Sivasankaran Bijoy Nandan

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Sivasankaran Bijoy Nandan
Born	26th May 1964 Alappuzha, Kerala, India
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Professor, CUSAT
Known for	Aquatic Ecology, Marine Ecology, Wetland Science, Benthic Ecology, Polar Biology, Biogeochemistry, Ecotoxicology, Taxonomy
Title	Dean, Faculty of Marine Sciences
Board member of	Board of Studies in Marine Biology, CUSAT
Awards	Jawaharlal Nehru Award Fulbright Scholar
Academic background
Education	M.Sc. Zoology, Ph.D. in Aquatic Biology & Fisheries; Post-doctoral position in Aquatic biology & Fisheries (CSIR)
Alma mater	Kerala University
Academic work
Discipline
Sub-discipline	Marine biology, Invertebrate zoology, Life sciences, Marine pollution and ecotoxicology
Institutions	Cochin University of Science and Technology
Website	https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sivasankaran-Bijoy-Nandan

Sivasankaran Bijoy Nandan is Professor at the Dept. of Marine Biology, Microbiology & Biochemistry, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science & Technology (CUSAT). He currently holds the office of the Dean, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology. He was served as Head of the Department, Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, CUSAT during 2019-2021 period.^[1] He has expertise in teaching, research, and development activities in the broad area of Aquatic Ecosystem Characterisation, Conservation, Restoration and Management, Carbon Dynamics & Community Ecology, Communities Ecology & Biology, Eco-toxicology and Biology of Polar Communities.^[2][3][4] He is author or co-author of more than 220 journal articles, books, and proceedings and has edited ten books as special volumes.^[5][1]

The leadership of Prof. Bijoy Nandan has been phenomenal in bringing the department to the forefront of academic, research, development (R&D) and extension activities in the University. He founded and leads the Ecology division of the dept. of Marine Biology dedicated to bringing ocean and coastal science to policy makers, and has been instrumental in efforts to develop a global initiative to integrate national and international efforts to benefit science and society. Before moving to CUSAT, he was Officer in Charge and Scientist at Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI: ICAR), Kerala Unit and Senior Officer at Central Institute of Fisheries, Nautical & Engineering Training (CIFNET), Govt. of India.[2]

Prof. Bijoy is a marine biologist; his scientific interests are broad and interdisciplinary, critically providing key insights in marine ecology, environmental change, natural resource management and biodiversity conservation that encompass analyses of distribution, taxonomy and community ecology of pelagic and benthic species and assemblages to elucidate the factors that regulate the structure of the biota, along with the ecophysiology and population dynamics in budgeting models of benthic-pelagic carbon flux and their dynamics in response to environmental (including climate) change. Also, pollution, ecotoxicology of contaminants and ecology of Arctic soft bottom fauna, submarine ground water zones are his recent studies initiated. His research findings and outcome of the studies have created a data platform, critically supporting evidence based policy decision making and the management of marine ecosystems in the country. His research, along with field based actions were conducted over the past two decades, on the margins of the India Ocean, (Arabian sea, Bay of Bengal), the Atlantic and Arctic ocean-fjords, Lakshadweep islands, Andaman sea, estuaries, river systems and mangroves using ships, vessels, boats to sample and conduct experiments. He has participated in over 60 expeditions for accomplishing these field visits and studies.^[6]

To elaborate briefly the research and development contributions of Prof. Bijoy, over the last 2 decades, the first at his doctoral and postdoctoral periods, when he explored and studied the specialized, dynamic ecosystem of backwaters in Kerala, a rich aquatic resource providing employment to the rural people. The study identified production parameters and biological indicators including location specific seasonal changes have been defined. The study suggested management measures to control the pollution problems from retting and associated activity, after which, through policy interventions, the backwaters were effectively delinked from such impacts. This work formed the basis of his Ph.D. thesis, that won the Jawaharlal Nehru Award in 1993, instituted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research as high quality doctoral (PhD) thesis in research priority/ frontier areas of agriculture of allied areas from Indian Universities ^[7] and the UNESCO Fellowship, 2008. He was a U.S. Fulbright Visiting Scholar,^[3] Technical Member, Kerala State Pollution Control Board, Fellow, National Institute of Ecology, India and Coordinator of the UGC-SAP programme of the Dept. of Marine Biology. Over twenty-six students were awarded PhDs under his mentorship in CUSAT and other Universities of India.^[8]

