NATIONAL LEVEL TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR SCIENTISTS AND TECHNOLOGISTS Department of Science and Technology sponsored programme "Biodiversity Conservation with a focus on Ecological Monitoring" at the Wildlife Institute of India 5-9th September 2011 Participant Profiles NATIONAL LEVEL TRAINING PROGRAMME OR SCIENTISTS AND TECHNOLOGISTS Department of Science and Technology sponsored programme “Biodiversity Conservation with a focus on Ecological Monitoring” at the Wildlife Institute of India 5‐9th September 2011 Participant Profile ‐ 1. Adesh Kumar Address : Department of Zoology, Govt. P.G. College, Ranikhet (Almora), Uttarakhand Email ‐ [email protected] Mobile ‐ 9411122341 Work Profile : Participant has more than 20 years research experience in the field of Phthirapteran ectoparasites infesting birds and mammals. Participant has recorded the bio‐diversity, prevalence, intensity of infestation, distribution on host body, bionomics, anatomical peculiarities, morphology, population dynamics, biometry, seasonal changes in population, effect of parasitism on the productivity of host and different behaviour of phthirapteran ectoparasites infesting domestic birds and mammals of Uttarakhand. As many as 42 research papers, more than 80 abstracts and 10 articles have been published in the National and International journal of repute. Participant has supervised three major research projects (02 DST, 01 UCOST). He is recipient of several awards and appreciation letters on his work performance. Furthermore, he has supervised 03 Ph. D. students from Garhwal University. Presently, Participant is teaching Zoology at Govt. P.G. College, Ranikhet (Almora). 2. Ajay Gaur Address : LaCONES, CCMB Annexe 1, Hyderguda, Attapur, Pillar No. 162, PVN Express Highway, Hyderabad 500048 Andhra Pradesh Email – [email protected] Work Profile : I am working as Senior Scientist at Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES), an annexe of Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad. My areas of research interest are conservation genetics and molecular ecology of endangered species. My lab work towards the development of molecular markers and their application in population and evolutionary genetics and in wildlife forensics. I have a background in animal and plant biotechnology and have developed 1 NATIONAL LEVEL TRAINING PROGRAMME OR SCIENTISTS AND TECHNOLOGISTS Department of Science and Technology sponsored programme “Biodiversity Conservation with a focus on Ecological Monitoring” at the Wildlife Institute of India 5‐9th September 2011 expertise in high throughput genomics technology such as cloning, transformation, construction of genomic library, characterization and sequencing of genes and whole genomes, and handling phylogenetics software. My group has developed several polymorphic microsatellite and mitochondrial markers in big cats, ungulates, birds and other endangered Indian species. I am heading the Wildlife Forensic Cell at LacONES and have been instrumental is solving more than 500 cases related to wildlife crime. I am also coordinating CZA’s Conservation Breeding Program at LaCONES. 3. Ashalata Devi Address: Department of Environmental Sciences, Tezpur University, Napaam 784 028, Tezpur, Assam, India Email – [email protected] Mobile ‐ +9435749354 Work Profile: Inventoried 166 sacred groves in Imphal valley, Manipur located in different habitat. Proper accounts of the sacred groves were made for the first time through this inventory in state Manipur. Plant diversity was documented and recorded number of sacred plants which have close association with the socio‐cultural and religious practices. Based on degree of disturbance, nature of protection of sacred groves was categorized as well preserved, partly threatened and threatened. Certain number of food plants for animals particularly for primates has been identified. Conservation measures of sacred groves were formulated based on the data recorded during the research work. Need for the conservation of forest patches where there is no legal bindings but largely protect and preserve by the indigenous people located in different parts of the country is highlighted for the overall conservation of biological diversity and unique landscape and historical forest patches. Some rare species like Galeola falconeri (Endangered species) and Amentotaxus assamica (Critically endangered species) were documented. Studies have reveals that distribution and population structure of these species were under threat due to human activities. 