Rachna Chandra-Wildlife Research and Conservation Trust-India

Wildlife Research and Conservation Trust

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Rachna Chandra
Senior Research Fellow Environmental Impact Assesment Division Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Anaikatty, Coimbatore-641108, INDIA. --------------------------------
Associate Scientist Wildlife Research and Conservation Trust c/o Anupallavi, Chungathara P.O. Nilambur, Kerala-679 334 Tel: + 91 94420-14419 Email: rachna@wrctindia.org, rachnaeia @gmail.com
Research interests Industrial pollution, environmental impact assessment, environmental management planning, metal speciation in various matrices such as soil, sediment, water, etc; Socio-economical impacts of developmental projects, impact assessment of deforestation and land degradation on biodiversity; Biodiversity assessment and conservation of arid & semi-arid ecosystem; Vegetation dynamics, monitoring and management strategies with the help of applied/practical research; systematic approach towards habitat alterations and measures to conserve the ecosystem. Education Ph. D. in Environmental Sciences , Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History & Bharathiar University, India (submitted in June 2010) M.Sc. in Botany, M.J.P. Rohilkhand University, Uttar Pradesh (2004) Appointments and research experience 2010-present: Associate Scientist, Wildlife Research and Conservation Trust, Nilambur, India. 2009-present: Senior Research Fellow, Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, India. 2005- 2009: Junior Research Fellow, Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, India. Fellowships/awards/grants Senior Research Fellowship, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi (April 2009 - Till Date: On Going). Research Fellowship, Environmental Impact Assessment Division, Sálim Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Coimbatore (April 2006 - March 2009). Young Scientist Travel Fellowship Awarded for Attending Abroad Conferences: Full air-fare travel grant by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Delhi for attending the 18 th International Biohydrometallurgy Symposium 2009 (IBS-09) in Bariloche , Argentina during 13 th -17 th September. Junior Research Fellowship, Landscape Ecology Division, Sálim Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Coimbatore (June 2005 - March 2006). Publications In Scientific Journals: In Press) R Chandra and BAK Prusty. A new record of a fish species, Rasbora daniconius , in the wetlands of Keoladeo National Park , Bharatpur , India , and conservation concerns. *Environmental Research Journal.* In Press) R Chandra , BAK Prusty and PA Azeez . A revised checklist of the flora of Keoladeo National Park, a world heritage site in India. *Environmental Research Journal.* 5 (2-3): XXXX. 2010) R Chandra and PA Azeez Floral diversity of Kottuli: a wetland of national importance, Kozhikode , Kerala . *Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany.* 34 (2): 440-450. 2010) T SelvaKumar, R Chandra and PA Azeez. The Birds of Araku, Vishakhapatnam , Andhra Pradesh. *Journal of Threatened Taxa* . 2(1): 662-665. 2010) BAK Prusty, R Chandra and PA Azeez. Macronutrients along the sediment core in a subtropical monsoonal wetland in India . *Wetlands Ecology and Management* . 18: 91-105. ( doi: 10.1007/s11273-009-9151-9). 2009 ) BAK Prusty, R Chandra and PA Azeez. Biodiesel: Freedom from dependence on fossil fuels ? *Research* *Journal o* *n Climate* *Environment and Energy* . 1(1): 31-52. 2009) R Chandra , KA Nishadh and PA Azeez . Monitoring water quality of Coimbatore wetlands, Tamil Nadu, India. *Environmental Monitoring and Assessment* (doi: 10.1007/s10661-009-1206-0: 10 November 2009). 2009) BAK Prusty, R Chandra and PA Azeez . Distribution and chemical partitioning of Cu, Pb and Zn in the soil profile of a semi arid dry woodland . *Chemical Speciation Bioavailability.* 21(3): 141-151. 