Subsequent studies focused on the environmental quality and production (primary and secondary) parameters of coastal wetlands (backwaters, estuaries, subterranean ground water zones, kole lands) were characterized, data based models evolved for its management; taxonomy of several planktonic and benthic fauna and assemblages and species by conventional and molecular phylogeny (~225 gene bank submissions) were established for defining their trophic status. Ecology, structural diversity, plankton and benthic community patterns and litter fall in relation to carbon dynamics of Indian mangroves established and effective conservation and management plans formulated. Detailed community structure of phytoplankton and zooplankton (copepods, siphonophores etc.) from Indian ocean by classical and molecular methods, their spatio-temporal pattern evolved and the possible influence of climate change (physical forcing’s and chemical attributes) on the distribution and population character documented. Greenhouse gas (CH_4, N₂O, CO₂) fluxes and carbon fractions (total, inorganic, dissolved etc.) from wetlands including mangroves established that, they are sources of carbon, however paddylands were notable sinks of carbon.  The carbon energy changes, global warming potential (GWP), sequestration in relation to different organisms were worked out vis-à-vis the biological pump in these wetlands. The catch potential, CPUE, stock assessment and biology of selected coastal fishery were evolved and management plans outlined. Community ecology of benthic fauna and carbon sequestration potential in relation to climate change from the Arctic fjords were critically documented from 2011 to date. A wide array of meiofauna species, balancing the particulate carbon for budgeting and transfer along the food web of the fjords, an important step in managing the climate change in the polar region were mooted. Another very important outcome of his study is in Marine Ecotoxicology, where sea water quality criteria for heavy metals, (Cu, Zn and Pb) from Cochin coastal zone and its bioaccumulation (trophic transfer) in endemic species along the food web, with simultaneous bioassay (flow-through and renewal) on the same species using specific biomarkers with the toxicity endpoints and pollution indices were derived. Based on this network study, the draft seawater quality guidelines for the metals have been notified by the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change for further consideration.^[6]

As Technical member, Kerala State Pollution Control Board and other Govt. committees (committee for granting new chemical industries in Eloor Edayar region of Cochin, State e-waste Management and Handling Committee, State environmental Awards committee, Vembanad ecodevelopment authority etc.) from 2011 onwards, he was instrumental in managing and resolving various environmental problems in the country. In this aspect, the study based technical committee report on Fish Kill in Periyar River, of Govt.of Kerala (Kerala State Pollution Control Board), the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) project: impact on flamingo population, of Govt. of Maharashtra and the Estimate Value of Environmental Degradation and Cost Restoration of Lakshadweep island, of Lakshadweep administration are few of them. Also, the report on Fish kill in Periyar River submitted to Govt. of Kerala in 2014 has been accepted by the Human Rights Commission, Govt. of Kerala and recorded its deep appreciation for implementation.

Prof. Bijoy is in the forefront, building taxonomic expertise in the country, through need based capacity building actions, as enshrined under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Several species of marine organisms were documented, among which few important discoveries and records are noted. They are the Clam shrimps: Leptestheria dumonti and Eulimnadia azisi (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Spinicaudata)(2010);Crab:Pseudosesarma glabrum (Crustacea:Brachyura: Sesarmidae) (2017) and Parasesarma bengalense (Crustacea: Brachyura: Sesarmidae) (2019) Neorhynchoplax alcocki and Neorhynchoplax demeloi (Crustacea:Brachyura: Hymenosomatidae); Amphipoda: Victoriopisa cusatensis (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Eriopisidae) (2018);Subterranean fishes: Horaglanis krishnai, Monopterus digressus, Monopterus trichurensis, Channa sp. nov. (2018), Copepod: Tortanus minicoyensis (Crustacean: copepoda) (2019); Bivalve: Mytella strigata (First record) (2019), Indosphenia kayalum(2018), Mytilopsis sallei (2018).^[6]

