss can potentially be reduced through the revival of wild prey. Further, accommodating counter-factual scenarios may be an important step to infer whether conservation efforts achieve their targets, or not. |
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2019
Climate Change and The Himalaya: Trends in Vegetation, Temperature and Precipitation
Naidu DGT, Sridharan A, Bagchi S, (2019). Climate Change and The Himalaya: Trends in Vegetation, Temperature and Precipitation. Pp. 147-159 In Bhatt, J.R. et al (eds). Biodiversity and Climate Change: An Indian Perspective. 3rd National Communication to the UNFCCC. MoEFCC, Govt. of India, New Delhi.
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Conserving large carnivores amidst human-wildlife conflict: the scope of ecological theory to guide conservation practice.
Bagchi S, (2019). Conserving large carnivores amidst human-wildlife conflict: the scope of ecological theory to guide conservation practice. Food Webs 18:e00108.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fooweb.2018.e00108 ABSTRACT Predator-prey interactions where livestock are killed by carnivores, are a serious global challenge. Conservation interventions to address this conflict are inadequately guided by ecological theory, and instead rely on pragmatic experiential decisions. I review four families of theoretical models that can accommodate essential features of this human-wildlife conflict, namely – prey-refuge, specialist/generalist predation, social-ecological, and metapopulation models. I evaluate their relevance for conservation and arrange each model's predictions along two conceptual dimensions: coexistence and stability. These models are described with examples of pastoralists and snow leopards in the Himalayas, but they can have broader relevance to other regions. All models suggest that livestock-loss can be better controlled in highly productive habitats, than under low productivity. But, they differ in the ease with which their predictions may be translated into real-world conservation interventions. These constraints can be circumvented through animal movement between patches which is represented only in metapopulation models. But, metapopulation models do not offer much clarity on the size of the predator population. Instead, they can prescribe rotational-grazing policies for livestock – another pragmatic management concern. This comparison of models identifies lacunae where ecological theory could be better integrated within conservation practice. One option is better integration with emerging knowledge of animal movement. Comparative analyses of models helps identify future directions where outcomes of alternative management interventions can be predicted and evaluated. |
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A fine scale state-space model to understand drivers of forest fires in the Himalayan foothills.
Murthy K, Sinha SK, Kaul R, Vaidyanathan S, (2019). A fine scale state-space model to understand drivers of forest fires in the Himalayan foothills. Forest Ecology and Management 432:902-911
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2018.10.009 ABSTRACT The tropical forests situated in the Himalayan foothills (terai) experience frequent wildfires which can alter the vegetation structure and composition, challenging tiger conservation efforts in this region. Hence, there is a need for better understanding of the drivers of forest fire to aid efficient management, but these efforts are hampered by the deficiency of spatial and temporal data on fire incidences. Advancement in remote sensing technology provides an opportunity to understand the spatial and temporal patterns of wildfires in relation to anthropogenic, ecological, and environmental drivers. We used MODIS fire data from 2001 to 2015 to understand fire incidences in Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR), an important tiger habitat area in the Himalayan terai region. We analyzed fire incidences to understand monthly and inter-annual variation of fire incidences at two spatial scales: first, using only climatic variables considering VTR as a single spatial unit and the second, to understand the fire dynamics at 1 km^2 spatial resolution using climatic, ecological, and anthropogenic variables. The results show that fire incidences occurred from January to May, 88% of which occurred in March and April. Overall, different variables affected fire incidences in March and April for both the temporal models. Precipitation had a significant negative effect on fire incidences in both March and April, but temperature had a positive effect only in March. Similarly, the fine scale temporal model showed that while ecological (litter load, NPP) and anthropogenic (distance to villages and roads) variables influenced fire incidences in March, altitude and village area surrounding the forest affected fires in April. Litter input, distance to nearest villages, and village area had a non-linear relationship with fire incidences indicating a few inconsistencies with the global patterns of fire with human activity. We show that the Sal dominated forests and terai grasslands at low altitudes (200 m), falling within a zone of 2.5–3 km from villages and with good road connectivity are more prone to fire. The fine-scale fire prediction map of VTR will be helpful to the Tiger Reserve management in developing appropriate strategies for the fire prone areas. |
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2018
Change in dominance determines herbivore effects on plant biodiversity.
