A Web of Life
<p>A strategically-fabricated giant wood spider <em>Nephila pilipes</em> web stretches between foliage in the Bandipur National Park. Spiders control insect and pest populations across varied ecosystems. To date India has documented as many as 63,000 insect species (of which nearly a third are endemic), with more being discovered every year. Any effort to rewild, or restore wildernesses must ensure the health of microfauna in the ecosystem. Microbes and invertebrates make up a vast chunk of biodiversity and biomass; ignoring them could have dramatic consequences for the environment. It is vital to understand their role and where required, consider their active reintroduction post-restoration to strengthen ecosystem function and biodiversity health.</p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">Photo: Arun Krishnaiah/Sanctuary Photolibrary.</span></strong></p>
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