The current and planned research projects in my lab are interconnected and interdisciplinary, but for clarity, I have organized them into three major research foci.
Predator-prey interactions: from physiological to landscape levels
Among the many selective forces, predation risk is one of the most powerful and dynamic. Given that the wrong behavioural response can result in death for an individual, we are interested in the ecological drivers and proximate mechanisms that mediate the most appropriate behaviour. Our interests in predator-prey interactions is focused mainly on prey, as we examine the flexibility, generality, and range of behavioural strategies that prey use to minimise predation risk at different spatial and temporal scales. This work began for me with tree lizards and fence lizards in the USA, where I examined the role of corticosterone in mediating anti-predator responses, and my students continue to use lizard model systems in India for this research direction. These days, we are interested in how nutritional ecology intersects with predation risk so we watch animals eat while scared!
COLOURS, TRADE-OFFs and Phenotypic complexes
Our lab has an obvious fascination with colourful lizards and much of our research is focussed on understanding variation, function, and mechanisms of colour. We have model systems that have static colours as well as those that dynamically change within minutes. With a combination of field recordings and manipulations, and controlled measurements in the lab, we actively examine the use of colour in animal communication with an aim to understand the trade-offs that come with conspicuousness. For some model systems, these trade-offs include other signalling modalities. Whenever possible, we integrate our study of elaborate phenotypes with macrophysiology, so that we can understand the ecological conditions and endocrine mechanisms that underlie the expression of trait complexes within species. We do this because fitness of organisms depends on the functional integration of many traits. Finally, because lizard species diversity in India is just awesome, we are also unravelling the evolutionary patterns of signal trait evolution!
We are currently testing all these exciting ideas with rock agamas (Psammophilus dorsalis), fan-throated lizards (various Sitana sp. and Sarada sp.), and diurnal geckos (various Cnemaspis sp.) across India.
We are currently testing all these exciting ideas with rock agamas (Psammophilus dorsalis), fan-throated lizards (various Sitana sp. and Sarada sp.), and diurnal geckos (various Cnemaspis sp.) across India.
Animal movements and savanna dynamics
The study of animal decisions under stressful conditions, includes understanding movement ecology. In collaboration with Dr. Abi Tamim Vanak (ATREE, Bangalore), and Dr. Rob Slotow (UKZN, South Africa), we are using GPS telemetry data to understand the movement strategies of African elephants in Kruger National Park (South Africa), where the challenges of resource acquisition and thermoregulation must be met at the landscape scale. This work is in concert with our long-term study of savannas in Kruger, where we have been tracking the major abiotic and biotic drivers of damage and mortality of large trees. In India, Abi and I are tracking mesocarnivore movements and coexistence strategies in human dominated semi-arid landscapes.
Our most exciting new venture is a multi-institutional collaboration to track key sentinel species across across the country, as part of the National Long-Term Ecological Observatories (LTEO) program. Together, we will determine how land-use patterns and climate change are affecting the movements of Indian fauna.
Our most exciting new venture is a multi-institutional collaboration to track key sentinel species across across the country, as part of the National Long-Term Ecological Observatories (LTEO) program. Together, we will determine how land-use patterns and climate change are affecting the movements of Indian fauna.