Koerner SE, ... Bagchi S, ... et al (2018). Change in dominance determines herbivore effects on plant biodiversity. Nature Ecology and Evolution 2:1925-1932
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-018-0696-y Press & Media coverage: | Science Daily | National Geographic | Others | Blogposts | ABSTRACT Herbivores alter plant biodiversity (species richness) in many of the world’s ecosystems, but the magnitude and the direction of herbivore effects on biodiversity vary widely within and among ecosystems. One current theory predicts that herbivores enhance plant biodiversity at high productivity but have the opposite effect at low productivity. Yet, empirical support for the importance of site productivity as a mediator of these herbivore impacts is equivocal. Here, we synthesize data from 252 large-herbivore exclusion studies, spanning a 20-fold range in site productivity, to test an alternative hypothesis—that herbivore-induced changes in the competitive environment determine the response of plant biodiversity to herbivory irrespective of productivity. Under this hypothesis, when herbivores reduce the abundance (biomass, cover) of dominant species (for example, because the dominant plant is palatable), additional resources become available to support new species, thereby increasing biodiversity. By contrast, if herbivores promote high dominance by increasing the abundance of herbivory-resistant, unpalatable species, then resource availability for other species decreases reducing biodiversity. We show that herbivore-induced change in dominance, independent of site productivity or precipitation (a proxy for productivity), is the best predictor of herbivore effects on biodiversity in grassland and savannah sites. Given that most herbaceous ecosystems are dominated by one or a few species, altering the competitive environment via herbivores or by other means may be an effective strategy for conserving biodiversity in grasslands and savannahs globally. |
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Spatial patterns of long-term vegetation greening and browning are consistent across multiple scales: Implications for monitoring land degradation
Murthy K, & Bagchi S (2018). Spatial patterns of long-term vegetation greening and browning are consistent across multiple scales: Implications for monitoring land degradation. Land Degradation and Development 29:2485-2495
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.3019 ABSTRACT Understanding spatial–temporal patterns of terrestrial vegetation response to climate change (long-term greening/browning) is important for developing strategies to mitigate degradation. Semiarid rangelands are especially susceptible to degradation, which challenges wildlife conservation and human livelihoods that depend on livestock production. In the cold-arid Trans-Himalayan ecosystem (northern India), temperature is increasing, and it is also becoming progressively wetter. Yet, counter-intuitively, there are widespread concerns over degradation. We evaluated whether greening/browning patterns in long-term satellite-derived vegetation indices (normalized difference vegetation index [NDVI]) are consistent across different spatial and temporal scales using 6 datasets: MODIS (250 m, 500 m, 1 km, and 5.5 km), SPOT 1 km, and GIMMS 8 km. Results indicate browning in the spring and greening in late summer. Location of hotspots of degradation (browning) was broadly consistent across spatial scales (10^-2 to 10^2 km^2) and were found in regions with warmer temperature and at higher elevations. Broadly, the spatial/temporal pattern of browning does not coincide strongly with location and timing of human land use via livestock grazing. This geographical and seasonal context indicates that vegetation response may be more strongly related to climate than to human land use (overgrazing). Importantly, the dynamic nature of greening/browning, across space and time, is not captured by composite annual metrics (sum-NDVI, max-NDVI, and mean-NDVI). This reiterates the importance of both intraannual and interannual assessments. Location of hotspots indicates that degradation occurs in a spatially contiguous manner, but these are not stationary and instead shift with seasons. Overall, the results show that evaluating the consistency of greening/browning trends across different spatial/temporal scales is critical for understanding and managing vegetation degradation. |
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Woody shrubs increase soil microbial functions and multifunctionality in a tropical semi-arid grazing ecosystem
