We love SCIENCE (as much as we love chocolate). We TRULY DO!
Publications from our adventures as scientists...
Torsekar V and Thaker M. 2020 Mate searching context of prey influences the predator-prey space race. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 287: 20201462. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2020.1462.
Kabir S, Venkatesan R and Thaker M. 2020. Multiple sensory modalities in diurnal geckos is associated with the signalling environment and evolutionary constraints. Integrative Organismal Biology.
Sheriff, M. J. Peacor, S. Hawlena, D. and Thaker M. 2020. Non-consumptive predator effects on prey population size: a dearth of evidence. Journal of Animal Ecology. doi: 10.1111/1365-2656.13213.
Roth, TC and Thaker M. 2020 “Predator-Prey Interactions.” In Oxford Bibliographies in Ecology. Ed. David Gibson. New York: Oxford University Press, forthcoming.
Noonan MJ, Fleming CH, Tucker, MA, Kays R, etc. (including Thaker M.). 2019. Effects of body size on estimation of mammalian area requirements. Conservation Biology
Hofman M. P. G. , Hayward M. W., Heim M., Marchand P., Rolandsen C. M., Mattisson J., et al. (including Thaker M.) 2019 Right on track? Performance of satellite telemetry in terrestrial wildlife research. PLoS ONE 14(5): e0216223
Batabyal A, Thaker M. 2019. Lizards from suburban areas learn faster to stay safe. Biology Letters 15 (2), 20190009
Amdekar MS, Thaker M. 2019. Risk of social colours in an agamid lizard: implications for the evolution of dynamic signals. Biology letters. 15(5): 20190207.
Thaker M, Gupte PR, Prins HHT, Slotow R, Vanak AT. 2019. Fine-scale tracking of ambient temperature and movement reveals shuttling behaviour of elephants to water. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 7, 4
Kabir MS, Radhika V & Thaker M. 2019. Mismatch in receiver responses to multimodal signals in a diurnal gecko. Animal Behaviour 147, 115-123
Batabyal A, Thaker M. 2019. Social coping styles of lizards are reactive and not proactive in urban areas. General and comparative endocrinology. 270, 67-74
Thaker M, Zambre A, Bhosale H. 2018. Wind farms have cascading impacts on ecosystems across trophic levels. Nature ecology & evolution, 2 (12), 1854.
Amdekar MS, Kakkar A, Thaker M. 2018. Measures of health provide insights into the coping strategies of urban lizards. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 6, 128. Media coverage: Lizards adapt to city life, The secret lives of urban lizards
Batabyal A, Thaker M. 2018. Lizards assess complex social signals by lateralizing colour but not motion detection. Journal of Experimental Biology, jeb-173252.
Batabyal A, Thaker M. 2017. Signalling with physiological colours: high contrast for courtship but speed for competition. Animal Behaviour 129: 229-236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.05.018
Zambre AM, Thaker M. 2017. Flamboyant sexual signals; multiple messages for multiple receivers. Animal Behaviour 127: 197-203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.03.021
Batabyal A, Balakrishna S, Thaker M. 2017. A multivariate approach to understanding shifts in escape strategies of urban lizards. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 71.5: 83. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-017-2307-3
Balakrishna S, Thaker M. 2016. Dining in the city: dietary shift in the Indian rock lizard Psammophilus dorsalis (family: agamidae) across an urban-rural landscape. Journal of Herpetology. 50.3: 423-428. https://doi.org/10.1670/14-073
Vanak AT, Karanth KK, Hedges S, Di Minin, E, Slotow R, Thaker M, Shanker K., Rai N, Tyson MJ, Krishnaswamy J, Ramakrishanan U, Karanth KU. 2014. Potholes in the global-road map? Response to Laurance et al. Nature online commentary. http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v513/n7517/full/nature13717.html
Vanak AT, Fortin, D, Thaker M, Owen C, Lehmann M, Greatwood S, Slotow R. 2013. Moving to stay in place - behavioral mechanisms for coexistence of large African carnivores. Ecology. 94:2619–2631. (Recommended by Faculty 1000 as having “Special Significance” in Ecology)
Jorge, AA, Vanak AT, Thaker M, Begg C, Slotow R, 2013. Costs and benefits of the presence of leopards to the sport hunting industry and local communities in Niassa National Reserve, Mozambique. Conservation Biology. 27: 832-843.
