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Karthikeyan Vasudevan

Karthikeyan Vasudevan

Karthikeyan Vasudevan

Scientist-G
Ecology and Conservation of Endangered Species
+91-040-24006421
karthik[at]ccmb[dot]res[dot]in

Research Interests

  • Disease ecology – understanding dynamics of chytridiomycosis in amphibian populations
  • Conservation ecology – studying reproductive ecology of endangered species; evaluating human-wildlife conflict
  • Toxinology of venoms – understanding envenomation in humans by snakes and address human-snake conflict
Selected Publications

Bletz, M C, Gratwicke B, Belasen A, Catenazzi A, Duffus ALJ, Lampo M, Olson D, Vasudevan, K. 2024. Chapter 6. Infectious diseases: Advances and challenges in addressing emerging pathogens. Pages 148 176, In. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2024). The Amphibian Conservation Action Plan: A status review and roadmap for global amphibian conservation. Wern, S., Borzée A., Marcec-Greaves, R., Angulo, A. (Eds.). IUCN SSC Occasional Paper, No 57. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. ISBN: 978-2-8317-2279-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2305/QWVH2717

Singh R.K, AjjiM, J., Lang, J.W., Katakam, H., Ramesh, H., Vasudevan, K,. 2023. Population genetics of gharial Gavialis gangeticus in the Chambal River, India, using novel polymorphic microsatellite markers. Endangered Species Research. Vol. 53: 127 138, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr01297

Thakur, S., A. Blotra, Vasudevan, K, A. Malhotra, H.T. Lalremsanga, Vishal Santra, and Robin Doley. 2023. Proteome Decomplexation of Trimeresurus erythrurus Venom from Mizoram, India. Journal of Proteome Research, 22(1): 215-225, https://doi/org/10.1021/acs.jproteome.2c00642

Luedtke, J.A., Chanson, J., Neam, K. et al. 2023. Ongoing declines for the world’s amphibians in the face of emerging threats. Nature 622, 308–314 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06578-4

Gayathri S., Y.S. Panwar. S. Murthy, K. Klop-Toker, R. Ibáñez, E. E. Illueca, R. Webb, V. Govindappa, B. Subba, H. Segu, K. P. K. Komanduri, Vasudevan, K. 2023. A universal and efficient detection of chytridiomycosis infections in amphibians using novel quantitative PCR markers. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, vol. 2023, Article ID 9980566, 9 pages, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/9980566

Education & Experience

P.G.:

Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare ; University of Edinburgh ; 1994

Ph.D:

Amphibian species assemblages of the wet evergreen forests of southern Western Ghats of India and the effect of forest fragmentation on their diversity ; Utkal University ; 2001

Post-doctoral Research:

Animal population estimation methods ; Colorado State University ; 2000

 

Experience:

Worked as Scientist at Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun for 14 years

Team Members

team-members-pic
Karthikeyan Vasudevan
Karthikeyan Vasudevan

Scientist-G

Scientist-G

B Sambasiva Rao
B Sambasiva Rao

Scientist-F

Scientist-F

Segu Harika
Segu Harika

Sr. Technical Officer(1)

Sr. Technical Officer(1)

Alka Sahu
Alka Sahu

Senior Research Fellow

Senior Research Fellow

Avni Blotra
Avni Blotra

Senior Research Fellow

Senior Research Fellow

Suchetana Gupta
Suchetana Gupta

Junior Research Fellow

Junior Research Fellow

Yashwant Singh Panwar
Yashwant Singh Panwar

Junior Research Fellow

Junior Research Fellow

Swapnil Kiran
Swapnil Kiran

Junior Research Fellow (Project)

Junior Research Fellow (Project)

Paritosh Sharma
Paritosh Sharma

Junior Research Fellow

Junior Research Fellow

Dr. Ranjit Sahoo
Dr. Ranjit Sahoo

DST-Inspire Fellow (Project)

DST-Inspire Fellow (Project)

Mubashir Dar
Mubashir Dar

Junior Research Fellow (Project)

Junior Research Fellow (Project)

Naveen Kumar C
Naveen Kumar C

Junior Research Fellow (Project)

Junior Research Fellow (Project)