Chandregowda MH, Murthy K, & Bagchi S (2018). Woody shrubs increase soil microbial functions and multifunctionality in a tropical semi-arid grazing ecosystem. Journal of Arid Environments 155:65-72.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2018.02.006 ABSTRACT Woody encroachment is of global concern in arid and semiarid regions around the world. Due to reduction in grass (forage), woody encroachment is viewed as ecosystem disservice and degradation, even though this may not reduce ecosystem functions. Often, management perceptions of degradation remain inadequately informed by knowledge of ecosystem processes. We compared 11 biotic variables related to soil and microbial functions under shrubs against paired-adjacent grassland:- carbon, nitrogen, C:N ratio, organic matter, plant-available N, N-mineralization rate, microbial biomass C and N, basal respiration, and metabolic-quotient. We summarized these as a multifunction-index. We also measured five soil physico-chemical covariates:- pH, conductivity, bulk density, texture and water holding capacity. These 11 biotic variables were 15–48% higher under shrubs than under grass; multifunction-index was also higher (by 366%). After accounting for spatial autocorrelation and background differences in physico-chemical covariates (redundancy analysis), altered ecosystem functions were attributable to shrubs. Overall, shrubs can enhance ecosystem functions, and maintain important ecological processes through concomitant changes in soil physico-chemical properties. While shrubs should not be equated to ecological degradation, they present a challenging triage of ecosystem service, disservice, and function for grasslands. Management strategies could benefit from targeting patterns of nutrient re-distribution under shrubs. |
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2017
Research opportunities for undergraduates.
Bagchi S. (2017) Research opportunities for undergraduates. Current Science 112(9):1797
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv112%2Fi09%2F1797-1797 (1st Paragraph) Research at the undergraduate (UG) level comprises a varied mix of experiences for college students. It is fairly common for beginning UGs to do research projects as part of their coursework. These projects often have modest objectives, and are largely meant to introduce concepts of experimental design, replication, systematic observations, standardization of methods and gaining writing skills. For more advanced UGs, research can also mean a portal to gain hands-on experience with the process of scientific enquiry. They perform supervised tasks that contribute incrementally to the research goals of their host laboratory. |
A new formulation for determination of the Competition Coefficient in multispecies interaction for Lotka-Volterra type competition models.
Swain A, Chatterjee S, (2017). A new formulation for determination of the Competition Coefficient in multispecies interaction for Lotka-Volterra type competition models. Current Science 112:1920-1926
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18520/cs/v112/i09/1920-1926 ABSTRACT Determination of competition coefficients constitutes a vital part in the competition-based Lotka-Volterratype population dynamics models. Various models have been proposed for the same, some of which were instinctive formulations, while some others were derived from dynamical and equilibrium relations pertaining to population dynamics. In this work, a new instinctive formulation to determine the competition coefficient has been proposed based on various parameters that determine the intensity of interspecific competition like the availability of resources, relative importance of a particular resource for a species, energy expenditure per resource utilization, etc. |
Seabirds of Goa, India: Recent Updates.
Baidya P, Bhagat M, Dharwadkar O, Gauns H, (2017) Seabirds of Goa, India: Recent Updates. Indian BIRDS 13:8-17
DOI: ABSTRACT A comprehensive review of the status of seabirds off the Goa coast is presented here. This is based on the results of five offshore seabird surveys organised by the Goa Bird Conservation Network; tracking of wind-blown, and coastal seabirds from social media platforms, and animal rescue groups; and a review of all available literature on the seabirds of Goa. This exercise of field surveys, and literature trawls has led to the addition of four species to the Goa checklist, namely, Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus, Swinhoe’s Storm-petrel Hydrobates monorhis, Flesh-footed Shearwater Ardenna carneipes, and Red-footed booby Sula sula; the up-listing of Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus, Brown Noddy Anous stolidus, and Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla from the list of unconfirmed species to the main checklist; and down-listing Wedge-tailed Shearwater A. pacifica as an unconfirmed species for the state: bringing the number of seabirds recorded from Goa to 25 confirmed species, and one unconfirmed. |
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata, a new record for Goa, India.