Vanak AT, Shannon G, Thaker M, Page B, Grant R, and Slotow R. 2012. Biocomplexity in large tree mortality: interactions between elephant, fire and landscape in an African savanna. Ecography. 35:315-321.
Shannon G, Thaker M, Vanak AT, Page B, Grant R, and Slotow R. 2011. Relative impacts of elephant and fire on large trees in a savanna ecosystem. Ecosystems. 14: 1372-1381
Thaker M, Vanak AT, Owen C, Lehmann M, Greatwood S, Slotow R. 2011. Behavioral strategies to minimize predation risk in a landscape of multiple predators. Ecology. 92(2): 398-407.
Thaker M, Vanak AT, Owen C, Lehmann M, Slotow R. 2010. Group dynamics of zebra and wildebeest in a woodland savanna: effects of predation risk and habitat density. PLoSONE. 5(9): e12758.
Vanak, AT, Thaker M, Slotow S. 2010. Do fences create an edge effect on the movement patterns of a highly mobile mega-herbivore? Biological Conservation. 143: 2631-2637.
Thaker M, Fries JN, Epp KJ, Gabor CR. 2010. Cohabitation patterns of the San Marcos salamander (Eurycea nana). Amphibia-Reptilia. 31: 503-508.
Thaker M, Hews DK and Lima SL. 2010. Stress and aversive learning in a wild vertebrate: the role of corticosterone in mediating escape from a novel stressor. The American Naturalist. 175: 50-60.
Vanak AT, Thaker M, Gompper ME. 2009. Experimental examination of behavioural interactions between free-ranging wild and domestic canids. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 64: 279-287.
Thaker M, Hews DK and Lima SL. 2009. Acute corticosterone elevation enhances antipredator behaviors in male tree lizard morphs. Hormones and Behavior 56:51-57.
Thaker M, Hews DK and Lima SL. 2009. Alternative antipredator tactics in tree lizards: hormonal and behavioural responses to a predator encounter. Animal Behaviour 77:235-401.
Gumm JM and Thaker M. 2009. Association preferences of unisexual Amazon mollies (Poecilia formosa): differential response to swords based on sex of the bisexual parental species. Behaviour 146:907-921.
Thaker M, Gabor CR and Fries JN. 2006. Sensory cues for conspecific associations in aquatic San Marcos salamanders. Herpetologica 62: 151-155.
Droney DC and Thaker M. 2006. Factors influencing mating duration and male choice in red milkweed beetle, Tetraopes tetraopthalmus (Forster) (Coleoptera Cerambycidae). Ethology, Ecology and Evolution 18: 173-183.
Herlache TC, Ried CL, Zhang HC, Carle SA, Basaran P, Thaker M, Burr AT, Burr TJ. 2001. Mutations that affect Agrobacterium vitis-induced grape necrosis also alter its ability to cause a hypersensitive response on tobacco. Phytopathology 91:966-972.