S Gopal
S Gopal

Field Assistant

Field Assistant

J V Nayak
J V Nayak

Field Assistant

Field Assistant

Publications

Title

Journal

Year

Proteome Decomplexation of Trimeresurus erythrurus Venom from Mizoram, India.
J. Proteome Research Dec-2023
2026
Proteome analysis of Daboia russelii venom, a medically important snake from the Indian sub-continent.
Toxicon Jan-2024
2026
Genetic insights to assist management of the Critically Endangered hangul Cervus hanglu hanglu in the Kashmir Himalaya
Oryx Dec-2024
2026
Population genetics of gharial Gavialis gangeticus in the Chambal River, India, using novel polymorphic microsatellite markers
Endangered Species Research Jul-2024
2026
Occurrence and Abundance of Diurnal Primates in the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, Southern Western Ghats, India.
Primate Conservation Jul-2024
2026
Establishing reproductive seasons for the conservation of the critically endangered Kashmir red deer Cervus hanglu.
Scientific Reports Feb-2025
2026
Persistence of Sub-Clinical Infections Caused by Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis in Stream Anurans in South Asia
Ecosphere Nov-2025
2026
Genome assembly and protein structure modeling reveal key molecular features of divergent wmk homologs in Wolbachia.
Microbiology Spectrum Jan-2026
2026
The venom proteome and immunorecognition profile of clinically important Echis carinatus sochureki from Northwestern India underscores the need for regionally specific antivenoms.
Toxins Jan-2026
2026
Urban snake ecology revealed through the lens of decadal data on snake rescues in a megacity.
Global Ecology and Conservation Au-2026
2026
Burden of Mortality and Morbidity Caused by Snakebites Contributes to Economic Loss in a Rural Population in India.
Toxins May-2026
2026
Infectious diseases: Advances and challenges in addressing emerging pathogens
The Amphibian Conservation Action Plan: A status review and roadmap for global amphibian conservation
2024
Conservation Breeding
The Amphibian Conservation Action Plan: A status review and roadmap for global amphibian conservation.
2024
Ongoing declines for the world’s amphibians in the face of emerging threats.
Nature
2023
Nuclear and Mitochondrial Genome Assemblies of the Beetle, Zygogramma bicolorata, a Globally Important Biocontrol Agent of Invasive Weed Parthenium hysterophorus,
Genome Biology and Evolution
2023
Proteome Decomplexation of Trimeresurus erythrurus Venom from Mizoram, India.
Journal of Proteome Research
2023
Proteome analysis of Daboia russelii venom, a medically important snake from the Indian sub-continent
Toxicon
2023
Genetic insights to assist management of the Critically Endangered hangul Cervus hanglu hanglu in the Kashmir Himalaya.
Oryx
2023
Population genetics of gharial Gavialis gangeticus in the Chambal River, India, using novel polymorphic microsatellite markers.
Endangered Species Research
2023
Abundance and composition of forest-dwelling anurans in cashew plantations in a tropical semi-evergreen forest landscape.
Biotropica
2023
Larval morphology of selected anuran species from India.
Alytes
2023
A universal and efficient detection of chytridiomycosis infections in amphibians using novel quantitative PCR markers.
Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
2023
Evaluating antivenom efficacy against Echis carinatus venoms-screening for in vitro alternatives.
Toxins
2022
Conservation of hangul, Cervus hangulu - Paving the way ahead
Current Science 121(40): 485-489
2021
Immunorecognition capacity of Indian polyvalent antivenom against venom toxins from two populations of Echis carinatus
Toxicon
2021
Phylogeny identifies multiple colonisation events and Miocene aridification as drivers of South Asian Bulbul (Passeriformes: Pycnonotidae) diversification.
Organisms Diversity and Evolution
2021
The taxonomic impediment: a shortage of taxonomists, not the lack of technical approaches
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
2021
Bacterial Community in the Skin Microbiome of Frogs in a Coldspot of Chytridiomycosis Infection. Microbial Ecology
Microbial Ecology
2021
Demographic history of fragmented yellow-throated bulbul, Pycnonotus xantholaemus population in Deccan Peninsula, India
Endangered Species Research
2020
