An Introduction to Ascidians.- Classification of Ascidians.- Ecology of Ascidians.- Association.- Commercial Importance.- Biopotentiality of Compounds of Ascidians.- Ascidians – Model Organisms.- Introduction to Indian Ascidians.- Inventory of Ascidians of Southern India.- Scope for Future Research in Ascidians.
Dr. H. Abdul Jaffar Ali is working as an Assistant Professor
in the Department of Biotechnology, Islamiah College (Autonomous), Vaniyambadi,
Tamilnadu, India which is very renowned rural based educational institute with
appreciable heritage. He has experience of 15 years of both teaching and
research. As a research scientist, he has published 30 research articles at
National and International level. He has contributed one chapter each in books
published by international publishers Taylor & Francis and Lambert. He has
guided more than 15 projects at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Currently he is doing “DNA barcoding of ascidians of India“ with the financial
support of Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology,
Government of India.
Dr.
M. Tamilselvi M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D., is working as Associate Professor of
Zoology in V. V. Vanniaperumal College for Women, Virudhunagar, Tamilnadu,
India. She has about 20 years of teaching experience of UG classes and
specialized in the field of Taxonomy, diversity, ecology and nutritional
aspects of marine ascidian / tunicate fauna. She has authored three books for
the benefit of student community as well as the Tamils’ community. She has
published a dozen of research articles in various journals of international
repute and presented the research work at national level Conferences. She has
successfully completed two Minor Research Projects entitled “Analysing the food
value of Ascidians” and “Feed formulation from exotic Ascidians Didemnum psammathodes and Herdmania pallida” financially supported
by University Grants Commission, Hyderabad and still marching in the same
field.
This book addresses the needs of professional and amateur taxonomists on the subject of ascidians in Asia. This is the first book of its kind and features color illustrations done by the authors in Asia. This book provides a brief overview of ascidians in addition to both the taxonomy and distribution of ascidians along India’s southern coast. It also opens a new arena for marine researchers in the field of ascidians in Asia. This book is the outcome of the authors’ 15 years of research experience in the field of ascidians, making it very helpful for researchers, coastal planners, port authorities and the proper management of coastal thermal plants and atomic power plants.