India has 7,500 km of coastline with diverse habitats and rich biota. Coastal ecosystems, unfortunately, are experiencing wide range of pressures due to siltation, eutrophication, coastal development, aquaculture and climate change. Those species that adapt to these pressures will expand their living boundaries while others may fade away. Accordingly, the study of coastal biodiversity is of great concern globally and constitutes an important element of global change research. Gujarat has 1,600 km of coastline, reportedly with rich diversity of seaweeds. Previously published accounts on seaweed biodiversity were mainly in the form of checklists, the earliest among these being the checklist of Krishnamurthy and Joshi prepared in the early 1970s. The more recent checklists are based almost entirely on secondary information. The present book entitled Seaweeds of India – The Diversity and Distribution of Seaweeds of Gujarat Coast is a timely publication based wholly on primary data. Data were collected through extensive and systematic ? eld studies conducted by the authors during different seasons over a three year period. The authors collected nearly 200 species of seaweeds belonging to 100 genera of Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta and Rhodophyta. Twenty-four of the species are new to Gujarat coast and three are new to Indian waters. The book contains high-quality images of the different species in their existing habitats. Brief taxonomical descriptions, together with information on ecology, distribution, seasonality and abundance, are covered for each of the species.

India has 7,500 km of coastline with diverse habitats and rich biota. Coastal ecosystems, unfortunately, are experiencing wide range of pressures due to siltation, eutrophication, coastal development, aquaculture and climate change. Those species that adapt to these pressures will expand their living boundaries while others may fade away. Accordingly, the study of coastal biodiversity is of great concern globally and constitutes an important element of global change research. Gujarat has 1,600 km of coastline, reportedly with rich diversity of seaweeds. Previously published accounts on seaweed biodiversity were mainly in the form of checklists, the earliest among these being the checklist of Krishnamurthy and Joshi prepared in the early 1970s. The more recent checklists are based almost entirely on secondary information. The present book entitled Seaweeds of India – The Diversity and Distribution of Seaweeds of Gujarat Coast is a timely publication based wholly on primary data. Data were collected through extensive and systematic ? eld studies conducted by the authors during different seasons over a three year period. The authors collected nearly 200 species of seaweeds belonging to 100 genera of Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta and Rhodophyta. Twenty-four of the species are new to Gujarat coast and three are new to Indian waters. The book contains high-quality images of the different species in their existing habitats. Brief taxonomical descriptions, together with information on ecology, distribution, seasonality and abundance, are covered for each of the species.

India has a coastline of more than 7000 km and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) over 2 million km2. A total of 770 species of seaweeds have been reported from different parts of the Indian coasts which includes 184 species of green, 166 species of brown and 420 species of red (Sahoo et al., 2001). Unlike the East Asian countries such as Japan, China, Korea, etc., India does not have a long history of using seaweeds as food and for various other purposes. However, in recent years a lot of interest has been generated by the industries, academia and researchers in the field of seaweeds research and utilization. One of the most difficult jobs in this area is the identification of various species. This book deals with identification of some of the common seaweeds of the Indian coast. Only the most suitable specimens are described and illustrated with colour photographs. Most of the photographs were taken in the natural habitat, but in some cases herbarium specimens have been used. The work is the compilation of the author's studies of more than two decades. Common Seaweeds of India will be useful to teachers, researchers, students, industries and many others in identifying the seaweeds.

Champions seaweed as a staple food while simultaneously explaining its biology, ecology, cultural history, and gastronomy.

More than 70% of the earth's surface is covered by water, making it an ideal and abundant resource for studying species diversity, faunal communities, and ecosystems. India's massive coastline (5,044 miles) means it plays a major role in housing these faunal communities. Of the 32 animal phyla, 15 are represented in India's marine ecosystem, covering more than 15,000 species. Marine and coastal ecosystems of India provide supporting services in the form of wide range of habitats. Major ecosystems such as estuaries, mangroves, coral reefs, lagoons, seaweeds and sea grasses serve as nurseries for both inshore and offshore fishes and others, many of which are supposed to be commercially exploited. Marine Faunal Diversity in India describes different marine faunal group ranges from sponges, corals, mollusks, crabs, fishes, reptiles, birds, marine mammals, mangrove fauna and tsunami impact on marine faunal diversity. The chapters, written by reputed experts in their respective fields, illustrate diversity and distribution of marine faunal communities. Key aspects of the ecology and conservation of this important ecosystem are also discussed. Marine Faunal Diversity in India provides marine biologists and related researchers with access to the latest research and field studies from this major region. - Provides the latest field research on marine faunal diversity throughout the vast and species-rich Indian region - Brings together expertise from top marine biology researchers in the country - Covers a diverse array of aquatic environments, including coastal and island areas - Discusses conservation ecology of marine faunal groups

