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Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-hol-10.1177_09596836231183110 for Holocene precipitation hydrogen isotopic values on Nilgiri Plateau (southern India) suggest a combined effect of precipitation amount and transport paths by Shreyas Managave, Yongsong Huang, Jean-Pierre Sutra, Krishnamurthy Anupama and Srinivasan Prasad in The Holocene

International audience; Here, we present the results of recent investigations into spatio-temporal variability in Lower Palaeolithic technologies in India. The research focuses on the diverse technological strategies adopted in SE India that continue from the Lower Palaeolithic through the transition to the Middle Palaeolithic. The arguments for diversity and change in lithic technologies are primarily constructed around evidence from the site of Attirampakkam (ATM), Chennai, Tamil Nadu where a very early Acheulian presence (~1.07–1.7 Ma) has been recorded, succeeded by transitions and the establishment of an early MP culture (beginning around 385 ± 64 ka). The MP culture prevailed at the site until 172 ± 41 ka. To situate the cultural trajectories reconstructed at Attirampakkam in a wider regional context, research was undertaken at the nearby site of Sendrayanpayalam (SEN). This research project led to the discovery of stratified horizons containing a sequence of Lower Palaeolithic assemblages. This paper focuses on the different horizons identified at the site of SEN, and explores aspects of the Lower Palaeolithic that differ in terms of assemblage structure and technology between the two sites. We present a preliminary introduction to the different methodologies adopted and emerging results from the research program. We analyse supporting evidence from the diversity of lithic reduction sequences encountered in the stratigraphy, and interpret hominin behavioural variability at the site. We note that the technological sequences observed at ATM and SEN are similar to those reported from Africa and in Eurasia, where they have been linked to significant behavioural change related to the timing of successive population dispersals out of Africa.

International audience; Investigating the taphonomy of phytoliths at open-air archaeological sites is essential for reconstructing past land cover and assessing the plant resources available to hominins, particularly when other indicators (e.g., pollen) are scarce. Here we analyse phytolith abundance and diversity encountered in distinct ‘reservoirs’ at and around the Palaeolithic site of Attirampakkam, South India: (1) in the present-day vegetation (database of 134 species), generating on that basis a fine classification of species-specific phytolith morphotypes; (2) in the topsoil (surface); and (3) at greater soil depths above the archaeological layers (subsurface). We then compare the data to results previously obtained from the deeper underlying archaeological layers. Comparison of the assemblages retrieved from the different reservoirs shows that morphotypes most likely to get carried over from the living plants to the oldest fossil specimens were subsets of herbaceous taxa (Poaceae and Cyperaceae) and a few woody monocotyledons (Arecaceae). The high fidelity of these taxa ranks them among the most reliable for conducting palaeoenvironmental studies at this site, and perhaps more widely in southern India. Provided those taxonomically traceable, non-redundant and non-multiple morphotypes are prioritised over herbaceous dicotyledons and most woody taxa, inferences about environmental conditions and changes at the time of hominin occupation during the Pleistocene can be made with a fair margin of confidence.

International audience; This book is about the relationships between pollinators, flowers and agriculture in Puducherry, and how they sustain the incredible biodiversity of our region. It introduces the Puducherry bioregion, explains pollination, the native honeybees and other pollinators, the variety of hives and the links between humans and bees. We discuss benefits for farmers, how we can help pollinators and revive beekeeping using low cost, low maintenance clay pot-hives. It is based on ongoing interdisciplinary research, presented in a simple way using images and illustrations to reach anyone who wants to know about the role of these tiny creatures in a fast-urbanizing world.; Ce livre traite des relations entre les pollinisateurs, les fleurs et l'agriculture à Pondicherry, et explique comment elles sont à la base de l'incroyable biodiversité de notre région. L'objectif de l’ouvrage est de présenter la biorégion de Pondicherry, la pollinisation, les espèces locales d’abeilles et les autres pollinisateurs, la variété des ruches et les liens entre humains et abeilles. Nous témoignons également des avantages pour les agriculteurs et présentons des stratégies favorisant les pollinisateurs, notamment l’utilisation de ruches en pots de terre, peu coûteuses et nécessitant peu d'entretien. Cette brochure est basée sur une recherche interdisciplinaire en cours, mais nos résultats sont présentés de manière simple, à l'aide de nombreuses illustrations, afin de toucher tous ceux qui souhaitent connaître le rôle de ces minuscules créatures dans un monde qui s'urbanise si rapidement.

International audience

International audience; An assessment of the resilience of Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest(TDEF) formation was made using quantitative vegetation andsurface soil pollen surveys in 14 sites around Pondicherry withinthe heterogeneous landscape of the Coromandel coast ofsouthern India. The sites for vegetation and soil surface pollensamples were selected using a stratified random sampling.Vegetation or land cover quantities were measured in quadratswhere 325 angiosperm species representing 75 families ofAngiosperms of the present vegetation were recorded. Therelative densities of species evaluated from three distinct siteshelped to compare them across time, the trajectory of individualspecies and the TDEF itself. The vegetation study indicates thatsome of the TDEF species have the ability to ‘recover’ and adaptto changing conditions and anthropogenic pressures. The studyalso demonstrated the significance of the use of pollen toreconstruct the past land cover.

Many modern agricultural systems are structured around one dominant form of water storage and distribution, usually large reservoirs. In contrast, in peninsular India, small reservoirs (tanks), predominantly supplied by surface runoff as opposed to river canals have for centuries been the trademark of an entire agrarian civilization, with no equivalent elsewhere in the semiarid tropics. This article focuses on the physical and socioeconomic conditions that underlie the success of an indigenous technology which has for centuries exploited the potential for runoff harvesting by i) optimizing water management for agriculture; and ii) minimizing soil loss. Today, siltation of reservoirs, privatization of water resources, and generalized mining of groundwater, pose a threat to the sustainability of these water-harvesting systems. The ongoing transformation of this common resource pool is critically assessed.

International audience; A qualitative floristic exploration with life form classifications and monitoring of flowering and fruiting phenology has been carried out at a restored site near Puducherry, South India in 2009 and 2010. The species were classified into three categories based on their occurrence status, namely, Naturally Occurring, Naturally Regenerated and Introduced. The present study focuses only on two life forms, the Herbaceous and the Climbing plants. The site selected for eco-restoration originally comprised of an eroded and severely degraded landscape with scattered remnant species. However, active human intervention over a thirty year period included the introduction of appropriate plant species and other physical measures to enhance soil fertility and ground water level, and regenerate and conserve the deteriorating typical Tropical dry evergreen forest (TDEF) vegetation. A large number of naturally ccurring herbaceous, climbing species (172) and a consistent number of naturally regenerated species (44) are now observed as a result of eco-restoration. Lowland herbaceous species have also established themselves as a green cover at ground level. At present, parts of the area have fertile soils and rich floristic composition with the herbaceous life form represented by 165 species encompassed in 105 genera and 37 families, and the climbing plants represented by 68 species belonging to 54 genera and 25 families. ‘Genus to family’ and ‘species to genus’ ratios indicate the establishment of diverse vegetation in the study site. Nearly one third of the species have been observed flowering throughout the year and about half of the species were observed fruiting throughout the year. We emphasize that the two fold approach of land and vegetation reclamation has been very effective in helping restore the unique TDEF vegetation at the local level and the same may be extended to help regenerate and conserve the Coromandel Coastal vegetation at the regional scale.