Dr. Letha P. Cheriyan

RESEARCH CONTRIBUTIONS

Field of specialization: Riverine Ecosystem and Molecular Taxonomy of Fishes.

Ph.D. Title: A molecular approach to the study of fish diversity of Meenachil River, Kerala

Paper Publications:

1. A Pilot Study on The Population Genetic Structure of The Selected Fish Species from Meenachil River, India. Genetics of Aquatic Organisms (GenAqua) genaqua.org/ GA543 https://doi.org/10.4194/GA543
2. Post-Flood Changes in the Fish Fauna of Meenachil River, Kerala, South India. Journal of Aquatic Biology & Fisheries: ISSN 2321-340X Volume 8 | S | 2020
3. Migratory Fishes of Meenachil River, Southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India: Present Status, Threats and Conservation Strategies. Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 2022, Vol. 10, No. 12, 754-761. http://pubs.sciepub.com/aees/10/12/8 Published by Science and Education Publishing DOI:10.12691/aees-10-12-8
4. Fish Assemblage Pattern in Relation to Physico-Chemical Parameters of the Meenachil River, Southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India. Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences. 2022, 10(11), 691-701. Available online at: sciepub.com/ Published by Science and Education Publishing DOI: 10.12691/aees-10-11-5
5. Geographic Information System-based Analysis of Fish Diversity Trends Along the Longitudinal Gradient of a Tropical River, Meenachil of Southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India. Current World Environment. An International Research Journal of Environmental Science. https://www.cwejournal.org/ Volume 18 Issue 1.
6. Small-holder Fish Farming in the Upper Kuttanad and Brackish Water Villages of Alappuzha District, Kerala, India. Uttar Pradesh Journal of Zoology Volume 45, Issue 8, Page 198-210, 2024; Article no.UPJOZ.3374 ISSN: 0256-971X (P). https://prh.mbimph.com/review-history/3374
7. Qualitative Risk Assessment of Microbial Indicators in the Lower Reaches of Meenachil River, Kerala, India. Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 2023, Vol. 11, No. 1, 8-14. sciepub.com/ Published by Science and Education Publishing DOI:10.12691/aees-11-1-2
8. Factors affecting duck mortality in smallholder households of upper Kuttanadu villages Niranam and Kadapra of Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, India. Environment and Ecology.. ISSN 0970-0420. environmentandecology.com/  Volume 41(2A): 1061-1065, April- June 2023.
9. Fish community dynamics of the downstream estuarine zone of Meenachil River,       Southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India. Advances in life science research | Volume 1 Issue 2 | 2022.
10. An Assessment of Water Quality Parameters and Fish Diversity of Three Selected Backwater Tourism Stations of the Ramsar Site, Vemband Lake, Kerala South India. Science and Society. Sci& Soc. 19(2) pp. 81-92, 2021 ISSN 0973-0206.
11. Studies on the morphometric features and abundance pattern of the catfish, Mystus gulio (Hamilton Buchanan,1822) from the estuarine zone of Meenachil River, Kerala. Science and Society.Sci. & Soc. 20(1) 15-26, 2022 ISSN 0973-0206
12. Comparative Biochemical Analysis of the Protein and Carbohydrate Content of Ten Locally Available Marine and Freshwater Fish Species of Kerala. Science and Society. Sci& Soc. 19(1) pp. 5-14, 2021 ISSN 0973-0206
13. Unique fishing methods in Meenachil River During the South-West Monsoon, Kerala, South India. Science and Society. Sci& Soc. 17(2) pp-93-102,2019 ISSN 0973-0206
14. Liver Cancer Incidence Trends In Tiruvalla, Pathanamthitta District, Kerala: Based On Pushpagiri Medical College Hospital Cancer Registry. Quest Journals Journal of Medical and Dental Science Research Volume 10~ Issue 1 (2023) pp: 19-25 ISSN(Online): 2394-076X ISSN (Print):2394-0751 questjournals.org.
15. Present Scenario of Traditional Duck Farming With Special Reference To The Upper Kuttanad Villages Niranam And Kadapra Of Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, India. Journal of Research in Agriculture and Animal Science Volume 10 ~ Issue 1 (2023) pp: 10-16 ISSN(Online): 2321-9459 questjournals.org.
16. Nest Site Preference of Lonchura striata acuticauda, in Semi Urban Areas of Kollam District, Kerala, India: A Case Study. Uttar Pradesh Journal of Zoology Volume 45, Issue 12, Page 289-301, 2024; Article no.UPJOZ.3544 ISSN: 0256-971X(P). https://prh.mbimph.com/review-history/3544.
17. Nest Architecture of Human Associated Passerine Finches, Lonchura striata acuticauda and Pycnonotus jocosus in Urbanizing Villages of Kerala, India. ISSN 0971 – 765 Ecology, Environment and Conservation ISSN 0971 – 765 X

