BENGALURU: An international study published in Ecology Letters, ranked seventh globally, has highlighted the ecological significance of rain-filled tree hollows in forests, with key contributions from Kerala-based scientists. The study found that water-filled tree hollows, described as “islands in the sky”, support complex aquatic micro-communities of insects and larvae, linked through intricate food webs. Though small in size, these microhabitats play a vital role in nutrient cycling and energy flow within forests. Researchers observed that the survival of these communities depends not only on water quality but also on forest connectivity. The study was supported by a Government of India DST-SERB (now ANRF) grant awarded to Dr Anoop Das.

Source: Indian Express February 24, 2026 05:14 UTC