“80 years of Academic excellence in Marine sciences”

Cochin University of Science and Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and

Technology Biochemistry
The Cochin University of Science and The Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and
Technology (CUSAT) was established in Biochemistry under the School of Marine Sciences
1971,with the specific purpose of “development
of higher education with particular emphasis on
has a unique national and international relevance in
our sojourn for exploring the oceans and its services First Announcement
post-graduate studies and research in applied to mankind. The Department has made seminal
science, technology, industry and commerce”. contributions in the field of monitoring and bio- March 6 -8, 2019
The University has strengthened its contacts prospecting of marine biodiversity and marine
and collaborative tie-ups with several other benthos, marine microbiology, marine ecology,
Universities and Institutions within India and fisheries (capture and culture), aquaculture (breeding
abroad and is in the path of growth as a center of finfish and shellfish, environmental toxicology and
for the generation of new knowledge in frontier Arctic biology. The dept. offers regular graduate (MSc.
areas of learning. The School of Marine in Marine Biology), MPhil. (Life sciences) and PhD.
Sciences of the Cochin University of Science programs in marine biology. The dept. have several
collaboration with national and international agencies
and Technology is the biggest of its kind among
the countries in Southeast Asia where in the core areas of research, of which marine benthic International Conference on Benthos
interdisciplinary courses and research are
offered in all branches of Marine Sciences. The
studies is a significant area supported by the Ministry
of Earth sciences, Govt. of India. So organizing the ICB 19
School of Marine Sciences is on the 80th year of “International Conference on Benthos – ICB-19” is
its establishment. a genuine effort of the Department to bring together all Theme:
the researchers, planners and others associated with Conserving Diversity and Productivity of Benthic systems
benthic studies on the 80th year of its establishment
Organisers
Date to be remembered Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry
 Registration will start on 1st November 2018 and closes on 15th January 2019. &
 Acceptance on the participation will be intimated by 30th January 2019. Late registration will be School of Marine Sciences
charged additional fee. Cochin University of Science and Technology
Kochi 682016, Kerala, India
Venue of the Conference
Kochi, the business capital of Kerala will be the venue of the In association with
“International Conference on Benthos (ICB-19)”. The conference
will be hoisted in the Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology
and Biochemistry, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University
of Science and Technology, Kochi, Kerala. There are many
national fishery institutes, university departments and other Zoological Survey of India UGC
research institutions in Kochi working on benthos and related
studies. Kochi is situated in Gods own country, KERALA
renowned for its varied water resources, the lakes, backwaters
and the coastal systems

For correspondence:

