Clutton-Brock, 2012a, 2012b, with various species relying on such systems to raise young and maintain their territories. Cooperative breeding systems are uncommon in mammals, present in about 5% of mammalian species (Lukas & Clutton-Brock, 2012b). In these species, a group typically includes a single mating pair, while other mature members of the group provide alloparental care for the pair's offspring without themselves reproducing (Lukas & Clutton-Brock, 2012b). Nonbreeding adults can be prevented from reproducing via suppressive means, such as infanticide or hormonal cues (Clutton-Brock, 2009). Nonbreeders remain with the group into adulthood, often until either one or both of the breeding pair dies, are ousted, or nonbreeding subordinates disperse and form their own groups (Lukas & Clutton-Brock, 2012b). In some species, such as giant otters (Pteronura brasiliensis), ageing females are known to cease reproduction and become "grandmothers," with younger females taking over the role of reproduction while the former matriarch may provide alloparental care (Davenport, 2010).In contrast, communal breeding entails systems where multiple females in a group breed and share resources in raising young (e.g.

Smooth-coated otters (Lutrogale perspicillata) are inhabitants of the waterways of India and Singapore. Otter families typically consist of a single mating pair with mature, nonbreeding siblings living in family groups, or "romps". We note here the presence of multiple reproductive female otters within some romps, as well as the possible existence of simultaneous litters by different mothers. This phenomenon has not been recorded among L. perspicillata before. Here we address possible influences leading to multiple reproductive females within romps of smooth-coated otters, including inclusive fitness, incomplete suppression of reproduction, and existing in an urban environment. The numerous, recurring observations of multiple reproductive females warrant further investigation; while uncommon, this phenomenon is not as rare as once thought.

The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) is a regulatory framework adopted since 1994 in India to evaluate the impact and mitigation measures of projects, however, even after 25 years of adoption, EIAs continue to be of inferior quality with respect to biodiversity documentation and assessment of impacts and their mitigation measures.  This questions the credibility of the exercise, as deficient EIAs are habitually used as a basis for project clearances in ecologically sensitive and irreplaceable regions.  The authors reiterate this point by analysing impact assessment documents for three projects: the doubling of the National Highway-4A, doubling of the railway-line from Castlerock to Kulem, and laying of a 400-kV transmission line through the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park in the state of Goa.  Two of these projects were recently granted ‘Wildlife Clearance’ during a virtual meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) without a thorough assessment of the project impacts.  Assessment reports for the road and railway expansion were found to be deficient on multiple fronts regarding biodiversity assessment and projected impacts, whereas no impact assessment report was available in the public domain for the 400-kV transmission line project.  This paper highlights the biodiversity significance of this protected area complex in the Western Ghats, and highlights the lacunae in biodiversity documentation and inadequacy of mitigation measures in assessment documents for all three diversion projects.  The EIA process needs to improve substantially if India is to protect its natural resources and adhere to environmental protection policies and regulations nationally and globally.

Human development can have detrimental impacts on the environment and its contained ecosystems. However, several species have adapted to thrive in human-modified landscapes. This study was aimed to assess habitat selection of threatened smooth-coated otters (Lutrogale perspicillata) in the peri-coastal landscape of Goa, India. In the Indian context, there are significant gaps in knowledge pertaining to factors that influence otter occurrence in such environments. Otter presence/absence in 78 1 km2 plots across two river catchments was modelled against several habitat variables including measures of agricultural pollution, salinity, mangrove cover, and fishing presence. The effect size and direction of relationships between the probability of otter occurrence and the habitat variables were analysed by building a set of candidate generalised linear models. The models were subsequently ranked using small-sample Akaike’s information criterion (AICc). Analysis indicated that water salinity, mangrove cover, and fishing presence had a significant positive influence on otter occurrence. However, the concentrations of agricultural pollutants (nitrates, phosphates, and sulphates) were not contributing factors in influencing otter occurrence in the surveyed landscape. The metrics used in this study can be applied for preliminary assessments of presence and occupancy of otters in other coastal landscapes of India, and aid in the conservation of the species.

The Brown Fish-Owl Ketupa zeylonensis is a large nocturnal bird of prey that has a vast distribution range. However, there is a significant literature gap on the ecology of this species in the Western Ghats ecoregion, particularly in regard to its food spectrum. In the present study, we assessed the diet composition of this species in the foothills of the Western Ghats of Goa, India. The diet was evaluated by analysing the undigested prey remains in regurgitated pellets obtained from the banks of forest streams and roosting sites. A total of 104 pellets were collected from two localities that exhibited similar landscape characteristics. Our analysis indicated that crabs contributed to a significant proportion of the diet of the species (75.47%), followed by amphibians (frogs, 8.02%), fishes (7.08%), reptiles (snakes, 2.83%), birds (2.36%), scorpions (1.89%), and insects (Odonata, 0.47%). Additionally, 1.89% (n = 4) of the prey items could not be identified due to their disintegrated nature. Furthermore, an assessment of Food Niche Breadth (FNB) indicated that K. zeylonensis exhibited a high degree of specialization in terms of its diet in the study areas.