This edited book brings out a comprehensive account of the faunal diversity in the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve which is part of the Sundaland Biodiversity hotspot. The main focus of this volume is to address the ecological and economic significance of the biodiversity of this region. The book provides the latest information on the faunal diversity of the Great Nicobar Biosphere. It focuses on various faunal communities of this region such as floral diversity, butterflies, moths, dragonflies & damselflies, termites, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, scorpions, spiders, turtles, and Nicobar megapodes. Chapters in this volume also cover reptiles & amphibians, fishes, mammals, and land and freshwater Mollusca. Marine animals such as opisthobranchs, sponges, scleractinian corals and soft corals, sea anemones, polyclads, marine molluscs, and echinoderms are also discussed.
Dr Chandrakasan Sivaperuman is currently working as Scientist-E and Officer-in-Charge at the Zoological Survey of India, Port Blair. He has been extensively involved in field surveys in different ecosystems of the country, i.e. Kole wetlands of Kerala, Southern Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Great Indian Desert, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He has published more than 300 research papers in national and international journals and newsletters. He also authored/edited more than 35 books published by reputed national and international publishers. He participated in the 36th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica during 2016–2017 and carried out studies on the species abundance and distribution of birds and mammals in Antarctica.
Dr Dhriti Banerjee is the first woman director in 100 years of Zoological Survey of India history. She has an illustrious career as a scientist, conducted research in taxonomy, zoogeography, morphology and molecular systematics. She has received several national and international grants for her master’s and doctoral studies. She travelled extensively across the country, studying fauna diversity in tiger reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, nature reserves and ecosystems. In addition, she is involved in a long-term study on biodiversity in the Himalayas and examines the possible effects of climate change on the fauna of the Himalayas.
Dr Basudev Tripathy, Scientist-E, works at the Zoological Survey of India Pune, Maharashtra. He has specialized in freshwater molluscs and turtles. He has more than 20 years of experience in the field of conservation biology. He has published more than 60 research papers and books in the field of corals and their associated fauna and invertebrate.
Dr Kailash Chandra is a Director (Retd.) of the Zoological Survey of India. He has more than 35 years of experience in the field of biodiversity conservation. He has worked in various ecosystems of our country, i.e. high altitude, islands, and Central India in various faunal groups, especially on Coleopterans. He has contributed through various kinds of publications, especially more than 40 books, 400 research papers in various journals, chapters in books and popular articles. He has guided more than 15 PhD students. He has visited various Natural History Museums in different parts of the world. He also participated in the 21st Indian Antarctica Scientific Expedition during 2001–2002. He has conducted many national and international seminars, besides chairing many and delivering keynote addresses.