Position: Principal Scientist
Mobile No: 9447456311
Email: rajendraprasadvkm@gmail.com
Qualification: Ph.D. Botany, Title: The floristic, structural and functional analysis of Sacred Groves of Kerala, University of Kerala (1996). M.A. English Literature, University of Kerala (2002), MBA, IGNOU (2010).
Specialization : Floristic ecology, dry matter dynamism, edaphology, faunastic association and productivity of ecosystems through tradition management of bio resources.
Since 1991, engaged in research programmes in the field of ecology and physical edaphology. Studied the biochemical and physiological aspects of Adenanthera pavonina. Also studied the structural dynamism of various natural ecosystems of Western Ghats and sustainable utilization of the natural resources of the rural folks of Kerala. Attended two training programmes on application of Remote Sensing and Geo-Information System in Environmental Impact Assessment of water resources from CWRDM, Kozhikkode, in 2006. Published 15 scientific papers and one article as book-chapter entitled, Conserving Sacred Groves for Biodiversity Management. Authored many books in Malayalam language such as Chempodukalile Chedikal, Kavukal–Prakruthisamrashanathinu Pythrukathitte Kayoppu and Kallezhuthukal. Also wrote a good number of popular articles.
Projects
- Floristic Ecologic and Functional Dynamics of Selected Grasslands of Western Ghats.
- Ecology and Conservation of Freshwater Swamp Ecosystems of the Western Ghats – Kerala Region.
- Vegetative and Ecological Assessment of Lateritic Zones of North Kerala.
- Genetic Diversity Conservation and Population Study of Selected Notified Endangered Plant Species of the Western Ghats Region of Kerala.
- Environment Impact Assessment of Kozhiyilakuthu Mini Hydro-Electric Project.
Publications
- Rajendraprasad, M., Prathapan, S. L., Pandurangan, A. G. and Shaju, T. (2006). Memecyclon royenii Blume (Melastomataceae): A new record for India. Indian Forester 132: 229-232.
- Pushpangadan P, Krishnan PN & Rajendraprasad M (1998). The life form spectrum of sacred groves - a functional tool to analyze the vegetation. Tropical Ecology 39(2):211.
- M. Rajendraprasad, C.S. Gokul, T.S. Vilas and G. Thulasidas (2020). Impacts of Fragmentation on Vegetation and Conservation of Myristica Swamps of Western Ghats, India: Special Emphasis to Flagship Species Myristica magnifica Bedd. International Journal of Science and Research 9 (12):1002-1009.
- T. Shaju, M.P. Rijuraj, M. Rajendraprasad, A. Rasiya Beegam and M.K. Ratheesh Narayanan (2022). A New Species of Eriocaulon L. (Eriocaulaceae) from Lateritic Plateaus of Northern Kerala, India. Annals of Plant Sciences 11(02): 4820-4826.
- Devika S. Kumar, M. Rajendraprasad (2022). Role of biological characteristics in the success of invasive alien plant species in tropical ecosystems of Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala, India. Acta ecologica sinica (in press) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chnaes.2022.10.003
Research Scholar
Work: Studies on the Lateritic Flora and their Ecological Adaptive Significance in Northern Kerala, India.
Work: Studies on The Systematics and Phytogeographical Affinities of the Family Oxalidaceae of Kerala, India.
Work: The Invasion of Non-Native Plant Species in Ecology and Biodiversity of Different Ecosystems of Thiruvananthapuram District: A Quantitative Approach.
Work: Assessment of Floral Composition, Diversity and Mapping of Riparian Vegetation in Manimala River Basin, Kerala.