Category: Environment & Biodiversity

• Taiwan experienced its most violent earthquake in at least 25 years.
• Its earthquake sensitivity is linked to its placement within the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” which accounts for the majority of global seismic activity.
• Taiwan is predominantly influenced by the collision of the Philippine Sea Plate with the Eurasian Plate.

What is the Pacific’s ‘Ring of Fire’?

• The Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’, also known as the Pacific Rim or the Circum-Pacific Belt, is an area of the Pacific Ocean characterised by active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes.
• The so-called Ring of Fire consists of volcanic arcs and oceanic trenches that partially encircle the Pacific Basin.
• It is home to around 75% of the world’s volcanoes, totaling over 450.
• Also, around 90% of the world’s earthquakes occur here.

It spreads

• It stretches about 40,000 kilometres from New Zealand clockwise in a nearly circular arc that includes Tonga, the Kermadec Islands, and Indonesia.
• It is going north to the Philippines and Japan, then east to the Aleutian Islands, and finally south down the western coasts of North and South America.

Seismic activity in the region

• The area is situated on multiple tectonic plates, including the Pacific, Philippine, Juan de Fuca, Cocos, Nazca, and North American plates.
• The movement of these plates, known as tectonic activity, causes an abundance of earthquakes and tsunamis in the area each year.
• Along much of the Ring, tectonic plates collide, forming subduction zones.
• One plate is pushed down or subducted by the other plate.
• This is a relatively sluggish process, with movement of only one or two inches per year.
• As this subduction occurs, rocks melt, produce magma, and travel to the Earth’s surface, resulting in volcanic activity. 

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-sci-tech/earthquake-taiwan-ring-of-fire-9249383/

This year marks the 125th anniversary of the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (KoSO).

About Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (KoSO)

• The notion for an Indian solar observatory arose in the late nineteenth century, with the then-government approving the creation of the Solar Physics Observatory in Kodaikanal in August 1893.
• Following Charles Michie Smith’s surveys, Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu’s Palani hills was chosen as the site for the observatory due to its favourable atmospheric conditions.
• Lord Wenlock, the then-Governor of Madras, laid the foundation stone for KoSO in 1895.
• The systematic observations at KoSO began on March 14, 1901.
• KoSO was originally designed to house solar observation instruments, such as telescopes for studying sunspots, prominences, and solar radiation.
• KoSO currently houses modern instruments such as the H-alpha telescope and the White Light Active Region Monitor (WARM) for high-resolution solar imaging.

Historical Perspective

• Ancient Legacy: Seafarers, mathematicians, astronomers, and physicists have spent centuries studying the Sun and its celestial phenomena.
• British Era Initiatives: In 1792, the British East India Company erected the pioneering Madras Observatory, which was a watershed moment in regional astronomy research.
• Madras Observatory Legacy: The Madras Observatory logged important astronomical observations between 1812 and 1825, establishing the groundwork for solar research in India.
• Switch to systematic observations: Dedicated solar observations began in 1878, promoting a better understanding of solar phenomenon.
• Methodological advancements: The use of systematic observational techniques enabled more complete and detailed investigations of the Sun’s behaviour. 

Need for such an observatory

• The Great Drought of 1875-1877: This event, caused by insufficient rainfall, prompted the need for extensive solar studies to understand its effects on weather patterns.
• India’s Geographical Significance: India’s drought was part of a bigger global phenomena that affected other nations and resulted in widespread hunger.
• Scientific Inquiry: Scientists recognised the possible importance of solar variability in influencing climatic patterns, motivating research into the Sun’s behaviour and its relationship to environmental events.

Scientific endeavours of KoSO

• The observatory provided significant discoveries to solar physics, notably the discovery of the Evershed Effect, which describes the radial motion of sunspots.
• Over time, KoSO’s scientific interests evolved beyond solar physics to encompass cosmic rays, radio astronomy, ionospheric physics, and star physics.
• KoSO was transferred from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru in April 1971.

Repository for the KoSO

• From 1904 to 2017, all sun observations were documented on photographic films and plates.
• A new telescope equipped with CCD cameras took over and has been observing the Sun since 2017.
• Prof J C Bhattacharyya began digitising the documents in 1984, and others have continued the task.
• KoSO currently has a digital collection of 1.48 lakh solar photos, totaling 10 terabytes of data.
• These comprise 33,500 white-light photos (showing sunspots), 45,000 Ca II K spectral line images (revealing plages), and 70,000 H-alpha photographic plates (showing prominences).

