Workshop on Methods of Research in Spider Diversity

Academic year : 2020-21

Date(s) on which program was conducted : 04-01-2021 – 08-01-2021
Beneficiaries : Research Scholars of Zoology
Organizing Dept. / Club & Name of Co-ordinator(s) : Zoology, Dr. Sunil Jose K
Name / Affiliation & Contact details (E-mail)
of the resource person(s) : Dr. Sunil Jose K, Assistant Professor of Zoology,
Deva Matha College Kuravilangad 686633
E-mail: sunil.jose@devamatha.ac.in
The number of students participated in the program :5
Brief Report
Report – 04 – 08 January, 2021

The “workshop on Spider Diversity” was held at the Department of Arachnology, Deva Matha College
Kuravilangad, Kottayam from Monday 4th to Friday 8th January 2021. The overall goal of the training
workshop was to introduce participants to the diversity of spiders in western ghats. Additionally, the training
aims to provide insight into different topics such as like morphology of spiders, biodiversity indices,
photography, collection of spiders, preservation of spiders etc.
Three postgraduate students, Swetha M., Krishna K.R (Maharajas college), Ernakulam and Anjana
Vinod (Deva Matha College Kuravilangad) participated in the 5-day workshop. Participants were given a
workshop kit that included a paper file, a notepad and a pen, among other items.
The training workshop began at 9:30 a.m. with a welcome speech by Dr Sunil Jose K, Principal
Investigator of the Department of Arachnology, Deva Matha College.
Day 1 MONDAY, January 4, 2021

Dr. Sunil Jose K introduced the topic of the workshop, ‘Spider Diversity of Western Ghats ‘to the
participants in the morning session. He led the second session on the topic ‘Formulating the project objectives
Following the lunch break, whole participants were divided into three groups. Each group consisted of a
participant and a PhD scholar from Arachnology Lab, at Devamatha College. The spiders collected as part of
their postgraduate project were identified up to family and genus level with the help of Dr Sunil Jose K,
assisted by the PhD scholars.

Day 2 TUESDAY, January 5, 2021

Ms. Reshmi Sekar, PhD Scholar, Sacred Heart College, Thevara, began Day 2 with a short presentation
on the subject of spider collection techniques. Following that, Ms. Reshmi Shekhar and Ms. Aswathy S. led a
demonstration session on spider preservation techniques (PhD Scholars, Sacred Heart College, Thevara). After
the lunch break, group 1(Participant+ PhD scholar) dealt with photography of collected spiders. Groups 2 &
3 continued with the identification of collected spiders.
Day 3 WEDNESDAY, January 6, 2021

Ms. Anusmitha Domichan, PhD Scholar, Sacred Heart College, Thevara, began the morning session
on day three. She spoke on the subject of ‘morphology of spiders’. In the second session, Ms. Anusmitha
Domichan and Ms Reshmi Sekar demonstrated the dissection of spiders to the participants. This session was
extremely beneficial since dissecting the female epigyne and male palp of spiders is very crucial in their
identification up to species level. Group 2 was given the task of photography and other groups proceeded with
the identification of collected spiders in the afternoon session.

Day 4 THURSDAY, January 7, 2021

Day 4 started with the presentation of Ms. Aswathy S., PhD Scholar, Sacred Heart College, Thevara
on the topic ‘Photography of spiders’. Ms. Aswathy led the demonstration session on photography techniques.
The theory as well as a practical session on the photography of spiders was coordinated in such a way that
they would benefit the participants in their current project as well as in future works. The day ended with the
project presentation by a member of group 1.

Day 5 FRIDAY, January 8, 2021

Ms Karthika K, Research Fellow, Department of Arachnology, Deva Matha College Kuravilangad,

led the morning session on ‘Diversity of Mygalomorphs, Western Ghats, Kerala' on the final day of the
workshop. Ms. Aswathy S. gave a demonstration of ‘Tarantula Rearing Techniques’ after this session. Ms.
Anusmitha Domichan spoke on the topic of ‘Distributional indices and software for population study’,' in the
afternoon session. Following this, the remaining two participants gave their project presentations.

Valedictory function

At the end of the fifth day of the workshop, a Valedictory function was held. Dr. Priya Joseph, HOD,
Department of Zoology, Deva Matha College, presided over the meeting. Ms. Reshmi Shekhar gave a warm
welcome to everyone who attended the event. The participants received certificates from Dr. Jojo K Joseph,
Principal of Deva Matha College. Mr. Justin Jose, Asst. Professor, Deva Matha College's Department of
Zoology, congratulated the participants and organisers. The vote of thanks was given by Dr. Sunil Jose K,
Principal Investigator of the Department of Arachnology. The participants gave their feedback on the
workshop. Dr. Sunil Jose K declared the workshop closed at 4:30 pm.
Dr. Sunil Jose K, Principal investigator at Arachnology Lab leading a session.

Sample certificate

Dr. Sunil Jose K

Coordinator