The R&D achievements of Prof. Bijoy emanated through the financial support garnered from various research and consultancy based projects funded by the national and international agencies, that includes the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Department of Science & Technology, University Grants Commission, Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change, Kerala State Council for Science Technology & Environment, Dept of Environment, Govt of Kerala and so on. As Principal investigator (PI), he is implementing projects at a total budget cost of about Rs. 6.91crores from 2006 to date. The MoES has been the major source of his grant in aid, (research support) including the Indian Arctic research program, (from 2011 onwards) through the NCPOR. About 45 project fellows, post docs. and scientist have been working under his supervision in these important research and consultancy based projects. Also prior to 2006, during his service in ICAR, research funding to a tune of Rs. 2 crores were garnered and implemented through him. Another outstanding achievement was his participation as a team member in the “Environmental damage mitigation and containment and Valuation of ecologic losses program” implemented under the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) in Saudi Arabia, established by the UN Security Council, subsequent to ensuing ‘Gulf War’ in January–February 1991.Thus, his studies contribute greatly to advancing marine conservation and sustainable development on marine policy, climate change and government action.^[6]

Prof. Bijoy has been liaising several international collaborations and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with reputed national and international institutions for academic advancement in ocean science. Among them, the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, UK, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, USA, Systematics and Ecology Laboratory University of Singapore (NUS), State University of Montes Claros, Brazil, Kerala State Pollution Control Board, DST, Lakshadweep, National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) are a few of them. In this context, he was also instrumental in organising the Erudite – Scholar in Residence program, Chancellor chair and Fulbright visiting scientist programs. The Erudite programs organised were by Prof. Michael C Newman, USA (area: marine ecotoxicology), Prof. Dr. Lisa A Levin, USA (Marine ecology), Dr. Peter K.L.N.G, Singapore (Marine crustaceans) and Dr. P Graham Oliver, UK (marine bivalves); the Chancellor Chair by Prof. David M. Checkley, Jr., Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), (Marine fishery) and Fulbright host institution (specialist) programme by Dr. Jyotsna Sharma-Srinivasan, USA (marine nematodes).^[6]

A recognized and respected voice on threats to aquatic ecosystems, Bijoy’s research papers, reviews, press reports, commentaries, and policy papers can be found in various outlets including Marine Environmental Research, Zootaxa, Marine Biodiversity, Regional Studies in Marine Science and several others.  Prof.  Bijoy has over 303 original publications with a total citation of 923, h-index of 16 and i10 index 30 (source: Google Scholar). Among them were refereed journals (106 no), book chapters (37), books (14), bulletin/ reports (18) and proceedings (44 no). He has delivered invited / plenary / special lectures (84 no.) at national and international meetings and has edited special volumes (12) as Chief editor on various topics in marine science. Almost all his publications have emanated through his externally funded research projects, which are mentioned in this nomination. The journal Current Science (vol.102, NO. 11, 10 JUNE 2012) published by Indian Academy of Sciences, India has also carried the cover page photo of his publication. He has visited 14 countries Viz. UK, Saudi Arabia, USA, New Zealand, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, Italy, Slovenia, Norway, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Colombo and France for various academic and research assignments. Also, happy to note that, Bijoy was special invitee at the Italy – Japan, Bilateral grouping and the meetings in various fields in marine science held from 2009 to 2016.^[6]

Prof. Bijoy Nandan is the receipt of several awards and recognitions, they were Jawaharlal Nehru Award^[9] in 1993 instituted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Govt. of India as detailed above, the Best paper presentation Award  of Indian Environment Congress of the Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham in 2006; the Recognition Award of Zoological Society of India in 2008, the Excellence Award for Contribution in Wetland Science of msm College, Kayamkulam and Best poster awards at Fifth National Research Conference on Climate Change, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi in 2014 and at International conference on climate change, Colombo University in 2018. Another outstanding achievement was his selection as Fulbright Scholar^[10] (Fulbright-Nehru Visiting Lecturer Fellow) (September 15, 2013 to January 14, 2014) at Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William &Mary, USA, in Science & Technology (Marine Biology), (Topic: Marine Ecotoxicology, Ecosystem level Monitoring, Assessment and Management). During this period, he also won the Fulbright Outreach lecture fund award for delivering a special lecture at Centre for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (CMBC) seminar in Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), University of California, San Diego (UCSD). He is the recipient of noted national and international fellowships including the United Nations University Fellowship (2002) and the UNESCO Fellowship (2008) for scientific advancement.^[6]

