Dr. G. Ravikanth

Fellow



[Top]

Education

  • Doctor of Philosophy , University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore Dissertation title: Population Genetic Structure of Endangered and Economically Important Tree Species in the Myristica Swamps and the Sacred Groves in Central Western Ghats
  • Master of Science , University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore Dissertation title: Mapping the genetic diversity of rattans in the Central Western Ghats
  • Bachelor of Science (Forestry) Forestry College, Ponnompet
[Top]

Research Interests

Mapping the geographical distribution of some of the economically important plant species of the Western Ghats, assessing the threats to the genetic resources of forest tree species, mapping the genetic diversity of the species to identify hot spots of genetic variability and genetic improvement of a critically endangered species

[Top]

Experience

During the last couple of years, I have gained considerable work experience both in the field (Western Ghats) as well as in the laboratory by being part of a team in a number of research projects (mentioned below).

  • Mapping genetic diversity of Bamboo and Rattans in Western Ghats of India. (International Plant Genetic Research Institute (IPGRI) project- ROME).
  • Conservation of Forest Genetic Resources in Western Ghats, India, IPGRI, Rome.
  • Gap analysis of protected areas in Western Ghats, India for conservation of bamboo and rattan resources IPGRI, Rome
  • Mapping genetic resources of Rattans using GIS and molecular tools: Identification of genetic hotspots for in situ conservation, at U.A.S. Bangalore-65 (Department of Biotechnology (DBT) project, India).
  • Genetic Evaluation and Enrichment of Dysoxylum malabaricum Bedd., a critically endangered and economically important tree species of Western Ghats at U.A.S. Bangalore-65 (Department of Biotechnology (DBT) project, India).
[Top]

Affiliations / Positions / Memberships

[Top]

Grants / Awards / Honors

[Top]

Select Publications

[Top]

Complete Publications

PUBLICATIONS IN JOURNALS

  • Ravikanth,G., K.N Ganeshaiah and R.Uma Shaanker., 2003. Identification of hot spots of species richness and genetic variability in rattans: an approach using geographical information systems (GIS) and molecular tools. Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter 132: 17:21.
  • Ravikanth,G., R.Uma Shaanker and K.N Ganeshaiah., 2000. Conservation Status of forests in India: a cause for worry? Journal of Indian Institute Science 80(6): 591-600.
  • Ravikanth, G., R. Vasudeva, Ganeshaiah K.N. and Uma Shaanker.R., 2004. Molecular analysis of Semecarpus kathalekanensis (Anacardiaceae) – a newly described species from the Myristica swamps of Western Ghats, India. The Indian Forester 130 (1): 101-104.
  • Ramesha. B.T, Ravikanth.G, Nageswara Rao. M, Ganeshaiah, K.N and Uma Shaanker, R. Genetic structure of rattan, Calamus thwaitesii in core, and buffer and peripheral regions of three protected areas at central Western Ghats, India: Do protected areas serve as refugia for genetic resources of economically important plants? (Manuscript submitted to Molecular Ecology)
  • Tambat. B.S, Channamallikarjuna, Rajanikanth.G, Ravikanth.G, Ganeshaiah K.N, Uma Shaanker.R. and C.G Kushallappa. Seedling mortality in two endangered tree species in the sacred groves of Western Ghats, south India: early signals of fragmentation fatigue? (Submitted to Biotropica)