Dharwardkar O, Baidya P, et al, (2017) Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata, a new record for Goa, India. Indian BIRDS 13:27-28.
DOI: 1st PARAGRAPH The Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata (Muscicapidae), has a wide distribution within Europe, western-central Asia, and Africa (Taylor 2016). It is listed as a passage migrant in north-western India, and Pakistan, and a breeding visitor to Afghanistan, Baluchistan, and the Himalayas between an altitudinal range of 1800–3300m (Grimmett et al. 2011; Rasmussen & Anderton 2012). Most records of this species from India, on eBird, are from Gujarat and, more specifically, from Kachchh, with a few scattered records from Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and New Delhi. The majority of records are from the months of September–October, with a few from March to May. On 10 December 2015, a single bird was observed and photographed in Pune, Maharashtra (Iyer 2015), and was the first report of this species from peninsular India, and is the only record between November–December. In this note, we report the sighting of a Spotted Flycatcher from Goa, India. |
A dominant dwarf shrub increases diversity of herbaceous plant communities in a
Trans-Himalayan rangeland
Trans-Himalayan rangeland
Iyengar SB, Bagchi S, Barua D, Mishra C, Sankaran M, (2017). A dominant dwarf shrub increases diversity of herbaceous plant communities in a Trans-Himalayan rangeland. Plant Ecology 218:843-854
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-017-0734-x ABSTRACT Plant communities are structured by both competition and facilitation. The interplay between the two interactions can vary depending on environmental factors, nature of stress, and plant traits. However, whether positive or negative interactions dominate in regions of high biotic and abiotic stress remains unclear. We studied herbaceous plant communities associated with a dwarf shrub Caragana versicolor in semi-arid, high altitude Trans-Himalayan rangelands of Spiti, India. We surveyed 120 pairs of plots (within and outside shrub canopies) across four watersheds differing in altitude, aspect, and dominant herbivores. Herbaceous communities within shrub canopies had 25% higher species richness, but similar abundance when compared to communities outside the canopy, with the shrub edge having higher diversity than the centre of the canopy. Grasses and erect forbs showed positive associations with the shrub, while prostrate plants occurred at much lower abundance within the canopy. Rare species showed stronger positive associations with Caragana than abundant species. Experimental removal of herbaceous vegetation from within shrub canopies led to 42% increase in flowering in Caragana, indicating a cost to the host shrubs. Our study indicates a robust pattern of a dwarf shrub facilitating local community diversity across this alpine landscape, increasing diversity at the plot level, facilitating rare species, and yet incurring a cost to hosts from the presence of herbaceous plants. Given these large influences of this shrub on the vegetation of these high altitude rangelands, we suggest that the shrub microhabitat be explicitly considered in any analyses of ecosystem health in such rangelands. |
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Bagchi S, Singh NJ, Briske DD, Bestelmeyer BT, McClaran MP, Murthy K, (2017). Quantifying long-term plant community dynamics with movement models: Implications for ecological resilience. Ecological Applications 27:1514-1528.
DOI: 10.1002/eap.1544 (link)
Bagchi S, Gupta E, Murthy K, Singh NJ, (2017). Assessing the evidence for climate driven phenology change in high altitude wetlands of Ladakh. Pp. 189-204, in Prins HHT, Namgail T, (eds), Bird migration across the Himalayas: wetland functioning amidst mountains and glaciers. Cambridge University Press.
DOI: 10.1017/9781316335420.016 (link)
Bagchi S, Roy S, Maitra A, Sran RS, (2017). Herbivores suppress soil microbes to influence carbon sequestration in the grazing ecosystem of the Trans-Himalaya. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 239:199-206
DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2017.01.033 (get pdf or click here)
2016
Ranjan R, Bagchi S, (2016). Functional response and body size in consumer-resource interactions: unimodality favors facilitation. Theoretical Population Biology 110:25-35.
