Institutional Repository

Scholar@UOC is the primary academic repository of the University of Calicut.

This repository is aimed to collect, preserve and distribute the research output of the members of our University. This is an open access system hosted and managed by the University Library.

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 38

Recent Submissions

Investigation on direct in vitro shoot regeneration from aerial stem explant of ginger (Zingiber offinale Rosc.) and its field evaluation
(Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode., 2007) Lincy, A. K.; Sasikumar, B
Investigation on the alpha systematics of acridoidea (orthoptera) of Kerala
(Department of Zoology, University of Calicut, 2005) Vidhu Priya; Narendran, T. C.
Reimagining the culinary representations remembrances and resistances in select works of recipe fiction
(St. Joseph s College (Autonomous), Irinjalakuda, University of Calicut, 2025) Lisa John Mundackal; Asha Thomas
Recipe Fiction as a literary genre is shaped by its hybrid format that conjoins elements of a novel and of a cookbook. This thesis examines four novels that adhere to this structural hybridity- Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel, The Kitchen Daughter: A Novel by Jael McHenry, Pomegranate Soup by Marsha Mehran, and The Cuttlefish: A Novel by Maryline Desbiolles. The novels, marked by the presence of food recipes in them, emerge to be multidimensional texts which call for a performative engagement from the reader. The study seeks the possibilities of reading Recipe Fiction as women’s life scripts, and reclaiming their muted voices from the kitchen. It proposes to address the research gap that persists in the domain of Food Studies, around domestic kitchen spaces and cooking practices. The study foregrounds the creative, the transformative and the subversive aspects of domestic culinary practices as they interact with the complex dynamics of memory, agency and selfhood. Ingenious representations of the domestic kitchen spaces, formative remembrances of the sensorial, gastronomic encounters, and resistances that impel the cook towards empowerment and actualisation, shape the way the culinary is reimagined. The texts are studied for their capacity to challenge constrictive cultural norms, intimidating personal constraints, and discriminatory historical erasures. Theoretical postulates are borrowed from feminist geography, gustemology, infrapolitics, and power feminism to construct a framework for the textual analyses. The research seeks to reimagine domestic cooking as an empowering act, by evaluating its dynamic, reinventive and transformative prospects.
Conservation of crinum malabaricum Lekhak and S R Yadav Amaryllidaceae a critically endangered aquatic angiosperm
(Malabar Botanical Garden Kozhikode, University of Calicut, 2025) Harshid, P; Pradeep, N S
Conserving critically endangered plant species requires a multifaceted approach combining ecological, molecular, in situ, and ex situ strategies. Crinum malabaricum Lekhak & S.R.Yadav, a rare and endemic aquatic plant found only in seasonal laterite pools of Northern Kerala, faces significant threats due to habitat fragmentation, changes in hydrology, and human disturbances. This study aims to develop a comprehensive conservation framework by assessing the species' ecological requirements, identifying key threats, exploring its evolutionary lineage, and implementing integrated conservation measures. Ecological and phenological assessments were conducted to understand the habitat requirements and reproductive biology of C. malabaricum. Field studies confirmed that its life cycle is closely linked to seasonal monsoon patterns, and its limited dispersal mechanism further restricts its range. Habitat suitability assessments revealed that, despite identifying new potential sites since 2016, the area of occupancy (AOO) of the species remains critically low. This reinforces its Critically Endangered (CR) classification under IUCN Red List criteria. Phytochemical analyses were carried out to determine the bioactive properties of C. malabaricum, revealing significant alkaloid content with notable antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. These findings underscore the pharmacological potential of the species, which highlights the importance of conservation initiatives that incorporate sustainable utilization strategies. Molecular phylogenetic analysis utilizing ITS and trnL-F markers has shed light on the evolutionary lineage of the species, confirming its close genetic relationship with Crinum thaianum from Southeast Asia. The study indicates that C. malabaricum likely evolved as a neo-endemic species due to the unique climatic and geographical conditions of the Western Ghats, diverging from its ancestral lineages traced to Southeast Asia and Pacific Island biotas. This genetic distinctiveness highlights the need for targeted conservation efforts.To support species recovery, Ecological Niche Modeling (ENM) was employed to identify suitable sites for translocation. This method successfully guided the reintroduction of C. malabaricum to selected locations within the Malabar Plain, serving as a pilot initiative for long-term conservation. Additionally, ex situ conservation efforts were implemented, including cryopreservation techniques and the maintenance of live collections at the Malabar Botanical Garden and Institute for Plant Sciences. A novel potting method was developed to ensure the