CHAPTER IN BOOKS / PROCEEDINGS

  • Ravikanth, G., Ganeshaiah K.N. and Uma Shaanker.R. 2001, Mapping genetic diversity of rattans in Central Western Ghats: Identification of hot-spots of variability for in situ conservation. pp 69-83, In: Forest genetic resources: Status, threats and conservation strategies, Uma Shaanker, R., Ganeshaiah, K.N. and Bawa, K.S. (eds), Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd.
  • Cheluvaraju, Deepali Singh, B.S., Nageswara Rao. M., Ravikanth, G., Ganeshaiah K.N. and Uma Shaanker.R., 2001 Conservation of Bamboo Genetic Resources in Western Ghats: Status, Threats and Strategies, pp 99-113, In: Forest genetic resources: Status, threats and conservation strategies, Uma Shaanker, R., Ganeshaiah, K.N. and Bawa, K.S. (eds), Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd
  • Uma Shaanker.R., Ganeshaiah K.N., Nageswara Rao.M. and Ravikanth.G., 2001, A new approach to conservation of genetic resources of forest trees: promise and processes. pp 263-271. In: Forest genetic resources: Status, threats and conservation strategies, Uma Shaanker, R., Ganeshaiah, K.N. and Bawa, K.S. (eds), Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd
  • Uma Shaanker.R., Ganeshaiah K.N., Nageswara Rao.M. and Ravikanth.G., 2002, Forest gene banks – a new integrated approach for the conservation of forest tree genetic resources, pp 229-235, In: Managing Plant Genetic Resources, Engels, J.M.M., Brown, A.H.D. and Jackson, M.T. (eds), CABI Publishing, Nosworthy. Wallingford. Oxon. UK
  • Tambat. B.S, Channamallikarjuna, Rajanikanth.G, Ravikanth.G, Uma Shaanker.R. and Ganeshaiah K.N., 2001, Biological Diversity and Invasion: Testing the invasion theory, pp 121-124 (Supplement -1), In: Proceedings of International Conference on Tropical Ecosystems: Structure, Diversity, and Human Welfare. Ganeshaiah, K.N., Uma Shaanker, R. and Bawa, K.S. (eds), Oxford and IBH Publications, New Delhi
  • Tambat. B.S, Channamallikarjuna, Rajanikanth.G, Ravikanth. G, C.G Kushallappa, Uma Shaanker.R. and Ganeshaiah K.N., 2001, Fragment sizes and diversity of species assemblages in sholas and sacred groves: are small fragments any worth pp 314--316, In: Proceedings of International Conference on Tropical Ecosystems: Structure, Diversity, and Human Welfare. Ganeshaiah, K.N., Uma Shaanker, R. and Bawa, K.S. (eds), Oxford and IBH Publications, New Delhi.
  • R. Vasudeva , H. B. Raghu, P. G. Suraj, Ravikanth. G, R. Uma Shaanker and K. N. Ganeshaiah., 2003, Can we restore critically endangered tree species of the Western Ghats through recovery plans? In: Proceedings of the workshop on Conservation and Research needs of the Rare, Endangered and Threathened (RET) tree species in Kerala part of the Western Ghats. Jose Kallarackal, K. Swarupanandan and J.K. Sharma (Eds). Published by Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur, Kerala.
[Top]

Meetings / Conferences / Symposiums / Workshops

[Top]

Others

MAJOR RESEARCH OUTCOME

  • In a brief span of six years, I have been involved in a range of issues concerning the conservation of forest genetic resources in the country. The major focus has been to a) map the geographical distribution of some of the economically important plant species of the Western Ghats (bamboo and rattans) b) assess the threats to the genetic resources of forest tree species, c) map the genetic diversity of the species to identify hot-spots of genetic variability and d) to formulate strategies for in situ conservation of forest genetic resources. Recently, I am also involved in genetic improvement of a critically endangered species namely Semecarpus kathalekanensis. I am also working on the phylogenetic analysis of rattans in Southeast Asia.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

  • Good field experience of Western Ghats and fair knowledge in taxonomy, forest enumeration, demographic analysis etc.
  • Experience with various biochemical and molecular markers such as Isozymes, PCR based markers (RAPD, ISSR, CAPS, AFLP, Microsatellites etc). Fair knowledge of agarose, starch and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Genomic and plasmid DNA isolation techniques, cloning etc.
  • Various statistical packages (POPGENE, STATISTICA, MSTAT, MVSP, SIGMAPLOT, DIVA-GIS, PHYLIP etc).
[Top]

Contact

ravikant@atree.org

[Top]

© 2005 ATREE. All rights reserved - For best view use IE5.5 and above & set resolution to 1024 X 768

Ganesan Kartik Shanker Kartik Shanker Meera Anna Oommen