Source: https://dst.gov.in/celebrating-125-years-studying-sun-kodaikanal-solar-observatory#:~:text=The%20125th%20anniversary%20of%20the,celebrated%20on%201%20April%202024.

The Prime Minister recently alleged that then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi gave the island of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka without cause.

About Katchatheevu Island

• Katchatheevu is a small, uninhabited island of 285 acres located between India and Sri Lanka.
• It is located in the Palk Strait.
• It was previously owned by the ruler of Ramnad (now Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu).
• Fishermen utilise the island to dry their nets.
• Despite its small size, the island is religiously significant, as it houses Anthony’s church, a centuries-old Catholic shrine loved by believers from both countries.
• Aside from its religious significance, Katchatheevu is an important ecosystem that supports a rich flora and fauna unique to the region’s marine environment.

A Quick Overview of its History

• During British administration, India and Sri Lanka administered it jointly.
• In the early twentieth century, Sri Lanka claimed territorial control of the islet.
• In 1974, India handed the island to Sri Lanka via a mutual agreement, and in 1976, India gave up its fishing rights in the region.

Present Issue

• Treaties establishing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) were signed between the two countries in 1974 and 1976.
• However, the agreement could not prevent fishermen from fishing in these areas because fishermen know no boundaries.

Culmination of the Political Dispute

• The political dispute left Indian fishermen with unresolved worries about their fishing rights, resulting in smouldering resentment among communities.
• Sri Lankan Atrocities: The civil war in Sri Lanka overshadowed the Katchatheevu issue, with Indian fishermen detained and accused of abuse by the Sri Lankan navy.
• Renewed Demands: Instances of fishermen’s rights abuses rekindled Tamil Nadu lawmakers’ calls for the retrieval of Katchatheevu, emphasising the misery of impacted fishing communities.
• The pact has provoked major demonstrations and political backlash in Tamil Nadu, with regional parties and activists decrying what they see as an abandoning of Indian sovereignty over Katchatheevu. 

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/research/katchatheevu-why-an-indian-island-went-to-sri-lanka-and-many-hope-for-its-symbolic-return-8942104/

• India has filed to the International Seabed Authority (ISBA) for exploration rights on the Afanasy Nikitin (AN) Seamount in the Indian Ocean, which is outside its authority.
• India’s application is driven by reports of Chinese vessels conducting reconnaissance in the same area, which raises concerns about strategic interests and resource competitiveness. 

About the AN Seamount

• The AN Seamount, located around 3,000 kilometres from India’s coast, is a significant structural structure in the Central Indian Ocean Basin.
• A seamount is a massive submerged landform that rises from the ocean floor but does not reach the surface, unlike an island.
• It measures 400 km long and 150 kilometres wide. It rises from an oceanic depth of approximately 4,800 metres to around 1,200 metres.
• It was discovered during a maritime research mission and named for Russian researcher Afanasy Nikitin.
• It is noted for its polymetallic nodules of cobalt, nickel, manganese, and copper.

Continental Shelf Claims and Implications

• Sri Lanka has sought for continental shelf rights that extend up to 500 nautical miles beyond its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), claiming a specific clause.
• India, recognising China’s position, has filed a claim for exploration rights to avoid future implications.
• India has also requested for permission to explore the Carlsberg Ridge, a 3,00,000-square-kilometer zone in the Central Indian Ocean, in search of polymetallic sulphides rich in copper, zinc, gold, and silver.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/sensing-china-threat-india-joins-race-to-mine-new-sea-patch/article67995397.ece

According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, India will have installed over 180 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2023 and is on track to fulfil its objective of 500 GW in 2030.

Context

At the COP26 climate meetings in Glasgow in November 2021, India vowed to attain net-zero emissions by 2070, establishing itself as a leader in the race to carbon neutrality. 

Why is black carbon relevant?