Research Proceedings

1. Cheriyan 2015. (Riverine barcoding: a proposed DNA barcoding study on the freshwater fish species of Meenachil River of Kerala, India.) Genome,2015,58(5): 163 – 303, 10.1139/gen – 2015 – 0087
2. Additional Insights into the Fish Community Dynamics of the Downstream Estuarine Zone of Meenachil River, Kerala, India- presented at the Annual National Conference on Sustainable Ecosystems, Aquaculture, Fisheries and Fisher folk (ANCOSEAFF 2022) organized by Dept. of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, University of Kerala, India held on 28-29^th January 2022 in The Book of Abstracts (ANCOSEAFF 2022) POPULATION DYNAMICS AND FISHERY INFORMATICS – PDFI 02 Additional Insights into the Fish Community Dynamics of the Downstream Estuarine Zone of Meenachil River, Kerala, India Letha P. Cheriyan and Manu Oommen pg45.

Paper Presentation (International and National Conferences)

1. Riverine barcoding: a proposed DNA barcoding study on the freshwater fish species of Meenachil River of Kerala, India in the 6^TH INTERNATIONAL BARCODE OF LIFE CONFERENCE, held at the University of Guelph, CANADA from Aug 18-21, 2015.Organised by INTERNATIONAL BARCODE OF LIFE (iBOL) CANADA

With Paul Herbert – Father of DNA Barcoding

2. Post-Flood Changes in the Fish Fauna of Meenachil River, Kerala, South India-paper presented in the International Conference on RIVERS FOR FUTURE (RFF 2020) organised by Dept of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, University of Kerala, India in association with Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Action(CISSA), Ozhukanam puzhakal and WWF-India Kerala State Office held on 05- 07^th February 2020
3. Additional Insights into the Fish Community Dynamics of the Downstream Estuarine Zone of Meenachil River, Kerala, India– presented in the Annual National Conference on Sustainable Ecosystems, Aquaculture, Fisheries and Fisherfolk (ANCOSEAFF 2022) organised by Dept of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, University of Kerala, India held on 28-29^th January 2022

Research Projects Completed

1. UGC Minor Research Project: No.F.: MRP/12t Plan/ 14 – 15/ KLMG035 dated 10^th December 2014

Title: Molecular Taxonomy of the Fishes Of Meenachil River, Kerala

2. KSCSTE funded student project: 463/SPS63/2018/KSCSTE

Title: Microbial indicator of antibiotic resistance in lower reaches of Meenachil river receiving hospital waste drainage”

Invited Lecture (National)

‘Diversity and Conservation issues of freshwater fishes in Meenachil River, Kerala’ in the National Seminar on Advanced Development in Biological Sciences organized by the Research Department of Zoology, Government College, Kasaragod on 23^rd and 24^th November 2018.

International Documentation – Biodiversity Conservation  

Reference DNA databases of the freshwater fish of Meenachil River, submitted have been accepted by GenBank Canada, DNA Data Bank of Japan (DDJB), ENA in Europe

Book Publication & Release at Sharjah International Book Fair 2023

Meenachil River of Western Ghats It’s fish fauna & Conservation Issues – Letha P Cheriyan ISBN 93-93397-67-6 Kairali Books.

RELEASED IN SHARJAH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR -NOVEMBER 2023

INVOLVEMENT IN COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY-RELATED ACTIVITIES

UNIVERSITY ACTIVITIES

• Mahatma Gandhi University
• Syllabus and Examination
  • Mahatma Gandhi University PG Board Member.
  • Research Guide
  • Mahatma Gandhi University 6^th semester Zoology Theory Examination Chairman.
  • FYUGP; Four Year Under Graduate Programme Syllabus Preparation Committee Member.
  • MG University Question Bank setting Coordinator for 4^th SEM MSc.
  • Kerala University Question Bank setting.
  • Deputy Chairman of UG Exams
  • Additional, Chief Examiner and Expert Evaluator of University examinations.
  • External Examiner of UG and PG practicals.
  • Mahatma Gandhi University Youth Festival 2022 Stage Manager.

COLLEGE ACTIVITIES @ MAR THOMA COLLEGE, TIRUVALLA

• Teaching and Learning Responsibilities
  1. Direct Teaching (Lectures, Tutorials, Practical, Project supervision, Fieldwork)
  2. Examination responsibilities (both internal and external – invigilation and evaluation)
  3. Class in charge and mentor.