Environmental niche modelling of globally threatened yellow-throated bulbul, Pycnonotus xantholaemus for conservation prospects in the Deccan Peninsula, India
Current Science
2020
Demographic history of fragmented yellow-throated bulbul, Pycnonotus xantholaemus population in Deccan Peninsula, India
Endangered Species Research In press
2020
Comparative proteomics of geographically distinct saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus) venoms from India
Toxicon: X
2020
Environmental niche forecasts of globally threatened yellow-throated bulbul, Pycnonotus xantholaemus for conservation prospects in the Deccan peninsula, India
bioRxiv 633214
2019
Niche dissociated assembly drives insular island community organization
Scientific Reports
2018
Using public surveys to reliably and rapidly estimate the distributions of multiple invasive species on the Andaman archipelago
Biotropica
2018
Phylogeny and conservation status of the Indian egg-eater snake, Elachistodon westermanni Reinhardt, 1863 (Serpentes, Colubridae)
Amphibia-Reptilia
2018
Enzootic frog pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Asian tropics reveals high ITS haplotype diversity and low prevalence
Scientific Reports
2018
Amphibians of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands: distribution, natural history, and notes on taxonomy
Alytes
2018
Nomenclatural puzzle in early Xenophrys nomina (Megophryidae, Amphibia) solved with description of two new species from India (Darjeeling hills and Sikkim, India)
Alytes
2017
A new species of the genus Nasikabatrachus (Anura, Nasikabratrachidae) from the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats, India
Alytes
2017
A new genus and species of arboreal toad with phytotelmonous larvae, from the Andaman Islands, India (Lissamphibia, Anura, Bufonidae)
Zookeys
2016
Watch out where you sleep: Nocturnal sleeping behaviour of Bay Island lizards
PeerJ
2016
A new genus and species of arboreal toad with phytotelmonous larvae, from the Andaman Islands, India (Lissamphibia, Anura, Bufonidae)
Zookeys
2016
Endocrine profiling of Endangered Tropical Chelonians using Non-Invasive Fecal Steroid Analyses
Chelonian Conservation Biology
2015
Impact of invasive spotted deer (Axis axis) on tropical island lizard communities in the Andaman archipelago
Biological Invasions
2015
Fine Scale Habitat Selection in Travancore Tortoises (Indotestudo travancorica) in the Anamalai Hills, Western Ghats
Journal of Herpetology
2015
The devil is in the detail: estimating species richness, density, and relative abundance of tropical island herpetofauna
BMC Ecology
2015
A New Species of the Genus Tylototriton (Amphibia: Urodela: Salamandridae) from Eastern Himalaya
Asian Herpetological Research
2015
Nilssonia leithii (Gray 1872) – Leith’s Softshell Turtle. In: Rhodin, A.G.J., Pritchard, P.C.H., van Dijk, P.P., Saumure, R.A., Buhlmann, K.A., Iverson, J.B., and Mittermeier, R.A. (Eds.). Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises:
Chelonian Research Monographs No. 5
2014
Preliminary ethogram and in situ time-activity budget of the enigmatic cane turtle (Vijayachelys silvatica) from the Western Ghats, south India
Herpetological Conservation and Biology
2014
Observations on overwintering larvae of Tylototriton verrucosus (Caudata: Salamandridae) in Darjeeling, Himalaya, India
Salamandra
2014
Vijayachelys silvatica (Henderson 1912) – Cochin Forest Cane Turtle. In: Rhodin, A.G.J., Pritchard, P.C.H., van Dijk, P.P., Saumure, R.A., Buhlmann, K.A., Iverson, J.B., and Mittermeier, R.A. (Eds.). Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and T
Chelonian Research Monographs
2014
Impact of dams on riparian frog communities in the southern Western Ghats, India
Diversity
2014
Factors influencing occupancy of Travancore tortoise (Indotestudo travancorica) population inside tropical Protected Areas in south India. [Highlights the insidious threat of furtive hunting that several secretive wildlife such as Travancore tortoise face within protected areas in the Western Ghats]
Oryx.[In press.]
2014
Aggressive interactions among male Cane Turtles Vijayachelys silvatica (Henderson, 1912)
Herpetozoa
2013
Rediscovery of Calotes andamanensis Boulenger, 1891, (Squamata: Sauria: Agamidae) and assessment of its generic allocation
Herpetozoa
2013
Recent introduction and spread of Indian bullfrog Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (Daudin, 1802) into the Andaman Island