4. Avtar Kaur Siddhu Address : High Altitude Regional Centre, ZSI, Saproon, Solan, Himachal Pradesh 173 211 Email – [email protected] Work Profile: Working on Lepidoptera group since joining of Ph. D. in 1991. Worked on taxonomy and systematic of Family Lycaenidae from North‐West India during Ph.D. and surveyed various habitats, exploring rich butterfly spots and status of various species. Worked as Research associate of CSIR and 2 NATIONAL LEVEL TRAINING PROGRAMME OR SCIENTISTS AND TECHNOLOGISTS Department of Science and Technology sponsored programme “Biodiversity Conservation with a focus on Ecological Monitoring” at the Wildlife Institute of India 5‐9th September 2011 run a DST young scientist project while working on immature stages of butterflies. Studied larval chaetotaxy to separate sibling species and worked on association of lyaenid butterflies with ants. Joined Zoological Survey of India in 2004 as scientist‐B at Headquarters Kolkata and performed the duty of officer‐in‐charge of Lepidoptera section besides working on butterflies of Uttarakhand under state fauna series. Joined at High Altitude Regional Centre Solan in 2007 as scientist‐C and got the opportunity to explore high altitude butterflies. Surveyed remote areas of Churdhar and Pangi valley besides cold desert of Ladakh. In 2009 take up the duty of Officer‐in‐charge of the centre and doing administrative duties as well. Published 72 papers in national and international journals. 5. C. Ravi Address : Department of Zoology Thiagarajan College, Madurai – 625009 Tamil Nadu Email ‐ [email protected]; [email protected] Mobile ‐ +99431‐92525 Work Profile: Basically an entomologist, worked on the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of groundnut crop for doctorate degree and continued working on the insect diversity and IPM strategies. Later, I developed passion towards ecology and ventured into the biodegradation arena with main focus on xenobiotics and solid bio‐waste degradation using microbes. Ecosystem and biodiversity conservation studies have become part of my routine research. In addition to that, I am also showing interest on the isolation, purification and identification of bioactive compounds from marine mollusks and terrestrial plants and evaluation of its bio activity. 6. C. Sivaperuman Address : Zoological Survey of India, Andaman & Nicobar Regional Centre Haddo, Port Blair – 744 102, A & Nicobar Islands Email: [email protected] Mobile – +9434288442 Work Profile: he holds a Masters Degree in Wildlife Biology from Bharathidasan University, Tamil Nadu. He obtained Doctorate degree in Forest Ecology and Environment from Forest Research Institute (FRI), Deemed University, Dehra Dun. Presently, he is working as a Scientist‐C in Zoological Survey of India, Port Blair. He has worked in different parts of the country in various ecosystems, 3 NATIONAL LEVEL TRAINING PROGRAMME OR SCIENTISTS AND TECHNOLOGISTS Department of Science and Technology sponsored programme “Biodiversity Conservation with a focus on Ecological Monitoring” at the Wildlife Institute of India 5‐9th September 2011 which includes Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Rajasthan and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He also received Fast Track Young Scientists Fellowship from Department of Science and Technology, Government of India in the year 2006. He served as Expert Consultant in the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA), Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. Curretly, he has involved conducting research and guiding field surveys in Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, Richie’s Archipelago and Saddle Peak National Park in the Andaman and Nciobar Islands especially birds, butterflies and moths. 7. C. Venkataraman Adress : Marine Biology Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, 130, Santhome High Road, Chennai 600028 Email – [email protected] Mobile ‐ +9444428011 Telefax – 044‐ 24642680 Work Profile: Since 2004, I have been concentrating on the marine fauna distributed along the East and West coast of India. In addition, I initiated a long term monitoring of the population of avifauna of Pulicat Lake, East Coast of India in the year 2005. Besides, I completed an in‐house project on the Coastal birds of Tamil Nadu during 2005‐2008, which covered the ornithologically important sites viz, Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve, Muthupet mangroves, Point Calimere Bird sanctuary, and Pitchvaram mangroves situated along the coast of Tamil Nadu. While studying the avifauna, I observed and reported the range extension of two faunal species: White sucker fish Remorina albescens and Cochin‐banded sea snake Hydrophis ornate (to East coast of India). Subsequently, I completed another short‐term (2008‐2011) project on Shallow water Echinoderms of Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve. I identified and listed a total of 38 species of Echinoderms in the above mentioned study. Very recently, exploring of deep sea faunal study is also started in Chennai