Research Projects : ONGOING
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Butterfly Attractant
for Pollination and Ecosystem Health
P. I.: Dr. Ankur Patwardhan, Co-I. : Dr.
Tejaswini Pachpor
Funding Agency: Elsevier Foundation - ISC3
Green and Sustainable Chemistry Challenge
Grant amount: 25000 EURO
Duration: 2019-2021 |
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Peacock's Tale: can
human-animal vicinity lead to sustainable
mutual benefits and peaceful co-existance?
P. I.: Dr. Dhanashree Paranjpe
Funding Agency: Dept. of Biotechnology,
Govt. of India
Grant amount: 88 Lakhs
Duration: Dec 2015- Nov. 2020 |
Research Projects :
COMPLETED
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Ecosystem Service
Assessment from Northern Western Ghats of
Maharashtra’
PI: - Dr. Ankur Patwardhan
Funding Agency : Ministry of Environment and
Forests (MOEF)
Grant : Rs. 34.31 Lakhs
Duration : 2012-2017 |
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Present project
primarily focuses on assessment of various
ecosystem services from sacred forests of
Maharashtra. The forests will be assessed
from provisioning, regulatory and cultural
service point of view. Biodiversity
assessment, Watershed, Pollination, Carbon
Sequestration and utilitarian values of
these forests will be assessed. |
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Ecological
assessment and determination of endophytic
diversity of marine macroalgae (Seaweeds)
from the Western Coast of Maharashtra
PI: - Dr. Ankur Patwardhan
Co-PI- Dr. Mugdha Bakshi
Funding Agency : BCUD
Grant : Rs. 2.70 Lakhs
Duration : 2013-2015 |
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The projects aims at
assessing macroalgal diversity in the tidal
region along the Western coast of
Maharashtra with respect to the surrounding
environmental physical parameters and
understanding distribution and abundance
pattern of flora and fauna associated with
the macroalgal isolates & prepare database
for the study area. Further, it aims at
isolation and study of diversity patterns of
macroalgal endophytes. |
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Inventorization of
provisional ecosystem services of selected
Sacred Natural Sites (SNS) through community
participation from northern Western Ghats of
Maharashtra - a biodiversity hotspot.
PI: - Ms. Monali Mhaskar
Mentor:- Dr. Ankur Patwardhan
Funding Agency : DST – WOS (B)
Grant : Rs. 8.24 Lakhs
Duration : 2013-2015 |
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The project deals with
the identification of provisional services
of ‘Sacred Natural Sites’ (food, medicine
and biomass) and understand role of local
community in management of these ‘Sacred
Natural Sites’. The data generated would be
applied to for better environment protection
to aid systematic conservation planning with
the help of local community. |
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‘Identification of
critical areas of conservation concern using
RS-GIS technique from northern Western Ghats
of India'.
PI: - Dr. Ankur Patwardhan
Funding Agency : ISRO-UoP
Grant : Rs. 10.87 Lakhs |
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Identification of
biodiversity rich areas within an eco-region
has become a national priority in the wake
of Biodiversity Act (2004). Effective action
in this context calls for an understanding
of ‘spatial distribution’ of the
‘conservation value’ of the forests besides
knowing their vegetation types. The proposed
study will primarily focus on how we have
addressed this by preparing (a) biological
richness maps and (b) thematic maps using
GIS and RS tools. A protocol for developing
such maps and its application to the
Sahayadri Tiger Reserve along with Reserve
Forest patches will be the focus of the
research. |
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‘Application of
GIS-RS in Mapping and Conservation of
Threatened Medicinal Plant Species from
northern Western Ghats of India’. Funded by:
ISRO-UoP
PI: - Dr. Ankur Patwardhan
Funding Agency : ISRO-UoP
Grant : Rs. 7.27 Lakhs |
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Present project
primarily focuses on threatened medicinal
plant species in the Pune, Satara and
Kolhapur districts of northern Western Ghats
of Maharashtra. Species were short listed
using IUCN Red Lists, Conservation
Assessment and Management Plan (CAMP),
habitat specificity and trade potential. For
each of the short listed species, four types
of ‘thematic maps’ were developed using
RS-GIS tools. These include; (i) NDVI maps
(ii) Forest Cover Map (iii) Google earth map
and (iv) Prediction map. Mass multiplication
protocols have been standardized for
prioritized species. |
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'Camptothecin (CPT)
distribution in Nothapodytes nimmoniana and
Ophiorrhiza rugosa : Endangered medicinal
species from Western Ghats of India.'