• Administrative Responsibilities (College)
  1. Principal-In-Charge in the absence of the principal
  2. Mar Thoma College Sapthathy Program Convener (2021)
  3. Head of the Department of Zoology (2015-2018)
     • Managed Nonacademic events and Academics of 2015-2018
     • Program Convener of the Golden Jubilee Events of the Department.

1. ZOOFEST 2017: Convener of inter-collegiate ZOOFEST with different competitions on the theme Man and Environment, for students from ten different colleges of Pathanamthitta zone in association with the ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF KERALA.
   
2. ZOOEX 2018: Public Exhibition themed “Conservation of water and life”.

3. ERUDITE LECTURE

• Member of different administrative committees of the college
  • Discipline Committee
  • IQAC
  • Election Committee (2022-23)
  • Community Extension Program Convener
  • Waste Management Committee member
  • Organic Farming Committee
  • Medical Club Convener
  • Best Arts Convener
  • Literary Club
  • Staff Editor of College Magazine “CHIRAKUKAL” 2019

Special Responsibilities :

• Flood relief camp officer Eraviperoor Muringasaeril camp 2018.
• Kerala Legislative Assembly Election 2021- Counting Supervisor at St Thomas College, Ranni.
• Co-convener of PG student’s interactive session at 29th Kerala Science Congress (28-30th Jan 2017)
• Co-Convener of the Inter-University Refresher Program in Life Science from 19 July – 08 August 2013, organized by UGC- Academic Staff College, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram
• Trained students for NAAC accreditation, Arts and Cultural Program –Convener of ‘KALANJALI 2019’
• Organising team – Drama Festival 2019
• Committee member of M.G. Soman Foundation Intercollegiate Nadaka Kalari 2023

COMMUNITY EXTENSION WORKS

• Convener of the community extension project 2015-17. Trained students for socio-ecological surveys among local colony residents of Kuttapuzha Attumal Colony residing at the banks of Kuttapuzha Thodu. The study included health surveys (communicable and non-communicable diseases), water quality – microbiological analysis, and ecological issues.

Action plan prepared and submitted to the state’s ‘HARITHA KERALAM MISSION-2016” for the restoration of Kuttapuzha Thodu and the improvement of livelihood of the Attumal colony people residing at the banks.

• Organized public interactive session for the coastal fishermen community (fishermen parents of students) making them understand the weather forecasts and disaster warnings given by satellite technology.
• Convener of the medical club. Organised free medical camp in association with Believer’s Medical College for the college and local community, made available the medical insurance scheme of the Believers Medical College for the needy students and their family members.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION & AWARENESS PROGRAMS

1. Conducted an awareness class about conserving the wetlands of Tiruvalla for Municipal Councillors on the Wetlands Conservation Program organized by Thiruvalla Municipality on World Wetland Day (March 9, 2022)
2. Organised the program, ‘Maram Valaratte, Oppam Njaanum’ on World Environment Day of 2015. Planted 10 saplings of Biologically unique trees and is maintained to date.
3. Conducted an awareness class on River Conservation for Erattupetta Municipality Councillors, Kudumbasree workers, and school students in the 2 days training program on Meenachilar Punarjani 12th and 13th Jan 2019
4. Convener of ‘Save Pamba, Save Vembanadu’ Seminar in association with CWRDM and Pamba River Basin Authority on 12th November 2016, held in Marthoma College Thiruvalla.
5. Convener of ‘NADIVANDANAM’ with the theme ‘Conservation of Rivers’ in association with Malayala Manorama
6. Written and composed environmental conservation nature songs and trained students for the University festival.
7. Nature Camp Convenor- Periyar Tiger Reserve,

 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER OF AIACHE (All India Association of Christian Higher Education )

 MEMBERSHIP IN ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANISATIONS

1. BNHS Bombay Natural History Society of India, Membership No: 0-71310
2. Meenachil, Meenantharn Kodoorar River Relinking Project
3. Meenachil Punarjani
4. Pala Saphalam Plus
5. South Asian Network of Dams and Rivers Portal (SANDRP)

INVITED LECTURES

 ARTS AND CULTURAL INTERESTS

1. Manorama Music Release: Cultural song and Light Music
2. Christian devotional musical album “Kaakumkarangal”. Music composition and lyrics by Letha P Cheriyan. Playback singers Venugopal, Sujatha, Madhu Balakrishnan, and Amritha Suresh.

ARTICLES IN NEWSPAPER

Manorama Sunday supplement