Earthworms: Biology and Life

Author Biography

Shyamasree Ghosh MSc, PhD, PGDHE, PGDBI has been working in the capacity of Scientific Officer in School of Biological Sciences (SBS), National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India, since 2009, an OCC of HBNI, Mumbai. She graduated from the prestigious Presidency College Kolkata, under Calcutta University in 1998 with Honors in Zoology with Chemistry and Physiology as the other subjects and was awarded the prestigious National Scholarship from the Govt. of India in the same year. She completed her post-graduation in Biotechnology from Calcutta University ranking second in the University in the year 2000. She completed her PhD from Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB), CSIR, Kolkata by qualifying for the National Eligibility Test conducted by Ministry of HRD, Govt of India. Her PhD work in 2005 in the field of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) was published in various national and international journals of repute. Later, she worked in the field of stem cells and nanotechnology in her post-doctoral research as Stem Cell Scientist in Manipal Health Systems, Bangalore and Indian Association for the Cultivation of Sciences (IACS), Kolkata. She has served as the Head of the Biotechnology Department in a Post graduate college affiliated to Bangalore University until 2009. She has authored and edited 16 books both as a single author and jointly with other co-authors. Her publications have been widely cited globally. She has received several awards in India for her academic endeavours. Md. Nurul Hasan, son of Md. Mojaharul Islam and Jahanara Bibi, was born on 3rd January 1985 and resides at Vill. - Hossain Pur, P.O. - Goalpara, P.S. - Chanchal, District Malda, West Bengal, India. He holds an M.Sc. in Zoology and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Calcutta. With approximately eight years of research experience, he has served in various capacities at the Zoological Survey of India, including as Subcontracted Skilled Staff (2016–2018), Junior Research Fellow (2018–2021), Senior Research Fellow (2021–2023), and currently as a Project Biologist (since 2024). His research interests span both invertebrate and vertebrate Zoology, with specialized expertise in Annelids and aquatic fauna. He has a keen focus on vermicomposting earthworm species and medicinal leeches, and has conducted extensive faunal diversity surveys across India. He has been the recipient of several fellowships and honors, including the Best Research Paper Award of the Issue from the International Journal of Advanced Research in Basic Engineering Sciences and Technology (2016), RET qualification from the Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta (2019), and GATE (Life Science qualification 2022). His technical skills include the collection, preservation, identification, and classification of animal specimens, along with manuscript preparation and scientific communication. He is proficient in Windows 10, MS Office, and adapts quickly to new digital tools. He is a life member of the Zoological Society, Kolkata, Indian Science Congress, and SEBA, Kolkata, and holds an ORCID ID: 0000-0002-5134-1775. He has published over 30 research articles in reputed national and international journals, contributed three abstracts, and authored 10 book chapters, primarily focused on the taxonomy, biodiversity, ecology, and conservation of earthworms and leeches. He also serves as a Journal referee for Animal Biodiversity and Conservation. He has participated in more than 20 National and International workshops and conferences, delivering oral and poster presentations as well as invited talks in webinars. Notably, he has discovered 12 new species of earthworms and leeches, significantly contributing to the advancement of Zoological science in India. Chandrakanta Mandal, Scientist-C at the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata, is a distinguished zoologist with over three decades of experience in the taxonomy and ecology of Annelids. He earned his Ph.D. in Zoology from Kalyani University in 2004 and has served the ZSI with unwavering dedication for more than 30 years. Recognized as one of India's foremost authorities in the taxonomy, systematics, and ecological studies of earthworms and leeches, he has made profound contributions to the field of soil biodiversity. He has authored over 85 peer-reviewed research papers published in reputed national and international journals, along with numerous book chapters and scientific abstracts. A sought-after speaker, he has delivered lectures at various colleges, institutes, and universities across the country. He has a Google Scholar h-index of 10, with over 350 citations, underscoring his influential contributions to species diversity assessment, soil ecosystem studies, and the ecological role of annelids in restoration processes. He plays a critical advisory role in species identification at ZSI and provides expert support to Ph.D. scholars, academic institutions, NGOs, and research organizations across India, especially in the identification of economically and medicinally important species of earthworms and leeches. His specialized knowledge is widely applied in areas such as vermicomposting, soil health management, and the ethnomedicinal use of leeches. As a committed member of the scientific community, he serves as a reviewer for prestigious journals, including the Records of the Zoological Survey of India, Journal of Threatened Taxa, and the Hippocratic Journal of Unani Medicine. He has actively participated in over 50 seminars and 20 workshops/conferences, where he has delivered keynote presentations and training sessions. His research interests encompass taxonomy, biodiversity conservation, ecological monitoring, vermitechnology, and the therapeutic applications of annelids. His continued commitment to scientific research, environmental stewardship, and community engagement has significantly advanced zoological studies and biodiversity conservation in India.