Name : Pratyasha Nayak
Brief Background :
I graduated with honors in Botany from Ramjas College at the University of Delhi in 2015. I went on to earn my Master’s in Botany from Punjabi University, Patiala in 2017. Post qualifying GATE XL in 2019 and CSIR JRF in 2020, I joined the Agharkar Research Institute in Pune in 2021. As a member of Diatom Diversity and Distribution Lab, led by Dr. Karthick Balasubramanian. Currently, I am working on the ecological assessment of a small river basin in Maharashtra through morphology and molecular (DNA metabarcoding) methods and exploring the seasonal changes in its quality through physico-chemical and biological (diatoms) parameters.
Contact Details :
- B.Sc Botany
- M.Sc Botany
I focus on advancing diatom-based DNA metabarcoding technique within tropical environments. My research aims to integrate this method as complementary tool alongside classical tools for ecological studies in freshwater ecosystems. Additionally, I investigate the seasonal dynamics of the Mula-Mutha river basin by analyzing water quality parameters and diatom communities. This work would contribute to developing robust, long-term monitoring programs to ensure the health and sustainability of river ecosystems.
- Nayak, P., Thacker, M., Hamilton, P. B., & Karthick, B. (2024). Geissleria triundulata sp. nov., a new freshwater diatom (Cymbellaceae, Bacillariophyta) from the Mula-Mutha River Basin, India. Phytotaxa, 661(1), 109-119.
- Radhakrishnan, C., Nayak, P., Williams, D. M., & Karthick, B. (2023). Genkalia aravindia sp. nov.: a new diatom (Bacillariophyta) associated with wet wall habitats from Eastern Himalayas and comments on the related genera. Nova Hedwigia, 191-202.