Bombay Natural History Society

In the present study, the optical and thermal properties of a liquid crystal polymer system (LCPS) dispersed with different concentrations of quantum dots (QD) like cadmium sulphide (CdS) and zinc sulphide (ZnS) were investigated using polarized optical microscopy (POM). The texture and structural parameters of LCPS with different concentrations of dopant were compared to understanding the effect of quantum dots on the optical, thermal, phase transition, and structural properties of LCPS. Our investigation shows an increase in phase transition temperature after dispersing the quantum dots into LCPS. These investigations may be useful for new device applications that require higher phase transition temperature.

Abstract India has a rich history of ornithology, and bird research in this field has expanded considerably in recent decades, spurred by a growing number of birdwatchers and ornithologists. Despite this progress, critical gaps remain. This paper highlights key areas where further research is needed and identifies pressing questions that will shape Indian ornithology in the coming years. Drawing from diverse inputs, we present a curated list of 101 research questions spanning across the various disciplines in ornithology – Natural History, Physiology and Disease Ecology, Behaviour, Population and Community Ecology, Habitat Ecology, Macroecology and Biogeography, Population Genetics and Evolution, Applied/Economic Ornithology and Conservation. The list was compiled through a multi-stage process, starting with a public open call for questions, followed by review and curation by a smaller panel of subject specialists. Each question was independently scored by a panel of experts based on three criteria: generality, novelty, and relevance. To account for variation in scoring styles, scores were normalised using Z-scores. The top 101 research questions were then selected based on these standardised scores. Each question is accompanied by an annotation that describes the significance of the question, and highlights opportunities to address it. While our list of research questions highlights significant research priorities, it is not intended to be exhaustive. Rather, it reflects the perspectives of those involved in its curation, who deemed these questions particularly relevant and impactful towards advancing Indian ornithology. We expect these questions to spark new project ideas among students, researchers, and citizen scientists, while guiding funders, managers, and policymakers toward priority research areas.

ABSTRACTHeuglin's Gulls (Larus heuglini) GPS‐tracked from Sri Lanka to the Arctic in successive years followed a combination of coastal and overland routes through Eurasia (~8000 km) instead of the shortest maritime (~15,000 km) or shortest transcontinental (6346 km) routes, revealing a novel transcontinental passage for seabirds between the Indian and Arctic Oceans.

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This paper provides the available information on the usage of forest plants by the tribals called "Seenthikodi valaiyars" of Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary. The ethnobotanical values of 92 plant speciejs are described under three heads a) edible plants, b) ethomedicine and c) miscellaneous plants. The need for the conservation of commercially harvested plants of ethnobotanical importance is also discussed.

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