LIST OF PROJECTS COMPLETED UNDER EASTERN AND WESTERN GHATS RESEARCH PROGRAMME (E&WGRP) 2008-2009 S.No Title of the Project Name of Principal Total Research Finding in Brief Investigator (PI) Outlay & & Institute Duration 1. Ex-situ conservation Dr. S. Ignacimuthu, 6,78,000 Tissue culture protocol is prepared for and rehabilitation of Entomology 3 years medicinal plant and good number of plants selected threatened Research Instt. are produced. They are successfully medicinal plants of Loyoylla College transplanted in natural habitat and botanic South Western Ghats garden. 2. Ecology and behavior Dr. E.S. Jayson, 16,45,200 Distribution, status and habitat use of forest of forest owls in the Kerala Forest 3 years owls were studied in southern Western Western Ghats and Research Institute, Ghats. Thirteen species were recorded from de3veloping a habitat Thrissur, Kerala- southern Western Ghats of Kerala and Tamil model for their 680 653 Nadu. A new report of a short eared owl, a conservation migrant species, was recorded from Peechi Vazhani Wildlife sanctuary. Ceylon Bay owl and endemic species, was reported from Idukki and Neyyar wildlife sanctuaries. Distribution pattern of the species has been correlated with vegetation types, topography, disturbance level and protection status. Expansion of plantations into natural forests, and mining activity for granite are putting pressure on owl populations in some areas. Suitable sites for conservation of different owls are suggested . 3. Bench Scale Dr. J.L. Gumaste, 12,67,536 A series of experiments have been Production & Scientist, Ant 3 years conducted on thermal pyrolysis of coconut Applications of Department, pith in CO 2, N 2 and vacuum in temperature Activated Carbon from Regional Research range of 300-600 0c for 2-4 hours. The Coconut Pith Waste Laboratory, products yield is 30-45%. Characterization Bhubaneshwar- and purification studies were carried out. 751 013 The product was compared with commercial grade activated charcoal. Activated charcoal obtained by processing the pith waste in phosphoric acid and heat treatment at in carbonaceous atmosphere for 1-2 hours is comparable to commercial grade activated charcoal. By products such as tar oil can also be obtained. Experiments conducted showed that the activated charcoal from coconut pith waste has similar or better decolorizing properties. The technology developed has the potential to check the problem of coconut pith waste. 4. Fungal Diversity in Dr. Ch. Ramesh, 12,40,560 Higher fungi occurring in wastern Ghats of Western Ghats of Reader at PG 3 years Karnataka, collected from stem, leaf and Karnataka Department in dead wood, have been studied. 36 species of Botany, Karnataka Ascomycetes and 115 species of University, Basidiomycetes have been identified. The Dharwad- 580 003 species are nicely desribed and their colour photographs and line diagrams are included. Terrestrial ecology of the fungi has been investigated. The colonization is competitive. Anatogonism is an important factor. Factors influencing the colonization and subsequent behaviour have been enumerated. The fungi have been cultivated in the laboratory. Enzymatic activity of the fungi has also been assessed. 5. Chromolaena odorata Dr. Inderjit Singh, 13,52,160 The work was conducted at an area in invasion to Western Centre for 3 years Thrissur (Kerala) in Western Ghats heavily Ghats: causes, Environmental infested with Chromolaena Odorata . The consequences and Management of invasion is encouraged by.light and directly management Degraded and indirectly by allelopathy. Chromolaena Ecosystems, School accumulates high amount of soil fungi of Environmental creating a feedback inhibition of the native Studies, University species. Chromolaena root leachates of Delhi, Delhi-110 increase Fusarium spore density suggesting 007. a biochemical basis. Results of an ongoing biological control programme were observed and it was found that these were not encouraging. 6. Study on the Impact of Prof. N. Someswara 11,00,627 The study provides exhaustive details about developmental Rao, Deptt. of 3 years the environmental scenario of the impact of activities on the Inorganic & development agricultural activities on quality of surface and Analytical surface water, ground drinking water ground water Chemistry, Andhra resources, impact of intense agricultural resources in University. activities from drinking water quality with Konaseema area of Visakhapatanam- special reference to pesticides residues in Andhra Pradesh 530 003 Konaseema area and ambient indoor air quality in East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh. The study suggests measures such that drinking water quality improves and the people can be healthy and happy. The study also provides people working in agricultural lands (fields) drink canal water or well or bore well water in the agricultural fields directly. Such people are most vulnerable to the pesticide residues, other water quality parameters. With the increasing awareness on quality of water and the related health effects, middle class and rich people are using some gadgets to treat the water before drinking. 