CONVENER ORGANISING SECRETARY

Dr. S. Bijoy Nandan, Professor and Head,
Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology &
Biochemistry, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin
University of Science and Technology, Kochi,
Kerala, India, 682016, Ph:91-484-3210, 91-
9446022880, Email:bijoynandan@yahoo.co.in ,
bijoynandan@cusat.ac.in
Dr. Priyaja P, Assistant Professor,,
Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology
& Biochemistry, School of Marine Sciences,
Cochin University of Science and Technology
Kochi, Kerala, India-682016, Ph:91-484- Venue: Seminar Complex, CUSAT Main Campus, Cochin-22
3214, 91-9447444882,
E-mail:priyaja59@gmail.com
For details log on to: http://icb19.cusat.ac.in
Background
Marine ecosystem encompassing over 70 % of the earth’s area,
provides the vital supplies of food, biodiversity; maintaining the trophic
structure and ecosystem services. In recent times, several extrinsic
and intrinsic factors ranging from anthropogenic to climatic factors are
affecting the biota, almost losing the critical resources transforming
them to isolated stressed habitats. In this context, the benthic zone
(bottom) is vital, in maintaining the productivity and recycling of
organic matter to the organisms. The organisms of benthic zone,
generally classified as macro, meio, micro and mega benthos (based
on size) are considered as significant regulators of the ocean food
webs, maintaining the benthic-pelagic energy transfer (coupling) in the
system, through the process of mineralization, remineralization and
bioturbation of organic matter to the ocean depths.
Since the last five decades, our knowledge on the ecology and
production processes in the benthic realm from the Indian ocean,
Atlantic, Pacific and the other extreme marine environments
(mangroves, submarine caves, Polar ecosystems, hypersaline areas,
hypoxic/anoxic environments, hydrothermal vents, cold seeps,
carcasses/sunken woods, deep-sea canyons, methane hydrate
zones, deep hypersaline anoxic basins [DHABs] and hadal zones)
have been phenomenal through various field surveys. Advanced
exploratory cruises and voyages, sampling methods, and remote
sensing techniques have all enhanced our understanding on the
benthic fauna and its bio-physical relationship in the ecosystems. The
morpho-taxonomy of species have also been crucial on our insight on
the benthic habitat through these periods. However, even with the
renewed knowledge in benthic science, there are still many areas of
concern on the overall health of the benthic realm and its biodiversity
status. The high seas are also areas which require special attention in
such studies. So, a concerted effort from scientists, academicians and
researchers are required for our deeper understanding and effective
management of the benthic zone of the marine environment. The
initiative of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (formerly Dept. of Ocean
development), Govt of India under the programme “Benthic
productivity of the seas around India” is relevant, when a major work
in benthic research in the country, was conducted from which baseline
data and publications on macro and meiobenthos were evolved from
the continental shelf and slope regions up to 1000m. The Department
of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, School of Marine
Sciences has also played an active role in the International Indian
Ocean expeditions. Therefore under these circumstances, the
proposed “International conference on Benthos - ICB-19” will be
an ideal platform to discuss the future of benthic studies and research
across the marine ecosystems especially in the changing climate
scenarios on a global scale.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Prof. David Checkley, Emeritus, Scripps Institution of
Oceanography, USA
Prof. Lisa A Levin, Professor, Integrative Oceanography
Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, USA
Prof. Graham J.Oliver, Honorary Research Fellow
National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, UK
Dr. A.V. Raman, Former Professor, Marine Biology
Laboratory, Andhra University.
Dr.Baban Ingole, Former Chief Scientist, CSIR-National
Institute of Oceanography, Goa, India
Dr.Z.A.Ansari, Former Chief Scientist, CSIR-National
Institute of Oceanography, Goa, India
Dr. C.Annapurna, Former Professor of Zoology, Andhra
University
Dr.R.Damodaran, Former Professor, Cochin University of
Science and Technnology
Dr. Kailash Chandra, Director, ZSI
NATIONAL-INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE
Prof. Lisa A Levin, Professor, Scripps Institution of
Oceanography
Prof. Graham P. Oliver, Honorary Research Fellow
National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, UK
Dr. Madhavan Nair Rajeevan, Secretary, MoES,
Govt. of India
Prof. Peter N.G, Professor, Department of
Biological Science, National University of Singapore
Dr. P.K Abdul Azis, Former Professor & Former
Vice-Chancellor of CUSAT & AMU
Dr.T. Balasubramaniam, Former Director, Faculty
of marine Sciences, Annamalai University
Dr. C. Raghunathan, Joint Director, ZSI
Dr. M. Srinivasan, Professor, Director & Dean, CAS
in Marine Biology, Annamalai University
Dr. K.K.C. Nair, Former Scientist-in-Charge,
Regional Centre, NIO, Kochi
Dr. A. Ramachandran, Vice Chancellor, KUFOS
Prof. P. Natarajan, Department of Biology,
Hawassa University
Dr. M. Sudhakar, Director, CMLRE
Dr. A. Gopalakrishnan, Director, CMFRI
Shri A. K. Choudhury, Director i/c, CIFNET
Dr. T. Pankajakshan, Chief Scientist, Regional
centre, NIO, Kochi
Prof. Ruma Pal, Professor, Department of Botany,
Calcutta University
Dr. Ravishankar C.N, Director, CIFT, Kochi
Dr. A. Biju Kumar, Professor & Head, Department
of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, University of
Kerala
Dr. M. Harikrishnan, Director & Professor, SIF,
CUSAT
ORGANISING COMMITTEE
Patrons:
Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of CUSAT
Hon’ble Pro Vice Chancellor of CUSAT
Convener: Dr. S. Bijoy Nandan, Professor and
Head, Department of Marine Biology,
Microbiology & Biochemistry, CUSAT.
Organising Secretary: Dr. Priyaja P, Assistant
Professor, Department of Marine Biology,
Microbiology & Biochemistry, CUSAT.
Members:
Dr. B. Meena Kumari, Chairperson, NBA
Dr.V.N. Sanjeevan, Former Director, CMLRE
Dr. N.G.K Pillai , Former Director, CMFRI
Dr.Abdul Jaleel K.U, Scientist, NIO-RC, Kochi
Dr.R.Nigam, Former Chief Scientist, NIO, Goa
Dr.N.V. Subha Rao, Former Chief Scientist, ZSI
Dr.K. Sunil Kumar Mohamed, CMFRI, Kochi
Dr. S.Ajmal Khan, Former Professor, CAS in Marine
Biology, Annamalai University
Dr.P.S.Layla, Former Professor, CAS in Marine
Biology, Annamalai University
Dr.P.Murugasen, Asst. Professor, CAS in Marine
Biology, Annamalai University
Dr. T.Ganesh, Asst .Professor, Dept. of Ocean
Studies &Marine Biology, Pondicherry University
Dr.K.A.Jayaraj , Asst.Professor, Dept. of Ocean
Studies &Marine Biology, Pondicherry University
Dr.P.M Mohan, Professor, Dept. of Ocean Studies
&Marine Biology, Pondicherry University
Dr.Harikrishnan K , Scientist E-I, RGCB
Dr.E.V Ramasamy, Professor & HOD, School of
Environmental Sciences, M.G.University
Dr.Bineesh K. K, Scientist-D, ZSI
Dr.Aneykutty Joseph, Director, School of Marine
Sciences, CUSAT
Dr.Rosamma Philip, Professor, DMMB, CUSAT
Dr. A.A Mohamed Hatha, Professor, DMMB, CUSAT
Prof.C.K.Radhakrishnan, Emer.Professor,DMMB,
CUSAT
Dr.K.B.Padmakumar, Asst.Professor, DMMB,CUSAT
Dr. Swapna P Antony, Asst.Professor, DMMB,CUSAT
Dr. I.S. Bright Singh, Emer.Professor, NCAAH,CUSAT
Dr.Valsamma Joseph, Director, NCAAH, CUSAT
Dr.N.Chandramohana Kumar, UGC Emer. Professor,
Department of Chemical Oceanography, CUSAT
Dr Smita C.K, Post Doctoral Fellow, DMMB, CUSAT
Jayachandran. P. R,Research Scholar, DMMB,CUSAT
Jima M, Research Scholar, DMMB, CUSAT
Krishna Priya P.P, Research Scholar, DMMB, CUSAT
Ashwathy. N.K, Research Scholar, DMMB, CUSAT
Neethu. K.V, Research Scholar, DMMB, CUSAT
Hari Praved P, Research Fellow, DMMB, CUSAT
The Conference
The theme of the conference shall be “Conserving Diversity and Productivity of
Benthic systems”. The conference will be held from 6 -8 March 2019. There will be
parallel technical sessions, a special symposium, a poster session, and post forum
cultural programmes.