DOI: 10.1016/j.tpb.2016.04.001 (link)
Baidya P, Gawas H, Mukherjee S, Gawas S, (2016). Decadal changes and additions to birds of Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India. Indian BIRDS 11:29-34
2015
Bagchi S, (2015). Do large herbivores influence plant allocation to above- and below-ground compartments? In Ahrestani FS, Sankaran M, (eds), The Ecology of Large Herbivores in South and Southeast Asia. Springer. Ecological Studies 225:177-185.
DOI: 10.1007/978-94-017-7570-0_7 (link)
2013
Bagchi S, Briske DD, Bestelmeyer BT, Wu XB, (2013). Assessing resilience and state-transition models with historical records of cheatgrass Bromus tectorum invasion in North American sagebrush-steppe. Journal of Applied Ecology 50:1131-1141
DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12128 (link or get pdf)
DOI: 10.1002/eap.1544 (link)
Bagchi S, Gupta E, Murthy K, Singh NJ, (2017). Assessing the evidence for climate driven phenology change in high altitude wetlands of Ladakh. Pp. 189-204, in Prins HHT, Namgail T, (eds), Bird migration across the Himalayas: wetland functioning amidst mountains and glaciers. Cambridge University Press.
DOI: 10.1017/9781316335420.016 (link)
Bagchi S, Roy S, Maitra A, Sran RS, (2017). Herbivores suppress soil microbes to influence carbon sequestration in the grazing ecosystem of the Trans-Himalaya. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 239:199-206
DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2017.01.033 (get pdf or click here)
2016
Ranjan R, Bagchi S, (2016). Functional response and body size in consumer-resource interactions: unimodality favors facilitation. Theoretical Population Biology 110:25-35.
DOI: 10.1016/j.tpb.2016.04.001 (link)
Baidya P, Gawas H, Mukherjee S, Gawas S, (2016). Decadal changes and additions to birds of Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India. Indian BIRDS 11:29-34
2015
Bagchi S, (2015). Do large herbivores influence plant allocation to above- and below-ground compartments? In Ahrestani FS, Sankaran M, (eds), The Ecology of Large Herbivores in South and Southeast Asia. Springer. Ecological Studies 225:177-185.
DOI: 10.1007/978-94-017-7570-0_7 (link)
2013
Bagchi S, Briske DD, Bestelmeyer BT, Wu XB, (2013). Assessing resilience and state-transition models with historical records of cheatgrass Bromus tectorum invasion in North American sagebrush-steppe. Journal of Applied Ecology 50:1131-1141
DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12128 (link or get pdf)
OLDER PAPERS
Singh, N.J. & S. Bagchi (2013). Applied ecology in India: scope of science and policy to meet contemporary environmental and socio-ecological challenges. Journal of Applied Ecology 50:4-14. pdf
Bagchi, S., Y.V. Bhatnagar & M.E. Ritchie (2012). Comparing the effects of livestock and native herbivores on plant production and vegetation composition in the Trans-Himalayas. Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice 2:21. pdf
Bagchi, S. D.D. Briske, X.B. Wu, M.P. McClaran, B.T. Bestelmeyer & M.E. Fernandez-Gimenez (2012). Empirical assessment of state-and-transition models with a long-term vegetation record from the Sonoran Desert. Ecological Applications 22:400-411. link and pdf