Dr Bijoy is supervising several students for Doctoral program in Cochin University of Science & Technology (Faculty: Marine science and Environmental studies), Mahatma Gandhi University (Faculty: Zoology) and MS University (Faculty: Marine science & Technology). To date, 24 PhD and 19 MPhil scholars have received their degrees under his supervision from the 3 universities. Several students are progressing with their PhD programs. He is fellow of National Institute of Ecology, India and Coordinator of UGC-SAP programme of the Dept. of Marine Biology, CUSAT. Also an active member of many academic bodies and frequently communicates with decision makers, ranging in scope from local advisory boards like Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate change, Ministry of Earth Sciences to global assemblies such as the Invasive network, United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP).^[6]

Employment Record[]

Scientist & Officer in Charge (Head), Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute Centre (ICAR), Govt. of India (1994 to 1999 & 2002 to 2006); Sr. Instructor (Fishery Biology), CIFNET, Govt. of India Cochin (1999- 2002); Reader and Associate Professor in Marine Biology, Dept. of Marine Biology, Microbiology & Biochemistry, Cochin University of Science & Technology (CUSAT) (2006 to 2012); Professor in Marine Biology, Dept. of Marine Biology, Microbiology & Biochemistry, Cochin University of Science & Technology (2012 September to date); Head, Dept. of Marine Biology, Microbiology & Biochemistry, Cochin University of Science & Technology (2018 March to April 2021). Dean, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology (2021 June onwards).^[6]

Professional Experience[]

He has 27 years (continuing) (including post-doctoral research of CSIR for 3yrs & Consultant Marine Biologist in Marine Science Division, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia). International research undertaken: July–August 2003: As Consultant Marine Biologist in the United Nations Compensation Research Project: Studies on the Oceanographic and Biodiversity changes in the Gulf Coast waters, Saudi Arabia in the context of oil pollution due to the Gulf war, Marine Science Division, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Saudi Arabia; September, 2013 to January, 2014, As Fulbright Scholar at the College of William and Mary, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, USA teaching and research actions in marine ecology and ecotoxicology and pollution topics under Fulbright grant. Field experience: Indian Ocean, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Arctic Ocean, backwaters and estuaries (including sea voyage / cruise): ~ 24 months Teaching:19years (continuing). Administrative: 16 years (continuing) Teaching and research faculty: MSc & PhD program in Marine Biology, MPhil life science, refresher and short-term course, environmental studies (research faculty). Member in professional bodies: 6 national &2 international. Technical Member: Kerala State Pollution Control Board, from February 2011 to April 2014 period, Coordinator, UGC – SAP program, CUSAT, Board of studies Chairman, Marine Biology, CUSAT.

Ph.D. supervision[]