• Cause of global warming: Lack of carbon is the dark, sooty material produced along with other pollutants when biomass and fossil fuels are not fully combusted. It contributes to global warming.
• poses considerable risks: Studies have established a direct link between exposure to black carbon and an increased risk of heart disease, birth problems, and early mortality. The majority of black carbon emissions in India come from traditional cookstoves that burn biomass, such as cow dung or straw.

Status of Black Carbon

• According to a 2016 study, the residential sector accounts for 47% of India’s overall black carbon emissions. Industry contributes an additional 22%, diesel cars 17%, open burning 12%, and other sources 2%.
• Decarbonisation initiatives in the manufacturing and transportation sectors over the last decade have resulted in decreases in black carbon emissions, but the residential sector remains a difficulty. 

Has PMUY helped?

• Objective of PMUY: PMUY, which was introduced by the Indian government in May 2016, aims to give free liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) connections to low-income homes. This intends to provide a cleaner cooking fuel alternative to traditional biomass fuels, particularly in rural and low-income homes, thereby reducing their reliance on such polluting sources.
• Infrastructure Establishment: PMUY has developed the required infrastructure to support LPG connections, such as free gas stoves, LPG cylinder deposits and a distribution network. This infrastructure is critical for promoting the use of clean cooking practices.
• PMUY’s role in lowering black carbon emissions is critical, as it provides cleaner LPG alternatives to traditional biomass fuels. This effort helps to reduce environmental pollution and improve air quality, especially in homes that previously relied on harmful cooking fuels.

Challenges and Shortcomings:

Despite its goals and infrastructure, obstacles remain in fully switching beneficiaries to LPG use.

• High disparity between LPG connections and actual adoption: In 2022-2023, 25% of PMUY beneficiaries continued to cook exclusively using conventional biomass fuels. This demonstrates a disparity between the availability of LPG connections and the actual adoption of clean cooking methods.
• Low Fill Rates and Energy Consumption: RTI data revealed that a significant number of PMUY beneficiaries received either zero or one LPG refill, indicating a low use of LPG cylinders. Furthermore, the average PMUY beneficiary household uses substantially fewer LPG cylinders each year than non-PMUY families. This shows that traditional fuels continue to cover a sizable share of energy needs in PMUY beneficiary homes.
• Health Effects: The continuous use of conventional fuels has negative health consequences, particularly for women and children, who are disproportionately harmed by indoor air pollution. This causes a variety of health problems and early deaths, emphasising the critical need for expanded use of clean cooking procedures.
• Despite recent subsidy hikes (from ₹200 to ₹300), many PMUY beneficiaries still face exorbitant costs for LPG cylinders. This pricing barrier hinders households from acquiring and utilising LPG cylinders on a regular basis, especially when traditional biomass options are seen to be “free.”
• Temporary Subsidies: While the government has offered temporary price cuts to address affordability issues, the future of such subsidies is dubious. Temporary remedies may not be long-term solutions for ensuring recipients’ constant access to clean cooking fuel.
• Low Refill Rates: Low refill rates persist among PMUY beneficiaries, showing a disconnect between initial LPG connections and long-term usage. This problem originates from both affordability issues and difficulties in the availability and distribution of LPG cylinders.
• Last-Mile Connectivity: Inadequate last-mile connectivity in the distribution network makes access to LPG difficult in remote rural areas. This results in a continuous reliance on traditional biomass fuels, which contributes to indoor air pollution and health hazards. 
• Alternative Fuel Solutions: Local production of coal-bed methane (CBM) gas has the ability to alleviate the lack of last-mile connection while also providing cleaner cooking fuel alternatives. Composting biomass to produce CBM gas may provide a sustainable and accessible option at the village level, reducing reliance on traditional biomass fuels.
• Investment and Infrastructure: Developing alternative fuel options such as CBM gas extraction necessitates investment and infrastructure development. Panchayats and local governments may require assistance and resources to construct and operate CBM gas production facilities successfully.
• Rural Empowerment: Encouraging local communities, such as Panchayats, to take the lead in clean cooking fuel production and distribution can foster self-sufficiency and sustainability while meeting rural energy demands. 