SOME POPULAR ARTICLES OF OUR WORK
Our work with rock agamas and urbanization perfectly captures the beauty of studying colour and the challenges of our changing world:
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/city-lizards-talk-less-run-faster/cid/1519775
https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/colour-coding-in-rock-agamas/article29300233.ece
https://india.mongabay.com/2019/02/how-lizards-in-bengaluru-are-faring-when-compared-to-their-country-cousins/
https://www.livemint.com/Sundayapp/Eq5cf272TL5828gYnZKPNK/How-urban-lizards-are-changing-their-lifestyles-to-make-citi.html
https://researchmatters.in/article/could-human-interference-be-affecting-lizard%E2%80%99s-signalling-and-escape-behaviour
Our work with fan-throated lizards and wind-turbines marries 3 of my favourite things: predator-prey interactions, whole organismal approaches, and a gorgeous lizard:
Radio interview on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation show Quirks&Quarks: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/wind-farms-in-india-are-driving-a-population-boom-of-skinny-fearless-lizards-1.4897336
https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/wind-power-turbines-birds-predators-renewable-energy-lizards-rspb-a8619236.html
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/wind-turbines-kill-birds-of-prey-in-western-ghats-62048
http://theconversation.com/wind-turbines-arent-quite-apex-predators-but-the-truth-is-far-more-interesting-106480
https://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/wind-turbines-act-like-apex-predators-in-some-ecosystems-study-finds/
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/predator-wind-farms-upset-the-food-chain-n8hz9wxtg
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/wind-turbines-can-act-like-apex-predators/
http://theconversation.com/wind-turbines-arent-quite-apex-predators-but-the-truth-is-far-more-interesting-106480
https://www.natureasia.com/en/nindia/article/10.1038/nindia.2017.60
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/city-lizards-talk-less-run-faster/cid/1519775
https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/colour-coding-in-rock-agamas/article29300233.ece
https://india.mongabay.com/2019/02/how-lizards-in-bengaluru-are-faring-when-compared-to-their-country-cousins/
https://www.livemint.com/Sundayapp/Eq5cf272TL5828gYnZKPNK/How-urban-lizards-are-changing-their-lifestyles-to-make-citi.html
https://researchmatters.in/article/could-human-interference-be-affecting-lizard%E2%80%99s-signalling-and-escape-behaviour
Our work with fan-throated lizards and wind-turbines marries 3 of my favourite things: predator-prey interactions, whole organismal approaches, and a gorgeous lizard:
Radio interview on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation show Quirks&Quarks: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/wind-farms-in-india-are-driving-a-population-boom-of-skinny-fearless-lizards-1.4897336
https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/wind-power-turbines-birds-predators-renewable-energy-lizards-rspb-a8619236.html
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/wind-turbines-kill-birds-of-prey-in-western-ghats-62048
http://theconversation.com/wind-turbines-arent-quite-apex-predators-but-the-truth-is-far-more-interesting-106480
https://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/wind-turbines-act-like-apex-predators-in-some-ecosystems-study-finds/
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/predator-wind-farms-upset-the-food-chain-n8hz9wxtg
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/wind-turbines-can-act-like-apex-predators/
http://theconversation.com/wind-turbines-arent-quite-apex-predators-but-the-truth-is-far-more-interesting-106480
https://www.natureasia.com/en/nindia/article/10.1038/nindia.2017.60
Articles about my research approaches, teaching philosophies, & academia in India
Academia in India: http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2013_11_05/caredit.a1300243
Maternity leave and tenure policies: https://elifesciences.org/articles/36992 and thewire.in/women/tenure-clock-pause-daycare-revolution-weapons-to-fight-sexism-in-science
Science Pedagogy and Teaching Philosophy in the IISc magazine, Connect: https://connect.iisc.ac.in/2017/07/a-teacher-is-someone-who-facilitates-learning/ and https://connect.iisc.ac.in/2019/06/on-teaching/
Interview about my research and study species: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/colour-coding-in-rock-agamas/article29300233.ece
Maternity leave and tenure policies: https://elifesciences.org/articles/36992 and thewire.in/women/tenure-clock-pause-daycare-revolution-weapons-to-fight-sexism-in-science
Science Pedagogy and Teaching Philosophy in the IISc magazine, Connect: https://connect.iisc.ac.in/2017/07/a-teacher-is-someone-who-facilitates-learning/ and https://connect.iisc.ac.in/2019/06/on-teaching/
Interview about my research and study species: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/colour-coding-in-rock-agamas/article29300233.ece