Ecology and Biodiversity of Benthos

Ecology and Biodiversity of Benthos provides insight into the characteristic features of marine and estuarine benthos, which play an important role in coastal ecosystem functioning, as they are at the primary level of the food chain. This book provides the latest information on multidisciplinary reflections by various researchers studying the benthic community. Through the chapters, ecosystem services are explored as a way to share approaches and scientific methods to achieve knowledge-based sustainable planning and management of benthic ecosystems.

Ecology and Biodiversity of Benthos provides a helpful guide for anyone working on marine and estuarine environments, and for those who need an introduction to benthic ecology. The book has a wide range of scientific coverage since it caters primarily to the requirement of marine ecologists, marine benthologists, EIA experts, aquatic researchers, scientists, teachers and research scholars. In addition to this, it also serves as a reference for postgraduate/undergraduate students studying aquatic ecosystems. Policy makers can make use of the book to formulate laws and legislations. Covering all beach types of temperate and tropical countries and addressing issues from the behavioral and physiological adaptations of the biota to explore the effects of pollution and the impact of anthropogenic activities, this book is a standard reference for those interested in sandy shore study, management and preservation.

Dr. Prince S. Godson has obtained his Ph.D in Zoology from Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, India during 2016. His major research finding was the Impact of Beach Placer Mining on Sandy Beach Macro and Meio-faunal Community along the Southern coast of Tamil Nadu. He had three years of teaching experience from a UGC innovative course on Coastal Resource Economics and Management from Department of Economics and Department of Animal Science at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India. He had three years postdoctoral experience at the Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kerala. During his research career, he had a vast experience on Marine benthology and Geomicrobiology, specific areas includes antimalarial drug discovery, marine geochemistry and marine placers. Recently he got a National postdoctoral Fellowship award from Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi. He has published 16 research papers in peer reviewed journals. His publications were cited more than 200 times in various reputed journals and his h-Index is 5.

Dr. Salom Gnana Thanga Vincent completed her Ph.D in Environmental Sciences from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India during 1997. Her major research work was on Cellulose binding proteins of anaerobic cellulolytic bacteria and minor research work on anaerobic degradation of azodyes. She was a senior research fellow of DST, Government of India funded project during her Ph.D. work. From 1997 to 2001, she worked as a Research Associate in the same department on the beneficial microbes transported by earthworms. From 2001 till 2005, she has been working in the University of Kerala as Lecturer, Assistant Professor and Head, Reader and at present as Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kerala. She is teaching M.Sc, M.Phil., students in Environmental Sciences. Dr.Vincent is trained in various techniques like culturing aerobic and anaerobic microbes, protein purification by PAGE and FPLC, HPLC, Liquid Scintillation Counter, Gas Chromatorgraphy, Fermentors, PCR and DGGE. 8 scholars have been awarded Ph.D degree under her guidance and presently she is guiding 7 students. Her broad area of specialization is Environmental Microbiology and specific areas include anaerobic microbial ecology, microbial biogeochemistry and microbial degradation of pesticides. She is the principal investigator of five major research projects funded by University Grants Commission, Department of Environment and Climate Change and Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. She has published 35 research papers in International and National journals.

Dr. S Krishnakumar has completed his Ph.D. in Geology from Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, India. He has a wide range of experience in the field of Sedimentology, Geochemistry and Environmental pollution monitoring and assessment. He has served as an active reviewer for various peer reviewed journals and editorial board member of Journal of coastal sciences and Journal of Aquatic pollution and toxicology. He has own two-time post-doctoral fellowship from the Department of Science and Technology and University Grants Commission, New Delhi. He is an active member of various professional bodies like Indian Association of Applied Geochemists and International Engineering and technology institute and so on. He guided many undergraduate and postgraduate student projects. He also served as a Board of Studies and Doctoral Committee member. He has published 46 research papers in well reputed journals.

1. Source and composition of organic matter and its role in sediment benthic communities
2. Anthropogenic impacts on the habitat morphology
3. Physico-chemical factors regulating marine benthos structure and function
4. Ecology, distribution and biogeography of benthos
5. Characteristics of human-altered coastal landforms related with benthic diversity
6. Spatio-temporal variations of benthic community of coast
7. Benthos and its Interaction with marine ecosystem
8. Chemical Oceanography and Water Quality
9. Characteristics of estuarine and marine sediments
10. Impact of mining on marine benthos