Biodiversity and Climate Change Adaptation in Tropical Islands

Dr. Sivaperuman, M.Sc., D.B.T., Ph.D., works as Scientist-C in the Zoological Survey of India. He received his Master’s Degree in Wildlife Biology from Bharathidasan University, Tamil Nadu, and holds his doctorate in Ecology of Wetland Birds in the Vembanad-Kole Ramsar Site from (Kerala Forest Research Institute, Kerala), Forest Research Institute, Deemed University, Dehra Dun. He has worked in various areas of the country in a range of different ecosystems, including Kerala, Rajasthan, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He has published more than 140 research papers in national and international journals and newsletters. He has also participated and presented research papers in 30 national and international seminars and symposia. Dr. Velmurugan has more than 15 years of research experience and has been working in island ecosystems for the past seven years. He was involved in the Geosphere Biosphere Programme and National Carbon Project of Indian Space Research Organisation, and successfully completed land degradation management in coastal areas under the Global Environment Facility. His area of specialization includes GIS and remote sensing, biogeochemical cycles, impact of climate change on island agriculture, and providing weather based agro-advisories in collaboration with the India Meteorological Department. He has also guided several postgraduate diplomas, MTech and PhD students in his area of specialization. He has visited and worked in several labs of national and international status and published more than 50 research articles including in journals of international repute. Dr. Singh has more than 10 years of research experience and specializes in genetics and plant breeding. He has wide experience on plant genetic resources, characterization and its conservation, and breeding for abiotic stress tolerance. He has also worked in conservation and characterization of plant genetic resources of tribes of tropical islands. Dr. Singh has documented a number of wild and land pulses and has released several pulse crop varieties suitable for biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. He has published more than 20 peer-reviewed research papers on genetics and plant breeding. Dr. Jaisankar has eight years of research experience and specializes in biodiversity and agroforestry management, presently working on agro-forestry models for climate change adaptations and assessment of biodiversity of tropical forests for bio-prospecting. He has wide experience in biodiversity assessment and use of multipurpose tree species under tropical island conditions, and he has published more than 20 research articles in national and international journals.

I: PREAMBLE 1. The Nature and Characters of Tropical Islands 2. Tropical Islands: Ecosystem and Endemism

II: BIODIVERSITY OF TROPICAL ISLANDS 3. Diversity of Ethno-Medicinal Plants of Tropical Islands – With Special Reference to Andaman and Nicobar Islands 4. Biodiversity of Polynesian Islands: Distribution and Threat From Climate Change 5. Structure and Species Diversity of Mangrove Ecosystem 6. Coconut Biodiversity – Nature’s Gift to the Tropical Islands 7. Habitat Ecology and Diversity of Rocky Shore Fauna 8. Marine Ecosystems of Andaman and Nicobar Islands – Species Abundance and Distribution 9. Invasive Species in Freshwater Ecosystems – Threats to Ecosystem Services 10. Avian Diversity of Bay Island and Its Assessment Tools 11. Marine Fishery Resources and Species Diversity of Tropical Waters 12. Rice Genetic Resources in Tropical Islands

III. CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS ON TROPICAL ISLAND 13. Climate Change Projections and Addressing Intrinsic Uncertainties 14. Climate Resilient and Livelihood Security – Perspectives for Mauritius Island 15. Livestock and People – The Intimate Relation Under Threat 16. Shifting Equilibrium of Pest and Diseases in Agriculture 17. Uncertainties in Measuring Climate Change Impact on Marine Biodiversity 18. Biodiversity and Climate Change Impacts on the Lakshadweep Islands

IV. ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT 19. Biodiversity Conservation: Issues and Strategies for the Tropical Islands 20. Diversification of Island Agriculture – A Viable Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change 21. Land Shaping Methods for Climate Change Adaptation in Coastal and Island Region 22. Harnessing Genetic Resources in Field Crops for Developing Resilience to Climate Change 23. Coping with Climatic Uncertainties Through Improved Production Technologies in Tropical Island Conditions 24. Bioshield: An Answer to Climate Change Impact and Natural Calamities?

V. POLICY DECISIONS AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATIONS IN THE TROPICAL ISLANDS 25. Coastal Area Management: Biodiversity and Ecological Sustainability in Sri Lankan Perspective 26. Conservation of Coral Reef Environment: Perspectives for Tropical Islands 27. Marine Biodiversity – Strategies for Conservation, Management and Ecological Restoration 28. Agro-Meteorological Advisory Services for Informed Decision Making in India