7. Exploration of tribal Dr. A. John De 8,08,500 Tribal botanical knowledge of the Agasthiar botanical knowledge Britto, Reader ion 3 years Hills has been documented and evaluated. for sustainable socio- Botany, St. Xavier’s Medicinal practices of tribes and economic College3, conservation problems have been also development and Palayamkottai, documented. Rare germplasm has been conservation of Tamil Nadu- 627 identified and tissue culture studies on two biodiversity of 002 species was taken up. Training and Agasthiar Hills, awareness programmes were organized. Western Ghats, India Concrete efforts have been made to improve through Women self the socio-economic status of the Kani tribals help groups such as establishment of women self help group and marketing facility, supply of nursery plants to self help group, distribution of solar light and community certificates by District Collector etc. 8. Ecology of Indian Grey Dr. P. 6,15,400 Ecological importance of Indian Grey Hornbill (Ocyeeros Balasubramanian, 3 years Hornbill has been investigated in southern biorstris) with special Salim Ali Centre for easten Ghats (Tamil Nadu). Twenty one reference to its role in Ornithology & fruiting plant species were tagged for seed dispersal in Natural History, phenelogical studies. The species of which Southern Eastern (SACON), fruits/seeds are consumed are provided. Ghats. Anaikatty, The hornbill utilized 41 plant species Coimbatore- 641 belonging to 22 families. Fig is very 108 important for survival of hornbill. Tamil Nadu Experiments showed that hornbill also help in germination of the seeds, including seeds of sandalwood. Awareness Camps have been organized in collaboration with Forest Department for conservation measures for the hornbill. 9. Studies on the Dr. K.B. Vrinda, 7,86,140 The study was conducted in three different ectomycorrhizal Division of 3 years forest types of Western Ghats in fungal diversity in Microbiology, Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala. different forest types Tropical Botanic Collections were made in six monsoon and their association Garden and seasons. More than 160 collections of fungi with endemic, Research Institute, were obtained. Four orders, 8 families and indigenous and exotic Palode, Kerala- 35 texa have been identified. Edibility of species in the Western 695562 the species was tested in respect of two Ghats forests of undescribed species. Thiruvananthapuram 2009-2010 S.No Title of the Project Name of Principal Total Research Finding in Brief Investigator (PI) Outlay & & Institute Duration 1. Chemical loading into Dr. M.N. 10,29,250 The water quality of the four reservoirs reservoirs: Muraleedharan 3 years under study conforms to Class II water Investigation from Nair, CSD. Centre standards, stipulated by CPCB. There is no selected watersheds of for Earth Sciences anoxic condition present in the surface Periyar river in Studies, strata of the reservoirs, except Mullaperiyar Western Ghats, Kerala P.B.No.7250, show nutrient enrichment and this may be Akkulam, attributed to the agro- based activities and Thiruvananthapura settlement in the catchment. Total m- 695031 Coliforms and Decal Coliforms are observed in all the four reservoirs. Residual pesticides are absent in the water samples of Mullaperiyar reservoir, but trace amount of organochlorine pesticides are present in the water samples from Mattupetty, Kallarkutty and Bhoothathankettu reservoirs. The sediments in the Mattupetty and Kallarkutty reservoirs are at moderate contamination levels with respect to Zinc and Copper. Lead concentrations are within the Lowest Effect Level. Chromium and Nickel content in the four reservoir sediments exceeded the Severe Effect Level indicating severe health hazards. Residual pesticides were absent in the sediments of Mullaperiyar reservoir. But the sediments from Mattupetty, Kallarkutty and Bhoothathankettu reservoir show elevated levels of BHC and metabolites. 2. Bioecology of spiders Dr. P.A. Sabastian, 15,35,710 The study has documented 173 species of in Western ghats of Department of 3 years spiders belonging to 85 genera of 25 Kerala Zoology, Sacred families from Western Ghats of Kerala. Six Heart College, new species have been described which are Thevara, Cochin- new records for India. Six species recorded 682 013 KeralaF from the area are endemic to Kerala and 29 species are endemic to Indo-Srilankan region. Three of the species