Ciji, P.P. 2012, Toxicity due to Copper and Zinc on the fresh water fish, Puntius parrah (Day 1865).Faculty of Science- Zoology, Mahatma Gandhi University (Part time). Lathika Cicily Thomas 2015, Microphytoplankton community structure in the Northern Eastern Arabian Sea during Winter Monsoon, Faculty of Marine Sciences, CUSAT. Vineetha S.2015, Ecosystem monitoring and modelling of Benthic fauna in Maranchery Kole wetland, Kerala, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, CUSAT. Anu Pavithran 2015, Abundance and diversity of macrofauna from selected intertidal habitats of south west coast of India, Faculty of Marine Sciences, CUSAT. Seema V. 2015, Biotic production potential in relation to environmental status of the Ashtamudi Wetland Ecosystem, Kerala. Faculty of Science- Zoology, Mahatma Gandhi University. Thasneem T.A. 2016, Productivity pattern and its dynamics in a tropical estuary, south west coast of India. Faculty of Marine Sciences (Marine Biology), CUSAT. Girish Kumar B. 2017, Toxicity induced changes of Cu and Pb on the humoral and cellular factors on Anabas testudineus (Bloch, 1792). Faculty of Science- Zoology, Mahatma Gandhi University. Ambily V. 2017, Phenology and life history traits of Arius subrostratus (Valenciennes, 1840) from Cochin estuary, India. Faculty of Science- Zoology, Mahatma Gandhi University. Sreedevi O.K. 2018, Assessment of trophic change and production potential of Kodungallur- Azhikode estuary, India., Faculty of Marine Sciences (Marine Biology), CUSAT. Sreelekshmi S. 2018, Floristic structure, Zonation and Diversity pattern of major Mangrove ecosystems of India, Faculty of Marine Sciences (Marine Biology), CUSAT. Retina I. Cleetus 2018, Community structure of zooplankton and its trophic analysis in Vembanad estuary, India. Faculty of Marine Sciences (Marine Biology), CUSAT. Asha C. V. 2018, Assessing the structural and functional ecology of benthic fauna in Vembanad estuarine system, India. Faculty of Marine Sciences (Marine Biology), CUSAT. Rakhi Gopalan K. P. 2018, Dynamics of biocenosis and its spatio-temporal variability in Maranchery Kole wetland, Kerala, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, CUSAT. Jayachandran P. R. 2018, Bioecological study of benthic communities in the Kodungallur-Azhikode estuary-south west coast of India, Faculty of Marine Sciences, CUSAT. Radhika Radhakrishnan 2018, Ecology, morphotaxonomy and molecular characterization of Cyclopoid copepods from Lakshadweep islands, South Eastern Arabian Sea, Faculty of Marine Sciences (Marine Biology), CUSAT. Akhilesh Vijay 2017, Carbon sequestration potential of coastal wetlands and its possible impact on climate change, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, CUSAT. Geetha P.N. 2018, Distribution and Community Structure of Benthic Fauna in Cochin Estuary, India, Faculty of Science- Zoology, Mahatma Gandhi University. Sajeevan S. 2018, Environmental and productivity characteristics of Vembanad backwater, southern Kerala, Faculty of Marine Science & Technology, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tamil Nadu (part time). Archana Devi T. 2019, Acute and Chronic toxicity effects of zinc on Etroplus maculatus (Bloch, 1795), Marine Science - Zoology, Faculty of Marine Science & Technology, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tamil Nadu (part time). Sanu V. F. 2019, Morpho- Taxonomy, Genetic Analysis and Distribution of Calanoid copepods from Lakshadweep and coastal waters of south west coast of India, Faculty of Marine Science, CUSAT. Preethy C.M. 2019, Taxonomy and ecological characterization of mangroves of Kerala, Faculty of Marine Sciences, CUSAT. Philomina Joseph 2019, Benthic biocenosis in the tropical mangrove stands of Kerala, Faculty of Marine Science, CUSAT. Rani Varghese 2019, Carbon Stock Assessment and Sequestration Potential of Mangroves in the South- West coast of India, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, CUSAT. Sajana N. 2020, Scad fishery along Kerala coast and bionomics of Alepes djedaba (Forsskal 1775), Faculty of Marine Science, CUSAT.[3]

Research projects[]

Soft bottom Meiobenthic fauna as proxies of the Functional character of selected Arctic fjords; Impact of Climate variability on the India Ocean: Role of gelatinous zooplankton structuring food web structure and community assemblages; Ecology and functional diversity of meiofauna in selected Arctic fjords; Functional importance and responses of meiofauna to environmental gradients in the Arctic fjord; Marine Biodiversity and Bioprospecting for sustainable development; Network project on Mission Submarine Groundwater Discharge (SGD).

Consultancy Projects[]

As CONSULTANT MARINE BIOLOGIST in the United Nations Compensation Research Project: Studies on the Oceanographic and Biodiversity changes in the Gulf Coast waters, Saudi Arabia in the context of oil pollution due to the Gulf war, Marine Science Division, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Saudi Arabia; Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) project: Study of Flamingos and Migratory Birds: Study of Plankton & Benthic component, funded by Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Coimbatore, Ministry of Environment & Forests, India; Environmental Monitoring associated with Development of an International Container Transshipment Terminal at Vallarpadam – Assessment of Mangroves, funded by National Institute of Oceanography, Govt. of India; Fish Kill in Periyar River, funded by Kerala State Pollution Control Board, Govt. of Kerala.

Funding Agencies[]

Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)|National Centre for Coastal Research| National Centre for Earth Science Studies | Department of Biotechnology | Department Of Science & Technology | Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment |Kerala State Biodiversity Board | Department of Environment and Climate Change

References[]

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