Carrageenan is a gelling agent extracted from red seaweeds and it has multiple applications in the food processing and other industries. Increasing demand for carrageenan has led to rapid expansion of carrageenan seaweed (primarily Kappaphycus and Eucheuma) farming in tropical areas. This expansion is expected to continue, but many issues need to be addressed to enable the sector to develop its full potential in contributing towards sustainable livelihoods, human development and social well-being. Including six country case studies and a global synthesis, this document provides a comprehensive and balanced assessment of the economic, social and governance dimensions of carrageenan seaweed farming. Information and insights provided by this document should facilitate evidence-based decision-makings in both the public and private sectors.

Seaweed is used in many countries for very different purposes - directly as food, especially in sushi, as a source of phycocolloids, extraction of compounds with antiviral, antibacterial or antitumor activity and as biofertilizers. About four million tons of seaweed are harvested annually worldwide. Of the various species known, less than 20 accoun

BIOPROSPECTING OF PLANT BIODIVERSITY FOR INDUSTRIAL MOLECULES A comprehensive collection of recent translational research on bioresource utilization and ecological sustainability Bioprospecting of Plant Biodiversity for Industrial Molecules provides an up-to-date overview of the ongoing search for biodiverse organic compounds for use in pharmaceuticals, bioceuticals, agriculture, and other commercial applications. Bringing together work from a panel of international contributors, this comprehensive monograph covers natural compounds of plants, endophyte enzymes and their applications in industry, plant bioprospecting in cosmetics, marine bioprospecting of seaweeds, and more. Providing global perspectives on bioprospecting of plant biodiversity, the authors present research on enzymes, mineral micro-nutrients, biopesticides, algal biomass, and other bioactive molecules. In-depth chapters assess the health impacts and ecological sustainability of the various biomolecules and identify existing and possible applications ranging from ecological restoration to production of essential oils and cosmetics. Other topics include, bio-energy crops as alternative fuel resources, the role of plants in phytoremediation of industrial waste, and the industrial applications of endophyte enzymes. This comprehensive resource: Includes a through introduction to plant biodiversity and bioprospecting Will further the knowledge of application of different plants and improve research investigation techniques. Summarizes novel approaches for researchers in food science, microbiology, biochemistry, and biotechnology Bioprospecting of Plant Biodiversity for Industrial Molecules is an indispensable compendium of biological research for scientists, researchers, graduate and postgraduate students, and academics in the areas of microbiology, food biotechnology, industrial microbiology, plant biotechnology, and microbial biotechnology.

The term ‘seaweed’ represents an assemblage of a diverse group of photosynthetic aquatic plants that are exceptionally unique in their form, function, structure, and biochemical composition. In Far East Asian countries, seaweeds are popularly utilised in human food preparations, in addition to being used as a source of raw material for the extraction of industrially important phycocolloids and agro-based products. More recently, there has been growing interest in the application of seaweed ingredients in beauty and novelty food products, nutraceuticals, bioplastics, and beverages, among others, as well as its potential as a source for biofuels Seaweed, though it is a primitive plant, has complex morphological structure, meaning species-level identification of an individual seaweed is a difficult task. This volume describes the identification characteristics of 256 seaweed species collected from the south-east coast of India; comprising 71 species of green algae (chlorophyceae), 46 species of brown algae (phaeophyceae) and 139 species of red algae (rhodophyceae). Key taxonomic characteristics detailed here allow the confirmation of identification of different kinds of seaweed. As such, the book forms an excellent field guide for beginners in seaweed research, marine botanists, students, researchers, divers, and anyone who has interest in knowing more about seaweeds.