IISAC’S Biodiversity and Environmental Science field and lab studies in Kerala

IISAC has developed field studies and lab research on individual basis (summer and winter) for undergraduate and graduate students interested in tropical ecology, biodiversity, conservation biology, wild life biology, natural resources management, sustainable development and aquatic biology in Kerala, South India. The Western Ghats mountain range on the east of Kerala and 560 km coastal region with Ramsar named wetlands are considered as one of the 25 ‘biodiversity hotspots’ of the world. Consequently, Kerala is an ideal natural history destination for students of biology, ecology and environmental sciences for directed research, thesis research, practical training and field studies.

IISAC’s newly created tropical green school (www.tropicalgreenschool.org) in association with Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences and MACFAST offer field studies, lab research and collaborative international thesis from ecosystems to biomolecules.

Section A
Practical Training And Directed Research Courses
(Courses are designed to provide practical experience with scientific investigation techniques through field and laboratory exercises)

TGS 301
Taxonomic identification of common tropical flora and fauna

TGS 302
Weed diversity of tropical wetland ecosystems

TGS 303
Water quality analysis techniques-field methods

TGS 304
Soil quality analysis techniques

TGS 305
Tropical biodiversity estimation techniques

TGS 306
Phytochemical extraction techniques

TGS 307
Mushroom cultivation practices

TGS 308
Study on common taxa of a selected locality

• Birds
• Butterflies
• Medicinal Plants
• Trees
• Micro Organisms

TGS 309
Estimation of biodiversity of a selected ecosystem

TGS 310
Impact of pollution on water bodies

TGS 311
Studies on soil types from selected ecosystems

TGS 312
The effect of long-term nitrogen deposition on soil microbial communities of paddy fields

Section B
Section B Major Research Projects

Research courses are designed to explore a scientific question in depth leading to an undergraduate or graduate thesis in tropical ecology, tropical diseases, biodiversity, environmental microbiology, environmental biochemistry, environmental and plant biotechnology.

TGS 501
Pattern of changes in the bird diversity of Kumarakom bird sanctuary

TGS 502
Comparison of butterfly diversity of an urban and rural ecosystem with respect to the vegetation pattern

TGS 503
The impact of small dam on fish community composition and structure in Periyar River : a sample study

TGS 504
Survey of naturally developing vegetation on inactive land fills of Kerala<

TGS 505
Ecology of spider diversity in paddy fields

TGS 506
Protein profiling of wild varieties of Mushrooms

TGS 507
Roosting behavior of Indian Fruit Eating Bat

TGS 508
Role of stray dogs as Fungal Carriers

TGS 509
Effect of Amino Acids on Culture Characteristics of Fungal Pathogens

TGS 510
Study on Major Bacterial Pathogens in Municipal Sewage Water

TGS 511
Investigations on Microbial Contamination of Temple Ponds

TGS 512
Food borne Bacterial Pathogens among Common Food Items from Commercial Selling Points

TGS 513
Prevalent bacterial pathogens in water rats (Rattus norvegicus) in Vembanadu- Kol wetland ecosystem

TGS 514
Bacterial pathogens of public health significance in waste dumping sites

TGS 515
Prevalent microorganisms associated with dental disease

TGS 516
Fungal Nutrient Media with Low Cost Supplements: A Comparative Study

TGS 517
Comparison of Soil Micro Flora of Paddy Field with Fish-Rice Rotational Farming and Single Rice Farming

TGS 518
Prevalent Keratinophilic Fungi in Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary: A Preliminary Study

TGS 519
Water Quality Profile of Rain Water Harvesting Tanks

TGS 519
Phytochemical investigations and antifungal studies of selected medicinal plants

TGS 520
A preliminary investigation on the hepatoprotective activity of selected medicinal plants

TGS 521
Health behavior and urinary tract infection in college-aged women

TGS 522
Prevalent parasites (protozans and helminthes) in rodents

TGS 523
Genotoxic Effect of Selected pesticides Malathion and Zolone

TGS 524
A Study on Hypoglycemic Activity of Plant Extracts in Relation to Active Phytochemical Components

TGS 525
Seed Protein Profiles of Selected Members of Solanaceae: a Proteomic Analysis

TGS 526
Proteomic Analysis of a Few Species of Edible and Non-edible Mushrooms

TGS 527
Biodegradation of synthetic polymers using Locally Isolated Fungal Consortium

For more information, contact sunny.luke@tropicalgreenschool.org