Technical Sessions:

1. Benthic ecology and diversity

2. Benthic Productivity, Trophic transfer and Energy flow
3. Phylogenetic studies: Morphology and Molecular Analysis
4. Deep-sea Benthic Fauna and fisheries
5. Benthos from Polar Region
6. Bioprospecting of Benthos and Applications
7. Impact of Pollution on Benthos
8. Ecosystem Services of Benthos and Livelihood Measures
9. Benthic microbiology

Oral Presentations Poster Presentations

Technical sessions will cover the thematic
areas listed and will run concurrently.
Selected papers will be allocated slots for
presentations. Detailed instructions will be
available for authors on abstract
preparation and submission in the website
as well as in the second announcement.
Best papers will be awarded.
For details log on to: http://icb19.cusat.ac.in
Authors are encouraged to present their papers in
equally important poster sessions which will be open
for all thematic areas. Detailed instructions on
preparation of the posters will be available to
intending authors. Best papers will be awarded.
For details log on to: http://icb19.cusat.ac.in

Abstract and Full Paper Submission

15th January 2019 is the deadline for the submission of abstracts. Abstracts can be submitted online
or by e- mail or post to the Convener /Organizing Secretary of the conference. On acceptance of the
abstracts, full papers are to be submitted in the journal format of Regional Studies in Marine Science
(Elsevier) on or before 10th February, 2019 for publishing as conference proceedings or in a suitable
Journal.

Special Symposium Souvenir

There will be a special symposium on A souvenir will be published commemorating the 80
“Indian Ocean with special reference to years of excellence in Marine Science, CUSAT
International Indian Ocean Expedition incorporating the theme of the conference of ICB-19.
(IIOE)”

Participant’s fee (Early Bird Fee ):

Scientists, faculties and Sr. Researchers: Rs. 3500
Research scholars: Rs. 1000
Students: Rs. 250
International participants: USD 200

Travel and Accomodation

The organizers of the ICB-19 will not provide any financial support for the travel or participation in
the conference. All travel and accommodation arrangements would be taken care by the committee
of the conference. International participants for visitor visa can contact organizing committee for
assistance.
Registration fee should be sent as Bank Cheque, D.D or by wire transfer
payable to Convener/ Organising secretary, International Conference On
Benthos, ICB-19 at State Bank of India, Broadway Branch, Ernakulum-682031 ,
AC.No: 38130130031, IFSC code:SBIN0070143