The subject of reproductive ecology is a thrust area identified by different funding agencies of the Government of India. But, it has not received much attention despite its importance in different fields of biology, especially conservation biology. India as a biodiversity center, offers a wide scope for exploring the subject of reproductive ecology. Since, it is a field-oriented subject, many dislike opting this as a research area. However, some biologists have taken great pains to do research the plant reproductive ecology in India. This information is sufficient to form the basis to continue work in this subject by the present and future worker as well. This book is an attempt to consolidate the available information on plant reproductive ecology in a coherent manner and also to examine the relationships between plants and animals at flower and fruit level for the perpetuation of both groups in the habitats where they occur. This information is very useful for both in situ and ex situ conservation approaches. The book is primarily intended for researchers in the faculties of botany, zoology, agriculture, entomology, forestry, forest management, horticulture, apiculture, biotechnology, and related areas. In recent years, some universities have introduced reproductive ecology as one of the optional subjects at undergraduate level and also as one of the core papers at post-graduate level. This book is first in its kind to provide available information on the reproductive ecology of Indian wild plants. The subject integrates various disciplines of biology and underlines the importance of molecular biology and chemistry to understand the evolutionary relationships between plants and animals in terms of mutualism, and structure and function of ecosystems.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Aluri Jacob Solomon Raju
Aluri Jacob Solomon Raju did M.Sc. Botany in 1983 and Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences in 1987 at Andhra University, Visakhapatnam. He did post-doctoral research at the University of Akron, Ohio, USA during 1989-1991. He was a Scientists' Pool Officer (CSIR, New Delhi) from 1991 to 1994. He joined as Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences, Andhra University in March 1994 and is now Associate Professor in the same department. He was the recipient of National Overseas Scholarship of Government of India, distinguished Achievement Award of the University of Akron, United States of America, Best Researcher Award of Andhra University, Best Research Paper Award and Loyola Environmental Award of Loyola College, Chennai, and Andhra Pradesh Scientist Award, Andhra Pradesh Council f Science and Technology, Government of Andhra Pradesh. He was the Visiting Professor of University of Colima, Mexico in 1996. He visited Canada, United Kingdom, Brazil, Paraguay, Rome, Italy. He published about 200 research papers in international and national Journals and presented papers at 40 National and 20 International Conferences held in India and abroad. He is an elected member of Sigma XI, USA and a member of 20 International and National Scientific Bodies. He guided 4 Ph.Ds, 3 M. Phils and several M.Sc. projects. Dr. Solomon Raju completed different Major Research Projects on Eastern Ghats funded by the DST, UGC, CSIR and Ministry of Environment and Forests. He is the Chief Editor of Journal of Advances in Pollen-Spore Research, Guest Editor of Journal of Palynology, Editor of Indian Bee Journal and Honorary Editor of Indian Journal of Botanical Research. He is also an expert referee of science journals like Current Science, Zoo's Print and Geobios. Further, he is also an expert member of DST and MOEF to evaluate major research projects for funding. He did quite impressive research work on the reproductive ecology of biodiesel plants, Jatropha curcas and Pongamia pinnata. He also conducted field research in the subject of Conservation Biology in this Indian Himalaya, Olympic Mountains, Colorado Rocky Mountains, Yosemite National Park, Yellowstone National Park in USA, and in tropical forests of Mexico. He is a resource person for All India Radio and Academic Staff Colleges in India. He published several papers for popularization of science in different dailies and other magazines. He also contributed chapters to different books on reproduction biology, apiculture and environmental sciences. He served as a Consultant for the CBD Programme of the FAO of United Nations in 2000. He is presently working on reproductive biology of mangrove plants with financial support from the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
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