2009) BAK Prusty, R Chandra and PA Azeez . Temporal variation and distribution of select alkali and alkaline earth metals in the sediment of a monsoonal wetland in India . *Fresenius Environmental Bulletin* . 18(6): 917-927. 2009) R Chandra and PA Azeez. Bioaccumulation of metals in different parts of weed species at proposed bauxite mines . *Advanced Materials Research.* 71-73: 609-612. ( http://www.scientific.net ). 2009) BAK Prusty , R Chandra and PA Azeez. Distribution of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulphur in the soil in a multiple habitat system in India. *Australian Journal of Soil Research.* 47(2): 177-189 . 2008 ) BAK Prusty, R Chandra and PA Azeez. Day-night variation in fish fry movement to a s ub tropical mons o onal wetland. *Biological Letters* . 45(1): 3-21. 2008 ) BAK Prusty, R Chandra and PA Azeez . Vertical and temporal variation of Zn in the soils of a multiple habitat system. *Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment* . 6(2): 381-387. 2007 ) R Chandra , BAK Prusty, D Mythily, SR Sarimol and PA Azeez . Nutrients and alkali metal distribution in the top soil of bauxite rich hillocks in Araku Valley, Andhra Pradesh, India. *Environmental Science: An Indian Journal .* 2(3): 145-153. 2007 ) BAK Prusty, R Chandra , PA Azeez and LL Sharma. New additions to the ichthyofauna of Keoladeo National Park, a world heritage site in India. *Zoos' Print Journal* . 22(10): 2848-2852. In Books/Proceedings 2009) R Chandra , BAK Prusty and PA Azeez. Biomass, productivity and species diversity of plant community in a rainfed monsoonal wetland ecosystem with specific emphasis on its temporal variability. Pp. 57-77. In: International Wetlands: Ecology, Conservation and Restoration (Ed. Herrera JR). Nova Science Publisher, USA . 319 pp. 2009) BAK Prusty, R Chandra , M Shah Hussain and PA Azeez. Catchment Changes Influence the Arrival Pattern of Fishes into a Semitropical Monsoonal Wetland System. Pp. 79-96. In: International Wetlands: Ecology, Conservation and Restoration (Ed. Herrera JR). Nova Publishers, New York , USA . 319 pp. 2009) R Chandra , B AK Prusty and PA Azeez. Impact of Prosopis juliflora on Herbaceous Diversity in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur. Pp. 09-13. In: Proceedings of the National Symposium on Prosopis: Ecological, Economic Significance and Management Challenges (Eds. Thivakaran GA, Kumar A, Prusty BAK and Senderraj SFW), Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology, Bhuj, India. 115 pp. 2009) PA Azeez and R Chandra . Prosopis juliflora , the tree of the poor: Challenges and Management Options. Pp. 9 4 - 99 . In: Proceedings of the National Symposium on Prosopis: Ecological, Economic Significance and Management Challenges (Eds. Thivakaran GA, Kumar A, Prusty BAK and Senderraj SFW), Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology, Bhuj, India. 115 pp. Popular Articles 2006 ) R Chandra and BAK Prusty. Sighting of nest of Dusky Horned Owl (Bubo coromandus) in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan. *Newsletter for Birdwatchers* . 46(5): 79 . Research Papers in Conferences/Symposia/Seminars 2009) R Chandra and PA Azeez. Bioaccumulation of metals in different parts of weed species at proposed bauxite mines. International Biohydrometallurgy Symposium 2009 (IBS-09) . Bariloche , Argentina , 13 th - 17 th September. 2009) R Chandra, BAK Prusty and PA Azeez. Impact of Prosopis Juliflora on herbaceous diversity in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur . National Symposium on Prosopis: Ecological, Economic Significance and Management Challenges , Bhuj, Gujarat, 20 th - 21 st February. 2009) PA Azeez and R Chandra . Prosopis juliflora , the tree of the poor: Challenges and Management Options . National Symposium on Prosopis: Ecological, Economic Significance and Management Challenges , Bhuj, Gujarat, 20 th - 21 st February. 