Dakshin Foundation

Naveen Namboothri

Naveen

QUALIFICATIONS

2004. Ph.D in Marine Biology – Centre for Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu. Thesis title – Coral associated fauna of the Indian waters

1999. M.Sc. – Marine Biology and Oceanography, Centre for Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu.

1997. B.Sc. – Zoology, Sri Kerala Varma College, Trichur, Kerala.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF MAJOR PROJECTS

I have been involved in various interesting projects and the first was as a Facilitator – Kerala State Remote Sensing and Environmental Centre. My responsibilities involved working directly with fisherfolk of north Kerala conducting awareness programmes and seminars for using remote sensing data in bettering fish catch. My next project was as a Regional Coordinator for South Asia for an EU funded MCPA project that worked towards creating a network of Marine and Coastal Protected Areas in South Asia to develop capacity, strengthen institutions and share best management practices. My recent assignment was to help coordinate the ecology component of the Post Tsunami Environment Initiative at the Coastal and Marine Programme in ATREE.

I am currently a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, assisting in the initiation of a coastal and marine monitoring programme. I assist with the leatherback monitoring programme on Little Andaman Island.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

My interests lie in marine ecosystems from species to ecosystems level and in applied aspects that would assist in conserving and better managing resources. On an ecosystem/habitat level, I am interested in understanding vital processes and functions of ecosystems that are essential in maintaining its health. I am also keen to understand how these processes and functions interrelate with species diversity, distribution and abundance. Based on these, I am keen on developing an indicator-based approach to monitoring key ecosystems/processes at different spatio-temporal scales. I am also interested in understanding inherent resilience of ecosystems; how and at what scales do ecosystems/species react to human and natural disturbance, and where the thresholds of tolerances lie.

Currently my team and I are involved in monitoring intertidal sandy shore communities. These ecosystems are the most dynamic and bear the brunt of natural and man-made disturbances. I am interested in understanding diversity and distribution of the intertidal communities, what the underlying factors are that govern their species distribution are and how they respond to man-made disturbance. We intend to identify a set of potential indicator species that respond differently to disturbance and develop low-tech, cost-effective, methods to monitor coasts for changes. Further, I also intend to undertake long-term monitoring of select ecosystems such as coral reefs and seagrass.

PUBLICATIONS

Journal papers

Joseph G. Carter, Trent McDowell and Naveen Namboodiri. 2008. The Identity of Gastrochaena cuneiformis Spengler, 1783, and the Evolution of Gastrochaena, Rocellaria and Lamychaena (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Gastrochaenoidea). Journal of Palaentology, 82(1): 102-117.

Berlie T., A. Mohan, N. Namboothri and K. Shanker, 2009. Patterns in distribution of intertidal sandy shore megafauna along the Tamil Nadu coast. (In Prep)

Mohan A., T. Berlie, N. Namboothri and K. Shanker, 2009. Diversity and distribution patterns of intertidal sandy shore macrofauna along the Tamil Nadu coast. (In Prep).

Reports

Shanker, K., N. Namboothri, S. Rodriguez and A. Sridhar. (Editors)(2008). Beyond the Tsunami: Social, Ecological and Policy Analyses of Coastal and Marine Systems on the Mainland Coast of India. Post-Tsunami Environment Initiative report submitted to the United Nations Development Programme. UNDP/UNTRS, Chennai and ATREE, Bangalore, India. pp. 397.

Mohan, A., T. Berlie, N. Namboothri and K. Shanker. 2008. Beyond the Tsunami: Macro and Mega Faunal Communities of Intertidal Ecosystems on the Tamil Nadu Coast, India. UNDP/UNTRS, Chennai and ATREE, Bangalore, India. p 52.

Namboothri, N., D. Subramanian, B. Muthuraman, A. Sridhar, S. Rodriguez and K. Shanker. 2008. Beyond the Tsunami: Coastal Sand Dunes of Tamil Nadu, India- An Overview. UNDP/UNTRS, Chennai and ATREE, Bangalore, India. p 56.

Berlie, T., N. Namboothri, A. Mohan and K. Shanker. 2008. A protocol for ecological monitoring of sandy beaches and intertidal fauna on the Indian coast. UNDP/UNTRS, Chennai and ATREE, Bangalore, India. 37 p.

Namboothri, N., D. Subramanian, A. Sridhar, S. Rodriguez, M. Menon, and K. Shanker. 2008. Policy Brief: Sand Dunes. UNDP/UNTRS, Chennai and ATREE, Bangalore, India, 12 p.