PI: - Dr. Ankur Patwardhan
Co-PI- Dr. Mugdha Bakshi
Funding Agency : BCUD, Univ. of Pune
Grant : Rs. 2.00 Lakhs |
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Camptothecin alkaloid
is well known in cancer cure. It is
essentially a plant based alkaloid. Present
project studies variation in Camptothecin
across plant parts and habitats from
threatened species such as Nothapodytes
nimmoniana and Ophiorrhiza rugosa from
Western Ghats of India |
Industry, NGO and Biodiversity
Department tie-ups.
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Biodiversity survey
of SRPF group II area, Wanowri
Present study gave a good documentation
and state of the art picture of biodiversity
profile of SRPF group II area and
highlighted the importance of Paramilitary
Establishments in conservation of flora and
fauna. |
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Rapid Biodiversity
Survey of Volkswagen India, Pvt. Ltd.,
Chakan.
Present study gave a snap-shot of state
of the art picture of biodiversity of the VW
area and systematic documentation coupled
with measures for enhancement and protection
will prove to be a prudent step towards
‘environment protection and green
initiative’ |
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Rapid biodiversity
survey of Kelshi, Anjarle and Velas.
Present project deals with baseline
Biodiversity survey of Kelshi, Anjarle,
Velas for further interventions regarding
ecological protection. Main components of
this activity were status of Mangrove Belts,
survey of rockpools and mudflats in relation
to macroalgae and marine macrofauna and
meiofauna in intertidal zone of both sandy
and rocky beach on these sites. |
Recognized Research Guides
Dr. Ankur Patwardhan |
Plant Ecology, Diversity and
Conservation |
Dr. Anand Padhye |
Animal Ecology and Diversity |
Dr. Nivedita Ghayal |
Plant Interactions |
Dr. Niranjan Patil |
Microbiology |
Dr. Dhanashree Paranjpe |
Animal Behavior and Ecology |
Students who
were awarded Ph.D.
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Dr. Makarand
Pimputkar
Title : Ecological Studies on two
commercially important species –Salacia chinensis Linn.
and Saraca asoca (Roxb.) de Wilde from
Western Ghats of Maharashtra". |
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Dr. Ashwini Keskar
Title : Diversity, Distribution Patterns
and Molecular Phylogeny of hill stream
loaches (Cypriniformes: Balitoridae,
Cobitidae) along the environmental gradients
of the Northern Western Ghats |
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Dr. Nikhil Modak
Title :
Ecology and Molecular phylogeny of
leaping frogs (Anura: Ranixalidae) from
Northern Western Ghats of India with
their conservation implications. |
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Ms. Shruti
Paripatyadar
Title : The study of aquatic Heteroptera
(true bugs) in the Western Ghats of
Maharashtra: |
Research Scholars currently
pursuing Ph.D. at the centre
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Amruta Joglekar |
Title :
Characterization and germination studies
of seeds of selected wild woody plants
from Amboli forests of Northern Western
Ghats.
Research Interest-
Amruta’s PhD study deals with measuring
seed characters like seed mass, seed
shape, seed length, breadth etc of wild
woody plant species of Amboli forests.
She is also planning to conduct
germination studies and natural
regeneration of selected wild plant
species. She is guided by Dr. Ankur
Patwardhan. She is
also involved in natural resource
management and sustainable development
studies in tribal belt of Central India
with people participation. |
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Email :
amrutamjoglekar@gmail.com |
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Mr. Mukul
Mahabaleshwarkar |
Title :
Designing Integrated Conservation and
Management Strategy for Sacred Groves in
Pune District (Maharashtra, India)
Mukul is post-graduate in Environment
sciences. He has also completed Masters
in Business Administration with
specialization in Operations Management.
He is currently pursuing Ph.D. in
Environmental Sciences. He is Certified
Lead Auditor for Environmental
Management Systems (ISO 14001:2001) and
Certified Assessor for CII - EXIM Bank
Award for Business Excellence. Mukul has
over seventeen years’ experience of
working with NGOs and Corporate, with
focus on natural heritage, natural
resource management, sustainability and
green technologies. His core areas of
interest are ecosystem services,
biodiversity, strategy, policy,
communication and multidisciplinary
research. He has authored and
contributed to number of scientific and
popular articles.Mukul has been
associated with RANWA for over 20 years.
He is member of executive committee at
INTACH Pune Chapter and coordinates
natural heritage projects. He also
mentors national and international
graduate students. |
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Email :
mmukul@gmail.com |
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Ms. Kranti Waghmare |
Title :
Eco Friendly Management of Invasive
Weeds through their application in pest
control Kranti
Kamlakar Waghmare is the Second Rank
holder of Savitribai Phule Pune
University in Environmental sciences in
her Graduation. She is post graduate in
Environmental science from Department of
Environmental Sciences of SPPU.