Bagchi, S., & M.E. Ritchie (2012). Body size and species coexistence in consumer-resource interactions: A comparison of two alternative theoretical frameworks. Theoretical Ecology 5:141-151. link and pdf
Bagchi, S., & M.E. Ritchie (2011). Herbivory and plant tolerance: Experimental tests of alternative hypotheses involving non-substitutable resources. Oikos 120:119-127. pdf
Bagchi, S., & M.E. Ritchie (2010). Herbivore effects on above- and belowground plant production and soil nitrogen availability in the Trans-Himalayan shrub-steppes. Oecologia 164:1075-1082. pdf
Bagchi, S., & M.E. Ritchie (2010). Introduced grazers can restrict potential soil carbon sequestration through impacts on plant community composition. Ecology Letters 13: 959-968. pdf and appendix
Mishra, C., S. Bagchi, T. Namgail, & Y.V. Bhatnagar (2009). Multiple use of Trans-Himalayan rangelands: reconciling human livelihoods with wildlife conservation. Pp. 291-311. In du Toit, J., R. Kock, & J. Deutsch (eds.), Wild rangelands: Conserving wildlife while maintaining livestock in semi-arid ecosystems. Blackwell Publishing, London. pdf
Bagchi, S., S.P. Goyal & K. Sankar (2008). Social organisation and population structure of ungulates in a tropical dry forest of western India. Mammalia 72:44-49. pdf
Namgail, T., S. Bagchi, C. Mishra, & Y.V. Bhatnagar (2008). Distributional correlates of the Tibetan gazelle in northern India: Towards a recovery program. Oryx 42:107-112. pdf
Bagchi, S. (2007). Relation between size-hierarchy and density of trees in a tropical dry-deciduous forest of western India. Journal of Vegetation Science 18: 389-394. pdf
Bhatnagar, Y.V., C.M. Seth, J. Takpa, S. Ul-Haq, T. Namgail, S. Bagchi & C. Mishra (2007). A Strategy for Conservation of Tibetan Gazelle Procapra picticaudata in Ladakh. Conservation and Society 5: 262-276. pdf
Namgail, T., Y.V. Bhatnagar, C. Mishra & S. Bagchi (2007). Pastoral nomads of the Indian Changthang: production system, landuse and socio-economic changes. Human Ecology 35: 497-504. pdf
Bagchi, S., T. Namgail & M.E. Ritchie (2006). Small mammalian herbivores as mediators of plant community dynamics in the high-altitude arid rangelands of Trans-Himalayas. Biological Conservation 127: 438-442. pdf
Bagchi, S. (2006). Assembly rules in large herbivores – a null model analysis of local and regional diversity patterns of ungulates in dry tropical forests of western India. Current Zoology 52: 634-640. pdf
Bagchi, S. & C. Mishra (2006). Living with large carnivores: predation on livestock by the snow leopard (Uncia uncia). Journal of Zoology 268: 217-224. pdf
Namgail, T., S. Bagchi, Y.V. Bhatnagar & R. Wangchuk (2005). Occurrence of the Sand Fox (Vulpes ferrilata) in Ladakh: A new record for the Indian Sub continent. Journal of Bombay Natural History Society 102: 217-219. pdf
Bagchi, S., C. Mishra & Y.V. Bhatnagar (2004). Conflicts between traditional pastoralism and conservation of Himalayan Ibex (Capra sibirica) in the Trans-Himalayan mountains. Animal Conservation 7: 121-128. pdf
Bagchi, S., S.P. Goyal & K. Sankar (2004). Habitat separation among ungulates in dry tropical forests of Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan. Tropical Ecology 44: 175-181.
