CMarZ activities in India during 2006-2007

1. As a Member of CMarZ Steering Group Dr. Vijayalakshmi R. Nair attended the SG meeting held at Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan from November 6-8, 2006. Dr. Nair reported on the progress in the Indian Ocean sector to implement the goals of CMarZ emphasising the challenges and plans to overcome them. Plans on zooplankton studies of the Indian Ocean for the year ahead were also presented.

2. During the IndOBIS workshop at RC of NIO, Kochi, from September 25-26, 2006, Dr. Nair was invited to make a presentation on CMarZ. She talked about the objectives, responsibilities and accomplishments of CMarZ to the participants of the workshop.

3. Dr. Nair published an article in Science Reporter (May 2006) on “Exploring Marine Life” elaborately discussing on the efforts of CMarZ on global scale biodiversity of zooplankton.

4. CMarZ activities in India:

a. On the initiative of Dr. Nair, Dr.Saramma U. Panampunnayil, Scientist, RC of NIO, Kochi and Dr.C.B.Lalithambika Devi, Consultant, RC of NIO, Kochi were invited to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI), USA as zooplankton taxonomic experts in Mysidacea and Fish larvae to participate in an NOAA sponsored CMarZ cruise from 10-30 April 2006 to assess the zooplankton biodiversity of tropical/ subtropical Atlantic Ocean waters.

b. Dr. Rosamma Stephen, Consultant, RC of NIO, Kochi visited Alfred-Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), Bremerhaven, Germany in July 2006 as recommended by Dr. Nair to share her expertise in Copepoda. She also visited WHOI to work on the creation of species page for CMarZ.