Currently she is pursuing PhD in
Environmental sciences titled as Eco
Friendly Management of Invasive Weeds
through their application in pest
control. Her core area of interests are
GIS and Remote sensing, Ornithology,
biodiversity and conservation of water.
She has been teaching Environmental
Studies in Modern College of Arts,
Commerce and Science, Shivajinagar as a
visiting faculty since two years. She is
a speaker of Board of Extra Mural
Studies, SPPU. |
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Email :
waghmare.kranti87@gmail.com |
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Ms. Smita Jambhali |
Title :
Studies on decentralized and site
specific phyto-treatment to the domestic
waste water from Sangli, Maharashtra.
Smita Vinay Jambhali has completed her
post – graduation and Master of
Philosophy in the subject Environmental
Sciences from Shivaji University and Goa
University respectively. She has been
qualified SET in Environmental Sciences
and also completed B.Ed. Currently she
is pursuing Ph.D.in Environmental
Sciences. Smita has over fourteen years
of experience of teaching in the field
of Environmental Studies. She has worked
with Department of Environmental
Sciences, Shivaji University, Kolhapur,
as a lecturer. From last thirteen years
she is working as lecturer and incharge
of Environmental Studies, in Deccan
Education Society,Pune’s, Willingdon
College, Sangli. Her core areas of
interest are Environmental Chemistry,
environmental instrumentation,
conservation of natural resources
including biodiversity, sustainable
development and eco-village. She has
contributed in Text-book of
Environmental Studies which is published
by Shivaji University, Kolhapur. She has
also worked as the member of BOS
sub-committee for Environmental Studies
in Shivaji University and in the review
committee of Balbharati, Pune, for the
changed text-book of Environmental
Education for XI-Std. She has delivered
numerous guest lectures on environmental
awareness. She is Executive member of
Society for Environment and Sustainable
Development, New Delhi and also Life
member of Vijnana Bharati. |
Email :
smitajambhali@gmail.com |
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Mr. Gaurang Gowande |
Title :
Molecular phylogeography, distribution
and thermal profiles of Calotes
versicolor and Draco dussumieri in
Peninsular India
Gaurang’s research focuses on the
systematics, molecular phylogenetics and
phylogeography, and thermal biology of
Indian reptiles. Currently, he is
working on the systematics and thermal
ecology of a few representatives of the
Dragon Lizards of India. Gaurang is also
a visiting faculty at the Department of
Biotechnology, Fergusson College, Pune,
where he teaches subjects related to
biodiversity at the Graduate and
Post-Graduate level. |
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Email :
gaurang.gowande@gmail.com |
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DST Women Scientist
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Monali Mhaskar |
Monali has
completed her graduation in Botany and
masters in biodiversity before assisting
on a ISRO-UoP project related to
‘Application of RS-GIS in Conservation
of medicinal plants’. She was also a
team member of national level project on
plant resources of Western Ghats
supported by DBT, India. Her keen
interests in learning about RS-GIS
techniques, helped her to secure a prize
at SCCS held at IISc, Bangalore. She was
also instrumental in designing modules
related to biodiversity studies. She
also possesses a working knowledge of
database management. Her research
interests include assessment of biotic
and abiotic drivers shaping species
interactions.
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Email :
monali.mhaskar@gmail.com |
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Project Assistant
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Priyanka Dange |
Priyanka has done
her Bachelor’s in Biotechnology and
Master’s in Biodiversity from Abasaheb
Garware College. Currently she is
working as a Project Assistant under Dr.
Dhanashree Paranjpe, Ramalingaswami
Fellow, on a research project titled as:
Impact of human vicinity on Indian
Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) populations in
terms of feeding habits, reproductive
behaviours, communication and
demographics and the impact of peafowl
on local economies in different
localities across India. The project is
funded by DBT, Govt. of India. Her
research interests are Ecology,
Evolution, Molecular Biology and
Genetics.
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Email :
dangepm3@gmail.com |
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Pooja Ghate |
Pooja Ghate
completed her Masters in Biodiversity.
She worked on Characterisation of seed
and fruit traits of wild woody plant
species from Amboli, Dist. Sindhudurg,
Northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra.
Currently she is working as a Project
Assistant on
project titled as ‘Biodiversity
assessment, conservation and awareness’.
She has keen interest in forest and seed
ecology, plants-animals interactions.
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Email :
poojaghate0287@gmail.com |
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