Dr. Rajesh Prasad
Phone: (+679) 3232952
Email: rajesh.prasad@usp.ac.fj
Rajesh Prasad
Lecturer/Fellow in Aquaculture
Adjunct Research Fellow, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
Educational Qualifications
Doctor of Philosophy in Aquatic Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
Master of Science (Research) in Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
Bachelor of Science (Biology & Chemistry), University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji
Professional Experience
Aquatic Scientist, Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation, Queensland Government, Australia
Lecturer/Tutor (Part/time), University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
Lecturer/Tutor, Department of Biology, USP
Course Coordinator, “Invertebrate Biology” second year unit, Department of Biology, USP
Senior Technical Officer Aquaculture, School of Marine Studies, USP
Associate Lecturer, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
Coordinator of Practicals, Tutorial and Administration of “Cell Biology, Genetics and Developmental Biology” first year unit, James Cook University
Research Assistant, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Australia
Demonstrator in Biology, Department of Biology, USP
Research Interests
- Investigation of native species for potential aquaculture in the Pacific Islands.
- Successful development and implementation of aquaculture in the Pacific Islands for food security, reduction of pressure on wild fisheries and community benefits.
- Aquaculture of bivalves and echinoderms
- Impact of Sea-level rise on freshwater environments and ecosystems.
- Resilience and resistance of freshwater species and ecosystems from the effects of anthropogenic stressors and pressures, sea-level rise and climate change.
Publications
Rajesh Prasad, Sue Vink and Vinitha Nanjappa. 2014. Impacts of salinity and ionic compositions on freshwater macroinvertebrates in the Fitzroy River Catchment, Central Queensland, Australia. Australasian Bulletin of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Chemistry 1:12-29.
Rajesh Prasad, Sue Vink, Reinier Mann and Vinitha Nanjappa. 2012. Assessing the Ecotoxicology of salinity on organisms in seasonally flowing streams in the Fitzroy Catchment. ACARP Project C18033 Extension. Queensland Government. 45pp.
Yemaya Smythe-McGuinness, Jaye Lobegeiger, Jonathan Marshall, Rajesh Prasad, Alisha Steward, Peter Negus, Glenn McGregor and Satish Choy. 2012. Macroinvertebrate responses to low-flow hydrology in Queensland Rivers, National Water Commission, Canberra. 65pp.
Jason E. Dunlop, Nelli Horrigan, Glenn McGregor, Ben J. Kefford, Satish Choy and Rajesh Prasad. 2008. Effects of spatial variation on salinity tolerance of macroinvertebrates in Eastern Australia and implications for protection trigger values. Environmental Pollution 151: 621-630.
Ben J. Kefford, Jason E. Dunlop, Nelli Horrigan, Liliana Zalizniak, Kathryn L. Hassell, Rajesh Prasad, Satish Choy and Dayanthi Nugegoda. 2006. Predicting salinity-induced loss of biodiversity. Project No. RMI 12. Final Report to Land and Water Australia. RMIT University.
Co-authored a course manual for 1st year degree level “Animal Biology” for distance education – Department of Biology, USP (2001).
Co-authored the laboratory manual for the practical components of the third year Aquaculture course, when course first offered – Marine Studies Programme, USP (2000)
Written contributions and research work included in:
Jason Dunlop and Glenn McGregor. (2007). Setting water quality guidelines for salinity and sediment in freshwater streams in Queensland. An applied approach within a natural resource management context. Technical report. National action plan for salinity and water quality; water quality state level investment project. The State of Queensland.
Ben Kefford, Jason Dunlop, Dayanthi Nugegoda and Satish Choy. (2007). Understanding salinity thresholds in freshwater biodiversity: freshwater to saline transition. Chapter 2. pp9 -28. In: Lovett, S., Price, P. and Edgar, B. 2007. (Eds). Salt, Nutrient, Sediment and Interactions: Findings from the National River Contaminants Program. Land and Water Australia, Canberra.
Horrigan, Nelli, Dunlop, Jason E., Kefford, Ben J. and Zavahir, Farah. (2007). Acute toxicity largely reflects the salinity sensitivity of stream macroinvertebrates derived using field distributions. Marine and Freshwater Research, 58:178-186.
Research Interests
Investigation of native species for aquaculture in the Pacific Islands.
Successful development and implementation of aquaculture in the Pacific Islands for food security, reduction of pressure on wild fisheries and community benefits.
Impact of Sea-level rise on the Freshwater environments and ecosystems.
Resilience and resistance of Freshwater species under the effects of anthropogenic pressures, sea-level rise and climate change.