Major Areas of Research

 

Environmental & Molecular Endocrinology: Reproductive Biology, Iodine  Deficiency Disorders, Hormone profiles of Himalayan Inhabitants, Thyroid Physiology & Mechanism of action

Animal Behaviour & Molecular Physiology: Biological Clock, Migration, Chemoreception, Pheromones & Sexual Behaviour, Olfactory & Foraging Behaviour

Conservation Biology:  Himalayan Biodiversity, Human, Avian & Ichthyo-Genome Diversity, Aquatic diversity, Faunal Resource Management 

Bioinformatics: Data base on incidence of disease in Uttarakhand, Molecular Phylogeny

Fish Ecology & Taxonomy: Molecular Phylogeny, Evolution, Diversity and Population Dynamics of Cold Water Fishes with emphasis on Himalayan Mahseer & Snow Trout

Coldwater Fish Culture: Ornamental, game and food fishes

Community and Population Ecology: Aquatic communities (benthic macroinvertebrates & diatoms)

Freshwater Biology:  Lake, stream and river ecology, productivity & bioenergetics.

                               Research LandMarks

·            The myth that animals in tropics do not use day length to time seasonal phenomenon (viz., reproduction, molting) demolished.

·            Basic concepts in photoperiodism & hormone (thyroid) action challenged.

·            Radioimmunoassay standardized for thyroid hormones in animal sera first time in the country.

·            First data base on thyroid hormone profiles for management of Goitre & Iodine Deficiency Disorders in Himalaya–a health hazard in mountains.

·            Erstwhile circulating protein bound iodine (PBI) universally used in thyroid diagnosis first demonstrated to be an erroneous parameter.

·            First unequivocal evidence provided for the hormonal basis of bird migration.

·            A novel approach to study Himalayan biodiversity commenced integrating molecular, phenotypic (morphological, osteological), behavioral & ecological aspects.

·            First DNA finger prints of Himalayan fish species, registered with NCBI, USA (in collaboration with CCMB, Hyderabad).

·            Human Genome diversity and molecular basis of diseases (with CCMB).

·            Application of Bioinformatics Tools to distribution & evolution of Himalayan fauna, Human tribes, Incidence of diseases.

·            Role of pheromones in reproductive behaviour and physiology of fish has been evaluated for the first time in Indian Subcontinent.  Studies carried out include the isolation, identification, chemistry, release mechanism & mode of action of sex pheromones in fish.

·            Successful development of hatchery and stocking facilities for hillstream fishes including the Snow trout (Schizothorax richardsonii) and Himalayan Mahseer (Tor putitora).

·            Morpho-histological and histochemical basis of organogenesis from Pre to Post flexing stages in hillstream fishes have been revealed.

·            DNA isolation and sequencing of Glyptothorax spp. have been accomplished.

·            Strong knowledge base on the fishery biology, ecology and population dynamics, over a period of more than two decades, has been developed to assess the status of the Himalayan mahseer, a threatened fish species, to compliment conservation.

·            Based on evaluation of microhabitat characteristics of early life stage (0+ Year) of threatened Himalayan Mahseer, habitat suitability for its conservation recommended.

·            Inventorization of the aquatic biodiversity of Garhwal Himalaya, organisms of interest being benthic diatoms, macroinvertebrates and fish.

·            Community structure, productivity and distribution of macroinvertebrate benthos at watershed and basin scale revealed in the Himalayan region.