Aliens
2013
Feeding ecology of the Travancore tortoise (Indotestudo travancorica) in the Anamalais, Western Ghats, India
Herpetology Notes
2013
Availability of nesting habitat may not drive colony formation in chestnut-headed bee-eaters, Merops leschenaulti in southern India
Journal of Bombay Natural History Society
2013
Development of polymorphic microsatellite markers of the common toad, Duttaphrynus melanostictus useful for genetic studies
Conservation Genetics Resources
2013
Molecular evolution of vertebrate neurotrophins: Co-option of the highly conserved nerve growth factor gene into the advanced snake venom arsenal.[We provide the first evidence that shows venom-secreted NGF follows the molecular evolutionary pattern of other venom components, and therefore, participates in prey envenomation]
PLoS ONE 8(11): e81827.
2013
Phylogeography of Dasia Gray, 1830 (Reptilia: Scincidae), with the description of a new species from southern India
Zootaxa
2012
Biodiversity values of abandoned teak, Tectona grandis plantations in southern Western Ghats: Is there a need for management intervention?
Basic and Applied Ecology
2012
Molecular phylogeny of the softshell turtle genus Nilssonia revisited, with first records of N. formosa for China and wild-living N. nigricans for Bangladesh
Vertebrate Zoology
2012
A survey of herpetofauna on Long Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
Herpetological Bulletin
2012
Averting biodiversity collapse in tropical forest protected areas
Nature
2012
Larval morphology and ontogeny of Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis Biju & Bossuyt, 2003 (Anura, Nasikabatrachidae) from Western Ghats, India
Zootaxa
2012
Biodiversity values of abandoned teak, Tectona grandis plantations in southern Western Ghats: Is there a need for management intervention?.[We provide evidence that mere abandonment of teak plantations within protected areas will not improve biodiversity values. The need for actively managing teak plantations within PAs in India has emphasized]
Basic and Applied Ecology 13(2012): 139-148.
2012
Molecular phylogeny of the softshell turtle genus Nilssonia revisited, with first records of N. formosa for China and wild-living N. nigricans for Bangladesh.[The phylogenetic relationship among Asian Nilssonia turtles was constructed. The study also revealed the occurrence of wild relict population of black softshell turtle, thought to be extinct in the wild]
Vertebrate Zoology 62(2): 261-272.
2012
Averting biodiversity collapse in tropical forest protected areas.[Tropical ecologists world-wide provide evidence for alarming levels deterioration within tropical protected areas world-wide. Consistent patterns across continents and the need for strengthening PAs is highlighted]
Nature 489: 290-294.
2012
Phylogeography of Dasia Gray, 1830 (Reptilia: Scincidae), with the description of a new species from southern India.[The genus of arboreal skinks (Dasia) is represented in southeast Asia, Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. We resolved the phylogeny of these skinks and described a new species]
Zootaxa 3233: 37
2012
A new species of Coryphophylax Fitzinger in: Steindachner, 1867 (Sauria: Iguania: Agamidae) from the Andaman Islands, India.[A new species of arboreal lizard endemic some islands in the Andaman archipelago has been described with details of its natural history]
Zootaxa 3451: 31-45.
2012
Utilization of wild caught animals in education: a case of rampant vivisections in India
Current Science
2011
Monitoring of breeding in Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis (Anura: Nasikabatrachidae) in the southern Western Ghats, India
Herpetology Notes
2011
Indotestudo travancorica (Boulenger, 1907) – Travancore tortoise. In: A.G.J. Rhodin, P.C.H. Pritchard, P. Paul van Dijk, R.A. Saumure, K.A. Buhlmann, J.B. Iverson, and R.A. Mittermeier. Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtle and Tortoises: A com
Chelonian Research Monographs
2011
Behavior of Indian peafowl Pavo cristatus Linn. 1758 during the mating period in a natural population
Open Journal of Ornithology
2010
Redescription of Bibron’s coral snake, Calliophis bibroni 1858 with notes and new records from south of the Palghat and Shencottah gaps of the Western Ghats, India