To address the issues of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) and promote effective adoption of clean cooking methods, numerous solutions can be implemented:

• Awareness and Education Campaigns: Launch thorough awareness efforts to educate PMUY beneficiaries on the health and environmental benefits of utilising LPG instead of conventional biomass fuels. Emphasise the need of consistent LPG use and the dangers of indoor air pollution.
• Subsidy Reforms: Implement long-term subsidy mechanisms to ensure that LPG cylinders are affordable to PMUY beneficiaries. To successfully address affordability concerns, consider creative subsidy schemes, such as tailored subsidies based on income levels or usage patterns.
• Incentives for refills: Provide incentives or awards to PMUY beneficiaries who continuously use and replenish their LPG cylinders. This may include discounts on future refills or loyalty programmes to encourage regular use and close the gap between LPG connections and adoption.
• Improved distribution networks: Invest in last-mile connectivity and distribution networks in isolated rural regions to ensure that all PMUY beneficiaries have consistent access to LPG cylinders. This could include expanding the reach of LPG distribution centres and utilising technology to improve logistics management.
• Encourage the adoption of alternative fuel options, such as biogas generation, through community-based programmes. Encourage and incentivize the creation of biogas production facilities at the village level, allowing local populations to create and access clean cooking fuel.
• Partnerships and Collaboration: Encourage partnerships between government agencies, private sector stakeholders, and non-profit organisations to address the numerous issues of clean cooking fuel adoption. Sustainable solutions can be achieved through collaborative efforts that use skills, resources, and networks.
• Monitoring & Evaluation: Create strong monitoring and evaluation procedures to follow the progress of PMUY implementation and assess the effectiveness of interventions. Regular evaluations of refill rates, usage patterns, and health outcomes can help guide evidence-based policy decisions and programme changes.

Conclusion

To reduce black carbon emissions, India must address gaps in LPG uptake among PMUY beneficiaries through subsidy reforms, awareness campaigns, enhanced distribution networks, and promotion of alternative fuel solutions, while also developing partnerships for long-term benefit. 

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/the-need-to-curb-black-carbon-emissions-explained/article67995735.ece#:~:text=It%20contributes%20to%20global%20warming,or%20straw%2C%20in%20traditional%20cookstoves.

• North Atlantic right whales face a serious threat from entanglement in fishing gear, adding to their critically endangered state.
• Entanglement causes not only physical suffering, but also reduces reproductive success, accelerating the species’ decline. 

The Impact of Entanglement

• Entanglement in fishing gear causes energy consumption, decreased feeding efficiency, and physical injury, compromising whales’ capacity to reproduce and survive. Even slight entanglements have severe effects on female right whales.
• Reproductive Implications: Females who experience entanglement episodes, even those categorised as “minor,” have lower breeding rates, which may have long-term implications for population recovery. Poor health and physical fitness also hamper breeding success.

About Right Whales

• The Balaenidae family includes right whales, which are enormous baleen whales.
• Right whales are classified into three species: the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis), North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica), and Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis).
• They are distinguished by their geographic distribution and minor variances in physical traits.
• Right whales live in temperate and subpolar waters throughout the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and Southern Hemisphere.
• They are frequently seen in coastal locations during their feeding and breeding seasons, but they can traverse considerable distances.
• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists all three right whale species as endangered or severely endangered. 

Source: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/north-atlantic-right-whale#:~:text=North%20Atlantic%20right%20whales%20face,%2C%20find%20food%2C%20and%20navigate.

• Rising water temperatures have caused major bleaching events, resulting in widespread coral mortality in the Gulf of Mannar.
• Annual studies suggest that live coral cover has declined from 37% in 2005 to 27.3% in 2021.

About corals

• Corals are made up of genetically similar organisms known as polyps.
• These polyps have microscopic algae known as zooxanthellae that live in their tissues in a mutualistic interaction.
• The coral supplies the zooxanthellae with the chemicals required for photosynthesis.
• Zooxanthellae provide the coral with organic photosynthetic products such as carbohydrates, which the coral polyps need to synthesise their calcium carbonate skeletons.
• Corals are marine invertebrates or animals that do not have spines.
• They are the planet’s largest living structures.
• Each coral is referred to as a polyp, and hundreds of such polyps dwell together to create a colony, which expands as polyps reproduce and make copies of themselves.
• Coral reefs are often known as the “rainforests of the seas”.

Types of Coral

There are two types of corals: soft corals and hard corals.