species' survival under controlled conditions, thereby securing a genetic reservoir for future restoration efforts. Additionally, habitat restoration and protection measures were undertaken to mitigate threats and promote community-led conservation initiatives. A formal proposal was submitted to the Kerala State Biodiversity Board to designate the natural habitat of C. malabaricum as a Local Biodiversity Heritage Site (LBHS) under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (Amendment act, 2023). This study serves as a model for developing species-specific conservation strategies by integrating ecological research, molecular insights, and conservation technologies. It emphasises the importance of long-term monitoring, habitat protection, and sustainable use of resources. By connecting scientific research with conservation efforts, this study contributes to the broader goal of preserving endangered aquatic flora and other biodiversity in the laterite plateaus of the Western Ghats and beyond.
Plant frugivore interaction and seed dispersal syndromes in shola forests of the western ghats India
(Kerala Forest Research Institute, University of Calicut, 2025) Nimisha. E. S; Sreekumar, V.B
The Shola forests of the Western Ghats are ecologically rich, harboring a range of plant-animal interactions that are essential for maintaining the unique biodiversity in this ecosystem. Seed dispersal by frugivores is an essential process that influences forest regeneration, affects species diversity, and community composition. This thesis explores seed dispersal dynamics in Eravikulam National Park, examining how plant diaspore traits, frugivore feeding patterns, fruit production, and abiotic factors such as altitude and climate collectively function to shape dispersal processes in this tropical montane ecosystem. Diaspore morphology, including fruit pulp type, color, size, and seed size, is a key factor in determining the dispersal mechanism, with findings revealing that brightly colored, fleshy fruits are primarily dispersed by birds, whereas lighter seeds are more effectively dispersed by wind. By studying 105 tree species across 25 Shola forest patches, this study highlights how specific traits promote or limit seed dispersal which in turn contribute to forest structure and resilience. Detailed observations of frugivore interactions with fleshy fruits illustrated a substantial dietary overlap between species, highlighting a complex web of interactions between species. Frugivores such as birds in the Pycnonotidae and Sturnidae families and mammals such as langurs, civets, and squirrels were found to be particularly influential, with larger frugivores predominantly consuming larger fruits and playing a key role in dispersing seeds of greater size, which often support seedlings with higher survival rates Transect walks, camera traps, and fecal analysis were used to gather data for the construction of quantitative seed dispersal networks, which highlighted the ecological importance of frugivores with high species strength and interaction asymmetry, which frequently render them irreplaceable dispersers within the community. Rainfall and minimum temperature were strongly associated with seasonal fluctuations in fruit biomass production, with fruit production reaching its maximum during the wettest months. This seasonal fruiting pattern aligns with the "germination hypothesis," which posits that fruiting during the rainy season enhances seed germination success, and provides crucial food resources for a diverse community of frugivores. Across three years, fruit biomass averaged 384.69 kg/ha/year, comparable to other tropical montane ecosystems. A considerable amount of this biomass was made up of larger fruits that were dispersed by both mammalian frugivores and birds like Nilgiri wood pigeons. The final analysis explored how environmental gradients and abiotic factors drive frugivory, seed dispersal, and co-evolutionary dynamics within the Shola ecosystem. A study of 44 forest patches, each varying in altitude (1690–2024 m) and size, revealed that frugivore density peaked at lower elevations, where larger fruiting trees were more prevalent, while smaller frugivores predominated at higher altitudes. Correlations between body size, gape width, and fruit traits showed that large frugivores consume larger fruits, aiding the dispersal of seeds that benefit from more extensive dispersal distances at lower elevations. The findings suggested that as altitude rises, environmental constraints cause smaller, lighter fruits to be adapted to dispersal by smaller-bodied frugivores and by abiotic factors like wind. Abiotic factors like temperature and rainfall were found to have a significant impact on both frugivore abundance and fruiting phenology. In conclusion, this thesis offers a comprehensive understanding of how fruit characteristics and frugivores are highly adapted to the conditions found in Shola forests. These results highlight how diaspore characteristics have evolved to optimize seed dispersal, often in response to abiotic gradients and through specialized interactions with specific dispersers. This study provides important insights into conservation biology by highlighting the importance of preserving habitat connectivity and protecting diverse frugivore assemblages to promote effective seed dispersal and forest regeneration, particularly in tropical montane forests where environmental change and habitat fragmentation are becoming a growing problem.