Context: The smallest and most threatened population of saiga in Kazakhstan, where the species is mostly found, has experienced its largest mass calving in recent years.
About Saiga antelope

• The Saiga antelope of Asia’s steppes is the smallest and most threatened population of saiga in Kazakhstan.
• The subspecies is only found in one region in Russia and three areas in Kazakhstan.
• The species has experienced its largest mass calving in recent years.
• IUCN status: Critically Endangered.

About Sasa kurilensis

• Alpine plants growing in the mountainous regions of Japan have come under threat due to the sudden growth of dwarf bamboo, that has been aided by global warming.
• Due to global warming, snow is melting faster and the soil is drying up in these regions.
• The dwarf bamboo species, Sasa kurilensis blocks the sun’s rays and prevents other plants from performing photosynthesis.
• It also absorbs a large amount of water, drying up the soil and preventing alpine plants from growing in wetland areas.
• Moreover, rising temperatures are causing alpine plants to flower earlier, disturbing their balance with the insects that pollinate them.

Four new fungi species

• A group of researchers in China has led to the discovery of four novel fungal species on bat carcasses.
• The expedition was undertaken in an underground limestone karst system.
• The four new species are Mortierella rhinolophicola; M multispora; M yunnanensis; and Neocosmospora pallidimors.