1. Hard corals take calcium carbonate from seawater to form hard, white exoskeletons. Hard corals are essentially the engineers of reef ecosystems, and quantifying the extent of hard coral is a commonly accepted indicator for assessing coral reef health.
2. Soft corals cling to such skeletons as well as older skeletons formed by their ancestors. Soft corals add their own skeletons to the hard structure throughout time. These developing, replicating structures eventually form coral reefs.

Conditions required for corals to flourish

• Extensive submerged platforms for coral polyp colony production (no deeper than 90 metres below sea level).
• The mean yearly temperature is high, ranging from 20-21 degrees Celsius.
• Clean sediment-free water because murky or turbid water jams the mouths of coral polyps, causing them to die.
• Oceanic salinity ranges between 27 and 30 ppt.
• Ocean currents and waves provide nourishment for the polyps.

How does coral bleach?

• When subjected to situations such as heat stress, pollution, or high ocean acidity, zooxanthellae produce reactive oxygen species that are harmful to corals.
• So the corals kick out the color-giving algae from their polyps, revealing their pale white exoskeleton and causing coral hunger because corals cannot create their own nourishment.
• Severe bleaching and persistent stress in the external environment can cause coral death.

Reasons for the decline.

• Climate variability: Predicted coral bleaching episodes threaten the Gulf of Mannar’s already fragile environment. The IPCC expects a 70-90% decrease in worldwide coral reefs when temperatures rise by 1.5°C.
• water acidification: Increased acidity in the water caused by carbon dioxide absorption exacerbates coral stress and impairs their capacity to calcify.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/share-of-live-corals-in-gulf-of-mannar-dropped-from-37-in-2005-to-273-in-2021-shows-study/article67900338.ece#:~:text=The%20average%20live%20coral%20cover,Environment%2C%20Climate%20Change%20and%20Forests.

• Pandavula Gutta, an ancient geological marvel that predates the Himalayan ranges, has been formally classified as Telangana’s only geo-heritage monument.
• In addition, the 165 million-year-old meteor Ramgarh Crater in Rajasthan was designated a geo-heritage site. 

[A] Pandavula Gutta

• Pandavula Gutta is in Jayashankar Bhupalpally District, Telangana.
• It is renowned for its rock art and geological history.
• The site contains Palaeolithic cave paintings portraying wildlife and symbolism.
• It was discovered in 1990 and depicts human occupation from the Mesolithic to the Middle Ages.
• Recognised as Telangana’s lone geo-heritage monument, older than the Himalayan hills.

[B] Ramgarh Crater

• The Ramgarh Crater, also known as the Ramgarh Structure, Ramgarh Dome, and Ramgarh Astrobleme, is a meteor impact crater near the town of Ramgarh in Rajasthan’s Baran District.
• It is recognised as an asteroid impact crater in India, excavated within the sandstone, shale, and limestone strata of the Vindhyan Region’s Lower Bhander Formation.
• It was produced by a meteorite impact and has a diameter of 3.2 km and an elevation of more than 200 metres above the surrounding landscape.
• It is a Conservation Reserve, namely Ramgarh Conservation Reserve, under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, and a registered wetland under the Wetland (Conservation & Management) Rules of 2017.

What is a Geo-Heritage Site?

• Geo-Heritage Sites in India are geological features that are culturally or naturally significant, provide insights into Earth’s evolution, or serve educational objectives.
• The Geological Survey of India (GSI) and the various state governments recognise and safeguard these sites.
• India now has 34 National Geological Heritage Monument sites. 
• Examples:

1. Mawmluh Cave in Meghalaya
2. Majuli Island in Assam
3. Chabimura in Tripura

• Purpose:

1. Promote geotourism
2. Preserve unique geological formations
3. Enhance geological literacy among the public

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Geological_Monuments_of_India

A suspected case of Lyme disease caused by the bite of a tick carrying Borrelia bacterium has been recorded in Koovapady, Ernakulam district.

What is Lyme disease?

• According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Lyme disease is spread to people via the bite of infected blacklegged ticks.
• Typical symptoms include fever, headache, exhaustion, and a distinctive skin rash known as erythema migrans.
• If not addressed, infection can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system.