Hamadryad
2010
Preliminary observations on the diet of the cane turtle (Vijayachelys silvatica)
Hamadryad
2009
Report on mass mortality of frogs in Son Chiriya Wildllife Sanctuary, Gwalior, India
Journal of Bombay Naturalist Society
2009
Density and microhabitat association of Salea anamallayana (Beddome, 1878) in Eravikulam National Park, Western Ghats, India
Herpetological Journal
2008
Density and diversity of forest floor amphibians in the rainforests of the southern Western Ghats, India
Herpetologica
2008
Density and diversity of forest floor amphibians in the rainforests of the southern Western Ghats, India.[Density and species diversity of forest floor amphibians from the Western Ghats were quantified. Comparisons were made with datasets available from other tropical sites and existing hypotheses on were tested]
Herpetologica 64(2): 207-215
2008
Pernicious ‘new’ frog descriptions from the Western Ghats, India
Current Science
2007
Patterns in diversity of anurans along an elevational gradient in the Western Ghats, south India
Journal of Biogeography
2007
Patterns in diversity of anurans along an elevational gradient in the Western Ghats, south India.[Frog species richness, their reproductive modes and the proportion endemic along an elevational gradient in the Western Ghats is strongly influenced by habitat and soil temperature]
Journal of Biogeography 34: 843-852.
2007
Evaluating adaptive cluster sampling: Application to terrestrial herpetofauna in tropical rainforests, south India
Wildlife Society Bulletin
2006
Species Turnover: the case of stream amphibians of rainforests in the Western Ghats, Southern India
Biodiversity and Conservation
2006
Evaluating adaptive cluster sampling: Application to terrestrial herpetofauna in tropical rainforests, south India. [The efficacy of a novel method for sampling rare and clustered populations was tested with forest floor dwelling frogs. The efficiency of this method in comparison with other methods is presented]
Wildlife Society Bulletin 34(1): 59-68
2006
Species Turnover: the case of stream amphibians of rainforests in the Western Ghats, Southern India.[Stream frogs show extremely restricted distribution, with some of them confined to just one valley in the mountains of the Western Ghats. The turnover of species between drainages and between mountain ranges explains the enormous diversity of frogs in the entire Western Ghats]
Biodiversity and Conservation 15: 3515-3525
2006
Diet of Lapemis curtus (Hydrophiidae) along the coast of Goa, western India
Copeia
2005
Diet of Lapemis curtus (Hydrophiidae) along the coast of Goa, western India.[Shaw`s sea snake is a common by catch in coastal trawl fishery. Mortality of sea snakes caused due to trawling and the representation of heavily exploited commercial fish in the diet of the sea snake is highlighted]
Copeia 3: 636-640
2005
Jurassic frogs and the evolution of amphibian endemism in the Western Ghats
Current Science
2004
The biodiversity bandwagon: the splitters have it
Current Science
2004
Weight-length relationships in two species of marine snakes along Goa coast, western India
Hamadryad
2004
Jurassic frogs and the evolution of amphibian endemism in the Western Ghats. [Frogs endemic to the Western Ghats represent ancient lineage dating back to Jurassic period with deep phylogenetic splits, pointing at the evolutionary history encompassed in them. Description of a species is also provided]
Current Science 86(1): 211-216.
2004
A report on sexual dimorphism in Rana temporalis (Günther 1864)
Hamadryad
2003
Herpetofaunal mortality in roads on Anamalai hills, southern Western Ghats
Hamadryad
2001
A new species of Rhacophorus (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from the Western Ghats, India
Hamadryad
2000
Structure and composition of rainforest floor amphibian communities in Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
Current Science
2000
Reproductive ecology of gangetic soft-shell turtle Aspideretes gangeticus in Chambal
Chelonian Conservation Biology
1999
Nesting ecology of mugger (Crocodylus plaustris) in Amaravathi, southern India
Hamadryad
1998
Rediscovery of the Black Microhylid frog, Melanobatrachus indicus (Beddome 1878)
Journal of Bombay Natural History Society
1997

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