Bagchi, S., S.P. Goyal & K. Sankar (2003). Niche relationships of an ungulate assemblage in a dry tropical forest. Journal of Mammalogy 84: 981-988. pdf
Bagchi, S., S.P. Goyal & K. Sankar (2003). Prey abundance and prey selection by tigers (Panthera tigris) in a semi-arid, dry deciduous forest in western India. Journal of Zoology 260: 285-290. pdf
Bagchi, S., Y.V. Bhatnagar & M.E. Ritchie (2012). Comparing the effects of livestock and native herbivores on plant production and vegetation composition in the Trans-Himalayas. Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice 2:21. pdf
Bagchi, S. D.D. Briske, X.B. Wu, M.P. McClaran, B.T. Bestelmeyer & M.E. Fernandez-Gimenez (2012). Empirical assessment of state-and-transition models with a long-term vegetation record from the Sonoran Desert. Ecological Applications 22:400-411. link and pdf
Bagchi, S., & M.E. Ritchie (2012). Body size and species coexistence in consumer-resource interactions: A comparison of two alternative theoretical frameworks. Theoretical Ecology 5:141-151. link and pdf
Bagchi, S., & M.E. Ritchie (2011). Herbivory and plant tolerance: Experimental tests of alternative hypotheses involving non-substitutable resources. Oikos 120:119-127. pdf
Bagchi, S., & M.E. Ritchie (2010). Herbivore effects on above- and belowground plant production and soil nitrogen availability in the Trans-Himalayan shrub-steppes. Oecologia 164:1075-1082. pdf
Bagchi, S., & M.E. Ritchie (2010). Introduced grazers can restrict potential soil carbon sequestration through impacts on plant community composition. Ecology Letters 13: 959-968. pdf and appendix
Mishra, C., S. Bagchi, T. Namgail, & Y.V. Bhatnagar (2009). Multiple use of Trans-Himalayan rangelands: reconciling human livelihoods with wildlife conservation. Pp. 291-311. In du Toit, J., R. Kock, & J. Deutsch (eds.), Wild rangelands: Conserving wildlife while maintaining livestock in semi-arid ecosystems. Blackwell Publishing, London. pdf
Bagchi, S., S.P. Goyal & K. Sankar (2008). Social organisation and population structure of ungulates in a tropical dry forest of western India. Mammalia 72:44-49. pdf
Namgail, T., S. Bagchi, C. Mishra, & Y.V. Bhatnagar (2008). Distributional correlates of the Tibetan gazelle in northern India: Towards a recovery program. Oryx 42:107-112. pdf
Bagchi, S. (2007). Relation between size-hierarchy and density of trees in a tropical dry-deciduous forest of western India. Journal of Vegetation Science 18: 389-394. pdf
Bhatnagar, Y.V., C.M. Seth, J. Takpa, S. Ul-Haq, T. Namgail, S. Bagchi & C. Mishra (2007). A Strategy for Conservation of Tibetan Gazelle Procapra picticaudata in Ladakh. Conservation and Society 5: 262-276. pdf
Namgail, T., Y.V. Bhatnagar, C. Mishra & S. Bagchi (2007). Pastoral nomads of the Indian Changthang: production system, landuse and socio-economic changes. Human Ecology 35: 497-504. pdf
Bagchi, S., T. Namgail & M.E. Ritchie (2006). Small mammalian herbivores as mediators of plant community dynamics in the high-altitude arid rangelands of Trans-Himalayas. Biological Conservation 127: 438-442. pdf
Bagchi, S. (2006). Assembly rules in large herbivores – a null model analysis of local and regional diversity patterns of ungulates in dry tropical forests of western India. Current Zoology 52: 634-640. pdf
Bagchi, S. & C. Mishra (2006). Living with large carnivores: predation on livestock by the snow leopard (Uncia uncia). Journal of Zoology 268: 217-224. pdf
Namgail, T., S. Bagchi, Y.V. Bhatnagar & R. Wangchuk (2005). Occurrence of the Sand Fox (Vulpes ferrilata) in Ladakh: A new record for the Indian Sub continent. Journal of Bombay Natural History Society 102: 217-219. pdf
Bagchi, S., C. Mishra & Y.V. Bhatnagar (2004). Conflicts between traditional pastoralism and conservation of Himalayan Ibex (Capra sibirica) in the Trans-Himalayan mountains. Animal Conservation 7: 121-128. pdf
Bagchi, S., S.P. Goyal & K. Sankar (2004). Habitat separation among ungulates in dry tropical forests of Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan. Tropical Ecology 44: 175-181.
Bagchi, S., S.P. Goyal & K. Sankar (2003). Niche relationships of an ungulate assemblage in a dry tropical forest. Journal of Mammalogy 84: 981-988. pdf
Bagchi, S., S.P. Goyal & K. Sankar (2003). Prey abundance and prey selection by tigers (Panthera tigris) in a semi-arid, dry deciduous forest in western India. Journal of Zoology 260: 285-290. pdf
POPULAR SCIENCE ARTICLES
Bagchi, S. (2007). Flora and fauna in India and its neighbours. In World and its peoples. Pp 310-314. Marshall Cavendish, NY.