ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am extremely happy to avail this opportunity to acknowledge and convey my

gratitude and extent my sincere and wholehearted thanks to those who are being associated

with me in doing this study and also my career development.

I wish to express my sincere and heartfelt gratitude and intebtedness, first and

foremost to my guide Dr. A.G. Murugesan, Professor, Manonmaniam Sundaranar

University, Sri Paramakalyani Centre of Excellence in Environmental Sciences,

Alwarkurichi, Tirunelveli District for his expert guidance, constructive ideas, sustained

interests, sincere devotion, timeliness support rendered during the course of this investigation.

I wish to express my warm and sincere thanks to the Head of the Department,

Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Sri Paramakalyani Centre of Excellence in

Environmental Sciences, Alwarkurichi, for providing facilities

I extended my thanks to the faculties of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University,

Sri Paramakalyani Centre of Excellence in Environmental Sciences, Alwarkurichi, for their

active support throughout my research work.

I gratefully acknowledge the DAE-BRNS, Mumbai for providing me a JRF position

in the major research project sanctioned to Prof. A.G. Murugesan.

I am very greatful to, Dr. Ramakrishna, Ex. Director, Zoological Survey of India

and Dr. M. Sanjappa, CSIR Emeritus Scientist, Botanical Garden, University of Agricultural

Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru 560 065 for their valuable suggestions and comments.

I acknowledge the help rendered by Dr. K. Jahir Hussain, IGCAR, Kalpakkam for

his kind help and contribution in the bio-statistical analysis of research data and unceasing

support, able guidance and useful suggestions, which aided me in completing my thesis

successfully.

I thank Dr. S. Ilango Office in-charge, Dr. Venkitesan, Dr. S. Prabakaran and

Dr. R. Babu Scientists, Zoological Survey of India, Southern Regional Centre, Chennai for

their help in identification of animal specimens and I thank Scholars Mr. Chelian and

Mr. Yalumalai, Zoolological Survey of India for his support to identify the specimens.

I owe my sincere thanks to Dr. Gabrial Paulraj, Scientist, Entomology Research

Institute, Loyolo College, Chennai for insect identification and rendering timely help,

guidance and coordination during the study period.

My special thanks are due to Dr. C. Balasubramanium and Mrs. S. Selvarani,

Assistant Professors in Zoology, Thiagarajar College, Madurai for their helps in the

identification of ant specimens.

I thank the scientists of ATREE, Mr. M. Mathivanan and Mr. S. Saravanan for

their help in the identification of birds.

I thank my fellow scholers Mr. S. Ramarajan, Mr. K. Sivaraman, Mr. R. Sathees

Kumar, Mr. S. Antony, Mr. M. Lakshmikandhan and Ms. M. Radha, and my senior

Mr. Michelraj, and friends Dr. C. Sundaravadivelan, Mr. T. Kuberan, Mr. J. Anburaj

and Mr. M. Manimuthu for their kindful support.

I thank Dr. R. Chandru, Mr. A. Thanigaivel, Dr. Sathis Narayanan,

Mr. A. Sabaridasan, Mr. K. Manikandan, Mr. R. Palani, Mr. S.M. Siva and

Ms. Amutha for their kind support.

On a personal note, I wish to express my affection and indebtedness to my parents,

Mr. K. Pandian and Mrs. P. Pasupathi, my brother Mr. P. Raja and my sister Ms. P. Jothi

and friends for their relentless and affectionate support, coordination and everlasting

encouragements which is a great source of inspiration and help to me to abide through every

phase of life.

P. KUMAR