Contributors
Umamaheswara Rao, M. obtained B.Sc. (Hons) and M.Sc. in Botany in 1958 from the Andhra University, Waltair. He obtained Ph.D. degree in 1964 for his thesis “An ecological study of intertidal algae of Visakhapatnam Coast”. He started his professional career as a Demonstrator in Botany at Andhra University. Later Dr. Rao joined the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Mandapam Camp, Tamil Nadu and served as Assist. Fishery Scientist for more than a decade. He joined the Botany Department of Andhra University in 1973 as a Lecturer and became a Professor in 1985. Eight research scholars took Ph.D. and five M.Phil degrees under his mentorship. He was an eminent Indian Algologist and his field of specialization was Systematics, Resources, Ecology, Biological and Biochemical aspects, Culture and Cultivation of Marine Algae. He has published over one hundred research articles in various National and International journals. His collaboration with Dr. Bhavnath Jha and others resulted in an excellent monograph “Seaweeds of India” published by Springer, New York. This book presents the rich biodiversity of macroalgae along Gujarat Coastline. Prof. Umamaheswara Rao described several species new to science that include Boodleopsis indica, Acrosorium krishnamurthyi, Tylotus indicus, Caulerpa mexicana f. indica and Porphyra vietnamensis.
Prof. Rao visited several foreign countries to deliver invited special lectures on Indian marine algae. He was the Principal Investigator for several research projects funded by agencies including UGC, DOEn, DBT, MES, HPCL Oil Refinery etc. Prof. Rao was a life member of several scientific societies and was a Fellow of Marine Biological Association of India. For his scientific achievements and seminal contributions on Indian marine algae, Prof. Rao was honored with Lifetime Achievement Award by Krishnamurthy Institute of Algology, Chennai in 2004.
Prof. M. Umamaheswara Rao passed away in October 2012. More information can be obtained from Dr. Ramesh Mandarapu, D# 2-46-2; Plot # 43; Sector-11; M.V.P. Colony; Visakhapatnam-530 017; INDIA. Phone: +91(891)2506163, email:rmandarapu@gmail.com