Dr. Karthick Balasubramanian
Scientist–E at the Biodiversity and Paleobiology Group
Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, India.
I study freshwater diatoms to understand biodiversity patterns, environmental change, and the history of landscapes across India. My work brings together taxonomy, ecology, paleolimnology, environmental monitoring, and archaeology.
I maintain South Asia’s largest curated diatom collection and work with both modern and fossil diatoms to answer questions linked to climate history, river health, pollution, and ancient human environments. I also use diatoms as an educational tool to engage school students, teachers, and local communities.
Research
My research focuses on freshwater diatoms in both ecological and evolutionary contexts. I work across mountains, rivers, lakes, wetlands, archaeological landscapes, and extreme environments.
Key Themes
Diatom taxonomy and biogeography
- Systematics of diatoms across India’s biodiversity hotspots
- Description of new species and genera
- Understanding the drivers of freshwater microbial diversity
Ecology and biomonitoring
- Diatoms as indicators of water quality and pollution
- River health assessment across Western Ghats, Central India, and the Himalayas
Paleolimnology and environmental reconstruction
- Using lake and wetland sediments to reconstruct past monsoon and climate change
- Diatom-based evidence from archaeological sites
Applied diatom research
- Microplastics interactions
- Biofuels, carbon sequestration potential, and nutraceutical properties
- Diatoms in forensic investigations
Science outreach and environmental education
- Educational content in multiple languages
- Integration of diatoms into school curricula and public engagement