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WITH ME

Prof. Atanu Kumar Pati M.Sc., Ph.D., F.N.Sc. School of life Sciences, Pt.
Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, India mail me

Dr.Arunangshu Mukherjee M.Sc., Ph.D., HYDROGEOLOGIST Central ground Water Board Raipur, India mail me

Diptesh Chatterjee SITE OBSERVER Raipur, India mail me
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Dear Friends,
My concept regarding the caves was not much than a burrow or cavity existing somewhere in the wall of the mountain, when I was offered to work on a research project to study some physiological aspects of a cave fish with respect to its ambient ecosystem (cave). And thus, it was 1987 when I got the 1st. opportunity to visit and to understand a true natural subterranean cave.
During the course of my study I realized that a subterranean biome itself is sufficient to understand the every aspects of Life sciences with live evidences. Just for example, how a distinct type of ecosystem exert a physiological adaptations in the cavernicoles (cave organisms), resultant to their morphological modifications (eyeless, pigmentless etc.) and also behavioural divergences. In other words direct evidence of evolution.
In most of the cases, the cavernicoles succeed to gain a separate taxonomical status than its nearest (epigean) ancestors and become a rare species either exclusive for that particular cave or for the number of caves existing in that particular region. Caves are thus can be said a harbour of rare species.
In most of the countries the caves are focused as a unique tourist spot and it serve as a big source of revenue collection. Globally too attract the tourism various caves have been nicely decorated by colourful lights and also impart sound affects, which ultimately spoiled the complete ecosystem of the cave as well biodiversity of the same. In addition to it, in developing countries, for running cement factories limestone extractions are also seen to damage the caves.
By keeping all the above facts this site has been created by me to generate awareness among people for save caves and to provoke the biologists to take interest in research in this field cave-biology (biospeleology). While constructing this site the interest of a layman to a great cave-biologist have been kept in mind. 1st our home page is to know the subject. 2nd page is for Cave Discussion; it works as a Forum, the Registered Members of this section share views as well as interesting articles on the cave studies. 3rd section is Image gallery, it is the most popular section, as one can see and share here the images of caves from all over the world. The photographs of world level photographers have also shared the cave and cavernicoles images in this section. 4th section is Recent Researches, the researchers working on this field use to upload the abstracts of their recent Research contributions. 5th section is Newsletter, time-to-time we use to focus the News related to relevant conferences and the position (temp. / perm.) available with the Universities / Research organizations.
And now we are introducing for the 1st time in net services the Profiles of Eminent Researchers of the field. It is also wiki type the Researchers themselves will upload the information about themselves, their list of relevant publications, about ongoing relevant projects alongwith interested photographs. The persons interested in Research can directly contact them via this section of the site.
Hope the site will be helpful and serve as a complete package for the cave study.
-Regards Dr. Jayant Biswas
List of Publications: Biswas J. , Pradhan R.K. and Pati A.K.
(1990) Studies on burying behaviour in epigean and hypogean fish: an
example of behavioural divergence. Mem. Biospeleol. (France) 17,
33-41.
Biswas
J. Pati A.K., Pradhan R.K. (1990) Circadian and circannual rhythm in
air-gulping behaviour of a cave fish. J. Interdisc. Cycle Research (The
Netherlands) 21, 257-268.
Biswas J. Pati A.K., Pradhan R.K. and Kanoje
R.S. (1990) Comparative aspects of reproductive phase dependent
adjustments in behavioural rhythms in epigean and hypogean fish. Comp. Physiol.
Ecol. (India) 15, 134-139.
Biswas J. (1991) Annual modulation in diel
motor activity rhythm of a dusk active loach Nemacheilus evezardi (Day): a correlation between day
length and circadian parameters. Proc. Indian Nat. Sci. Acad. (India) B57,
339-936.
Biswas J. Kanoje
R.S. (1991) Seasonal and photoperiodic control of the activity and daily
exodus of a colony of a cave dwelling bat. J. Ravishankar University
(India) 3-4, 7-13
Biswas J. (1991) Metabolic efficiency and regulation of
body weight: a comparison between life in hypogean and epigean
ecosystems. Int. J. Speleol. (Rome) 20, 15-22.
Biswas J. (1992) Kotumsar Cave ecosystem: an interaction
between geophysical, chemical and biological characteristics. NSS
Bulletin (USA) 139, 7-10.
Biswas J. (1992) Influence
of epigean environmental stress on a subterranean cave ecosystem:
Kotumsar. Biome (India) 5, 39-43.
Biswas J. (1993) Constructive evolution:
phylogenetic age related visual sensibility in the hypogean fish of
Kotumsar Cave. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., (India) 62, 47-53.
Pradhan
R.K. & Biswas
J. (1994) The influence of light and dark schedule on the
air-gulping behaviour of a cave fish Nemacheilus evezardi (Day). Proc. Nat. Sci. (India) 64B(IV)
373-380.
Pradhan R.K. & Biswas J. (1994)
Towards regressive evolution: the periodic colour change behaviour of a
troglophilic fish Nemacheilus
evezardi (Day). Int. J. Speleol., 23, 3-4 , 191-201.
Biswas J.
Ramteke A. (2007) Timed-feeding synchronizes circadian rhythm in vertical
swimming activity in cave loach, Nemacheilus evezardi: Biol. Rhythm Res. (in press)
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Findings
of Dr. Biswas (related to cavestudy only): Understanding of
the organization of cavernicoles, in space and time, is one of the
fascinating areas in biology that falls in the domain of Biospeleology.
Study of physiological, metabolic and behavioural adjustments in tropical
cave organisms including the loach (fish), Nemacheilus evezardi that
inhabits the Kotumsar Cave, located on the Kanger Valley National Park,
Bastar, Chhattisgarh, India, is interesting.
Biswas has been studying the extent of divergence in the cave loach
as compared with its putative epigean ancestor living in the River
Kanger, flowing adjacent to the Kotumsar Cave.
Divergence: No schooling behaviour, negligible burying character,
Reduction of body size, reduction in the size of the eye, regression of the
pigment system, lower metabolic rate.
Adaptive behaviour: Acquisition of air-gulping behaviour and shows
definite rhythms in this behaviour.
In addition, Biswas has studied the chemical, physical & biological
characteristics of the Kotumsar Cave.
Biswas has studied the daily and seasonal exodus flying behaviour of
the cave bats, Hipposideros fulvus. In this species social synchronization
in the circadian rhythm of foraging activity is evident.
Work on Caves of Meghalaya:
Biswas has initiated studies to enumerate biodiversity in number of
caves located in the state of Meghalaya. He has been conducting
exploration of the caves of this region and campaigning for the conservation of
cave habitats of Meghalaya.
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