2008) KA Nishadh, R Chandra and PA Azeez . Pollution Status and Conservation of Lakes in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India . Lakes 2008. Bangalore , 22 nd - 24 th December. 2008) R Chandra and PA Azeez. Management options for Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystem and its associated biodiversity; a case in Calicut, Kerala . National Seminar on Coastal Wetland Ecosystems of Kerala: Perspectives and Conservational Strategies . Kannur, Kerala, 16 th - 17 th October . 2007 ) R Chandra , BAK Prusty and PA Azeez . Hydroperiod induced vegetation changes in a semi tropical monsoonal wetland . International Conference on Opportunities and Challenges in Biotechnology and Environmental Sciences. Vellalar College for Women, Erode, India, 22 nd - 23 rd February. 2007 ) BAK Prusty, R Chandra , PA Azeez and EP Jagadeesh. Chemical speciation of metals in the soil profile of Keoladeo National Park wetland system, Bharatpur, India . XIX Kerala Science Congress. Kannur University , Kerala, 29 th - 31 st January. 2007 ) R Chandra , BAK Prusty and PA Azeez. Fry recruitment in the wetland system of Keoladeo National Park, India . National Conference on Environmental Conservation and Management. Bharathiar University , Coimbatore , Tamil Nadu, 8 th - 9 th March. 2007 ) BAK Prusty, R Chandra and PA Azeez. Heavy metal partitioning in the grassland soil in Keoladeo National Park , India . National Conference on Environmental Conservation and Management. Bharathiar University , Coimbatore Tamil Nadu, 8 th - 9 th March. 2007 ) R Chandra , BAK Prusty , PA Azeez and SN Prasad . Biomass and productivity of plant community in a wetland ecosystem . National Seminar on Environment and Sustainable Development. Sambalpur University , Orissa, 17 th - 18 th March. 2007 ) B A K Prusty , R Chandra and PA Azeez . Cu, Pb and Zn fractionation in a savannah type grassland soil . National Seminar on Environment and Sustainable Development. Sambalpur University , Orissa, 17 th - 18 th March. Dissertations and Technical Reports 2010) R Chandra . Bioavailability of heavy metals in soils and select plant species in opencast mines. Report submitted to Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi . 68 pp. 2010) R Chandra . Nutrients and metals in soils of Araku, Andhra Pradesh , India . Ph D Thesis submitted to Bharathiar University , Tamil Nadu. 130 pp. 2009) PA Azeez, S Bhupathy , PP Nikhilraj and R Chandra . Conservation of Kott u li Wetlands , Calicut , Kerala. Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore , 66 pp. Report submitted to Tourist Resort (Kerala) Limited (TRKL). 2009) PA Azeez, S Bhupathy, R Chandra and R Dhanya. Monitoring the execution of Conservation Plan for Gaur and Endemic flora of Shevaroy Bauxite Mines, Yercaud (M/s Madras Aluminium Company Limited, Mettur Dam, Salem District, Tamil Nadu). Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore , 18 pp. Draft report submitted to Madras Aluminium Company (MALCO) Limited, Madras . 2008) PA Azeez, S Bhupathy, R Chandra and R Dhanya. Monitoring the execution of conservation plan for flora and fauna of Kolli Bauxite mines, Kolli hills M/s Madras Aluminium Company Limited, Mettur Dam, Tamil Nadu. Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore , 18 pp. Report submitted to Madras Aluminium Company (MALCO) Limited, Madras . 2008) PA Azeez, S Bhupathy , R Chandra and T Selvakumar. Study of habitat and development of Environment Management Plan for Blewitti's owl in Araku, Andhra Pradesh. Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore , 89 pp. Report submitted to Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC) Limited, Hyderabad . 2007) PA Azeez, S Bhupathy, R Chandra and PP Nikhilraj. Rapid Environmental Impact Assessment of the India-based Neutrino Observatory Project, Singara, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu. Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore , 86 pp. Report submitted to Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMS), Chennai.