Ecohydrology of Kerala

Ecohydrology of Kerala: River Catchments and Coastal Backwaters presents 20 years of research to provide suggestions for sustainable management solutions for issues surrounding the urbanization of the rivers of Kerala. This helps identify major issues and develop management strategies. Themes explored include biogeochemistry of rivers/estuarine systems, productivity and trophic status, biology: fauna and flora, biodiversity, threats and conservation, invasive species and impact on riverine ecology, landscape/land use/land cover change in the catchment, socioeconomic status of catchment population, economic and livelihood activities along the river courses/estuaries (river and estuarine tourism, sand extraction, fisheries), pollution monitoring and assessment, impacts of climate change, and more.

This book can be used as a tool in the holistic management of resources, and to devise proper mitigation measures. The content of the book is a model for other tropical regions and countries with rapidly developing economies and populations

• Presents spatial maps and easy to follow figures in each chapter, aiding in a foundational understanding of the topic
• Provides a fully comprehensive overview, including biogeochemistry, ecology, productivity, livelihood, socioeconomic aspects, and governance of the rivers
• Includes specific cases of ecohydrology in the river basin, especially from rivers and coastal lakes of Kerala

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.

Tim Jennerjahn is a Senior Scientist and head of the working group “Ecological Biogeochemistry” at the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research in Bremen, Germany. Dr. Jennerjahn trained in geology and biogeochemistry at the University of Hamburg. His research focuses on the biogeochemical response of coastal aquatic systems to environmental change. He coordinates and participates in collaborative interdisciplinary research projects in Indonesia, India, Brazil, China, and Vietnam, and has conducted numerous expeditions. His research has been published in various journals and books. He currently teaches at the University of Bremen and in partner universities abroad, where he serves as thesis supervisor for students from Europe, South America, Africa and Asia. He is also an Editor-in-Chief of the international journal Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science.

Dr. K. Soman is a Retired Scientist and a former Head, Resources Analysis Division of Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS, now NCESS), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. A geologist by training and profession, he carried out geological investigations in parts of the Eastern Ghats and the Kerala. Dr. K. Soman served as Member in various Academic and Professional Bodies (Board of Studies in Kerala and Madras universities, State High Level Committee of River Management Fund (Kerala) and south Asia Node of LOICZ (Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone). Presently He is a geological consultant with certification from the National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (NABET) under the Quality Council of India, and engaged in Environmental Impact Assessment of infrastructure projects. Authored over 75 publications and two books.

Dr. Srikumar Chattopadhyay retired from CESS as Scientist G and Head, Resources Analysis Division. He was a Post-Doctoral Fulbright Fellow in the Environment and Policy Institute, East West Centre, Hawaii, USA. Recipient of Dr. S Vasudev award (1994) instituted by the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, Government of Kerala, and Prof. R N Dubey memorial award (2001) instituted by the Boovigyan Vikas Foundation, New Delhi. After retirement from CESS in 2013 he was awarded Senior Fellow position by ICSSR hosted in the Centre for Development Studies (CDS), Thiruvananthapuram. In 2016, he served as a Fellow in the HWK Institute for Advanced Studies, Delmenhorst, Germany. He also worked as a Senior Consultant, Kerala Development Innovation Strategic Council (K-Disc), Government of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram