Research Fellows
KUNAL AREKAR (Website)
I am working on two projects currently.
1. Phylogenetic position and origin of the Capped-Golden langur lineage:
The aim of the project is to resolve the discrepancy in the taxonomy of these two langurs. These langurs are found in the Northeast and their distribution issandwiched between the areas covered by the Hanuman langur, (Genus Semnopithecus) in the West and leaf monkeys belonging to the genus Trachypithecus in the east. According to one hypothesis, the capped-golden lineage might have evolved through ancient hybridization between Semnopithecus andTrachypithecus. Whereas, another hypothesis, proposes a climatic model for the evolution of these langurs. I am trying to resolve this issue by using mitochondrial as well as nuclear markers for genetic analysis.
2. Resolving the taxonomy of Himalayan langurs using multi-disciplinary approach:
These langurs have a distribution ranging from Kashmir to Bhutan. The species and subspecies status of the Himalayan langurs remains controversial and our preliminary observation from field suggests that there are three different morphotypes of Himalayan langurs along the altitudinal gradient in the Himalayas. Therefore this could be a case of multiple species. I will be using a combination of morphological, ecological and molecular data to obtain a robust taxonomy of Himalayan langurs.
I am working on two projects currently.
1. Phylogenetic position and origin of the Capped-Golden langur lineage:
The aim of the project is to resolve the discrepancy in the taxonomy of these two langurs. These langurs are found in the Northeast and their distribution issandwiched between the areas covered by the Hanuman langur, (Genus Semnopithecus) in the West and leaf monkeys belonging to the genus Trachypithecus in the east. According to one hypothesis, the capped-golden lineage might have evolved through ancient hybridization between Semnopithecus andTrachypithecus. Whereas, another hypothesis, proposes a climatic model for the evolution of these langurs. I am trying to resolve this issue by using mitochondrial as well as nuclear markers for genetic analysis.
2. Resolving the taxonomy of Himalayan langurs using multi-disciplinary approach:
These langurs have a distribution ranging from Kashmir to Bhutan. The species and subspecies status of the Himalayan langurs remains controversial and our preliminary observation from field suggests that there are three different morphotypes of Himalayan langurs along the altitudinal gradient in the Himalayas. Therefore this could be a case of multiple species. I will be using a combination of morphological, ecological and molecular data to obtain a robust taxonomy of Himalayan langurs.