The symptoms of Lyme disease

The symptoms of Lyme disease vary depending on the stage of the sickness. 

(1) Stage 1

• Lyme disease symptoms often occur 3 to 30 days after a tick bite.
• At this stage, the disease has a limited range of symptoms such as rash, fever, headache, muscle aches, and hence is referred to as early localised disease. 

(2) Stage 2

• Stage 2 is typically more dangerous and widespread. It’s called early disseminated illness.
• Symptoms may include further rashes on other regions of the body, neck discomfort or stiffness, muscle weakness on one or both sides of the face, and so on. 

(3) Stage 3

• In the United States, the most frequent condition at this period is arthritis in major joints, notably the knees.
• Pain, edoema, or stiffness can last for a long time. Alternatively, the symptoms may come and go.
• Stage 3 symptoms usually appear two to twelve months following a tick bite.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/lyme-disease-reported-in-ernakulam-kochi-a-case-of-tick-borne-infectious-disease/articleshow/108477994.cms#:~:text=A%20case%20of%20Lyme%20disease%20caused%20by%20Borrelia%20bacteria%20has,and%20superficial%20ulcers%20over%20scrotum.

• Researchers from Cambridge University and the California Institute of Technology have completed a stunning feat: they transformed a sexually reproducing fruit-fly species into one capable of asexual reproduction using minimal genetic alterations. 

About Drosophila

• Drosophila is a genus of two-winged flies, also known as fruit flies, employed in evolutionary and developmental research.
• It is a genus of flies in the Drosophilidae family, and its members are commonly referred to as “small fruit flies,” pomace flies, vinegar flies, or wine flies, owing to the tendency of many species to loiter around overripe or rotting fruit.
• The Drosophila melanogaster genome contains 200,000,000 base pairs dispersed across four DNA molecules, encoding approximately 13,600 genes.
• For the past century, it has been one of the most commonly used and preferred model organisms in biological study around the world. 

Parthenogenesis (asexual reproduction) in the Drosophila family

• Parthenogenesis Discovery: Parthenogenesis, or fatherless reproduction, was discovered in Drosophila mangebeirai, a species composed entirely of females.
• Facultatively Parthenogenetic Species: Approximately 76% of sexually reproducing species, including Drosophila mercatorum, were discovered to have facultative parthenogenesis, which occurs when isolated virgin females hatch eggs that develop into young without male fertilisation.
• Canonical Species: The standard research species, Drosophila melanogaster, reproduces only sexually.

The Genetic Basis of Parthenogenesis

• Identifying Relevant Genes: Researchers sought to identify genes that promote parthenogenetic development in Drosophila mercatorum eggs and then change the Drosophila melanogaster genome correspondingly.
• RNA Sequencing: Researchers used RNA sequencing to identify 44 genes in parthenogenetic D. mercatorum eggs that expressed differently than sexually reproducing eggs.

Engineering Asexual Reproduction

• Genetic Modifications: Researchers altered the expression levels of specific genes in the Drosophila melanogaster genome to match the results seen in parthenogenetic D. mercatorum eggs.
• Outcome: Genetic changes, such as overexpression of the pologene and Myc genes and decreased expression of the Desat2 gene, resulted in roughly 1.4% of D. melanogaster eggs undergoing parthenogenesis, with viable offspring reaching adulthood.
• Parthenogenetically created adult flies were able to mate with males and produce offspring, demonstrating facultative parthenogenesis in a strictly sexually reproducing species. 

Mechanism involving polar bodies

• Polar bodies, which are byproducts of chromosome transmission processes after fertilisation, have been linked to the initiation of embryonic development in unfertilized eggs.
• Efficiency Changes: Genetic alterations most likely hampered the sequestration and disposal of polar bodies, allowing them to replace the absent male pronucleus and commence embryonic development. 

Implications of Pest Control

• Pest Management: Expresses concern about unforeseen repercussions of pest management technologies based on sterilisation or genome editing.
• Genetic engineering enables genetic manipulation in model organisms, which aids research into gene drive technology and population management.
• Conservation Biology provides insights into species adaptation and the possible effects of genetic interventions on natural populations. 

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/scientists-genetically-modify-sexual-fruit-fly-to-reproduce-asexually/article67935441.ece