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Home ยป Dr. Priya Davidar

Dr. Priya Davidar

Designation: 
Professor
School: 
School of Life Sciences
Gender: 
Female
Academic
Academics: 
DegreeSpecializationUniversity / InstitutionYear of Completion
1Ph.D.-Bombay University1979
2M.Sc.-Madras University1975
3B.Sc.-Madras University1973
4S.M. -Harvard University1985
Total Experience: 
26 Years
Area of Specialization/Interest: 

Pollination biology and ecosystem services
The role of animal vectors in pollinating plants is important for the reproduction of wild and crop plants. My doctoral thesis was on the pollination of the hemi-parasitic mistletoes by nectar feeding birds. I further studied pollination systems in different ecosystems. My current interest lies in the area of the ecosystem services rendered by pollinators to crop plants and wild plants.
Factors influencing the large scale patterns of species distributions
Large scale patterns of species distributions provide insights into ecological processes. Our research on different faunal groups in the Andaman archipelago show that island size and habitat characteristics are important determinants of species diversity and distribution. In the wet evergreen forests of the Western Ghats, rainfall seasonality is the most important factor regulating tree distribution, diversity and rarity. 
Human impact on forests
Understanding the socio-economic aspects of human dependence on forest products and the consequent impact on forests is important for developing management plans to arrest deforestation. My students and I have been looking at various aspects of resource use  and forest degradation in different regions of the Indian peninsula.

Publications (in last 3 years): 
2011
Vijayakumar, S., P. Davidar. Status survey of the Malabar Pied Hornbill in the Dandeli region , Northern Western Ghats, India. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 24 : 45-51.
2010
Davidar P. et al. Assessing the extent and causes of forest degradation in India: where do we stand? Biological Conservation 143 : 2937-2944.
2010
Puyravaud, J-Ph., P. Davidar, W. F. Laurance. Cryptic destruction of India’s native forests. Conservation Letters 3: 390-394.
2010
Nayak, K. G., P. Davidar. Pollination and breeding systems of woody plant species in tropical dry evergreen forests, southern India. Flora-Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants  205: 745-753.
2010
Mohandass, D., P. Davidar. The relationship between area, and vegetation structure and diversity in montane forest (shola) patches in southern India. Plant Ecology and Diversity 3 : 67-76.
2010
Puyravaud, J-Ph., P. Davidar, W. F. Laurance. Cryptic loss of India’s native forests. Science 329, 32.
2010
Sodhi, N., P. Davidar,  M. Rao, Empowering  women  facilitates conservation. Biological Conservation 143 : 1035-1036
2010
Nayak, K. G., P. Davidar. Pollinator limitation and the effect of breeding systems on plant reproductive success in tropical forest fragments. Acta Oecologica 36 : 191-196. 
Seminars/Conferences/Workshops Conducted(Last 3 Years): 

Year

Programme

Sponsor

Position held

2009

Orientation course on CBCS system for newly recruited faculty

Pondicherry University

Convenor
Honours / Awards (if any): 

Year

Details of award / Prize

Contribution for which awarded

2009

President

Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation
Contact Details
Telephone No: 
0413-2654568 / 566
Email: 
pdavidar@yahoo.com
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