Research Projects

Penaeid shrimps form an important constituent of estuarine fisheries. As they are migratory in nature, estuarine conditions impact their recruitment and stock. Estuaries are also hotspots of anthropogenic activities, and regions influenced by monsoons such as the one from Goa, India, also experiences vagaries of monsoonal cycles. In this context, conservational strategies need to take a careful look at the spatial and temporal variations in the diversity. Such an evaluation is important from the perspective of the development of conservation strategies. In this effort, a metagenomic approach (environmental DNA - eDNA) will be used for understanding the spatio- temporal variations in the diversity of penaeid shrimps from a tropical monsoon influenced estuary located along the west coast of India. Insights gained will also serve in delineating the impacts of anthropogenic influences and develop appropriate conservation strategy.