Past Research Staff
ANJALI VERMA
I joined CES in August 2015. Before joining Dr Karanth’s lab I completed my Masters in Zoology from Dehradun. My primary interests are Taxonomy and Morphometrics, Biogeography, Evolutionary history and Conservation biology.
I want to address questions in ecology taking Reptiles as model organisms. First, because they are excellent models for most of the biogeographic, ecological and evolutionary studies. Second, they share attributes relevant to the study of many biological processes and the knowledge of life history strategies and adaptive ecomorphology and ecophysiology together provide an ideal framework for phylogeographic speciation studies.
I am also an amateaur wildlife photographer and birdwatcher. I am interested in the Herpetofauna of Northern Himalayas because they are still not much explored in terms of herpetofaunal studies and also because it is my birthplace.
In lab, I am working on the genus Hemidactylus of the family Gekkonidae. Hemidactylus repesent one of the most species rich and widely distributed genera of reptiles, with the members of this genus occurring throughout Tropics and Sub-tropics of Asia, Africa and Pacific as well as in Mediterranean Europe and Northern South America.
My current work focuses on looking at various unique morphological characters associated with different clades of these cryptic species in India that help them to adapt to different ecological niches and ecomorphs.
I joined CES in August 2015. Before joining Dr Karanth’s lab I completed my Masters in Zoology from Dehradun. My primary interests are Taxonomy and Morphometrics, Biogeography, Evolutionary history and Conservation biology.
I want to address questions in ecology taking Reptiles as model organisms. First, because they are excellent models for most of the biogeographic, ecological and evolutionary studies. Second, they share attributes relevant to the study of many biological processes and the knowledge of life history strategies and adaptive ecomorphology and ecophysiology together provide an ideal framework for phylogeographic speciation studies.
I am also an amateaur wildlife photographer and birdwatcher. I am interested in the Herpetofauna of Northern Himalayas because they are still not much explored in terms of herpetofaunal studies and also because it is my birthplace.
In lab, I am working on the genus Hemidactylus of the family Gekkonidae. Hemidactylus repesent one of the most species rich and widely distributed genera of reptiles, with the members of this genus occurring throughout Tropics and Sub-tropics of Asia, Africa and Pacific as well as in Mediterranean Europe and Northern South America.
My current work focuses on looking at various unique morphological characters associated with different clades of these cryptic species in India that help them to adapt to different ecological niches and ecomorphs.
CHETAN NAG K. S.
I was involved in a Department of Biotechnology, Government of India project titled “Delimiting species boundaries among Hanuman langurs (Semnopithecus entellus)” as a Senior Research Fellow. The taxonomic status of Hanuman langurs of India (Family: Cercopithecidae, Subfamily: Colobinae) remains unresolved where most authors split Hanuman langurs to be a single species, Semnopithecus entellus, but divide this species into 14, 15, and 16 subspecies. Others split Hanuman langurs to as many as two, four, seven distinct species based only on variation in morphological characters. In the light of the existing ambiguities in Hanuman langur literature, I am interested in a systematic study of different morphotypes of Hanuman langurs (Semnopithecus entellus) wherein morphological characters in conjunction with ecological, behavioral, data is used to understand the conservation status and taxonomic position of these langurs from peninsular India. My preliminary observations from field suggest that there are at least four distinct morphotypes in peninsular India. Therefore there might be multiple species of Hanuman langurs in peninsular India.
My broad interests are in fields of Ecology, Evolution &, Biogeography.
I was involved in a Department of Biotechnology, Government of India project titled “Delimiting species boundaries among Hanuman langurs (Semnopithecus entellus)” as a Senior Research Fellow. The taxonomic status of Hanuman langurs of India (Family: Cercopithecidae, Subfamily: Colobinae) remains unresolved where most authors split Hanuman langurs to be a single species, Semnopithecus entellus, but divide this species into 14, 15, and 16 subspecies. Others split Hanuman langurs to as many as two, four, seven distinct species based only on variation in morphological characters. In the light of the existing ambiguities in Hanuman langur literature, I am interested in a systematic study of different morphotypes of Hanuman langurs (Semnopithecus entellus) wherein morphological characters in conjunction with ecological, behavioral, data is used to understand the conservation status and taxonomic position of these langurs from peninsular India. My preliminary observations from field suggest that there are at least four distinct morphotypes in peninsular India. Therefore there might be multiple species of Hanuman langurs in peninsular India.
My broad interests are in fields of Ecology, Evolution &, Biogeography.
ASHALAKSHMI C. N.
My broad interest lies in applying genetics to conservation biology. Currently I am involved in a DBT funded multidisciplinary project titled “Delimiting species boundaries among Hanuman langurs (Semnopithecus entellus)”. Hanuman langur is one of the most widely distributed primate species in India with high degree of morphological and genetic variability. The project merges genetics, morphology, behavior and ecology to clarify species status of different Hanuman langur populations.
My role includes carrying out the genetic analyses. Using one mitochondrial and several nuclear markers, I am trying to find out how many species of Hanuman langurs does multi-locus molecular data supports. Moreover I am plotting these genetic data to previously defined taxonomical species in order to obtain a robust taxonomy of Hanuman langurs.
The challenging aspect of this work involves the use of non-invasive sources of DNA such as feces where as the keen part include the molecular analyses involving phylogenetic and population genetic tools .
My broad interest lies in applying genetics to conservation biology. Currently I am involved in a DBT funded multidisciplinary project titled “Delimiting species boundaries among Hanuman langurs (Semnopithecus entellus)”. Hanuman langur is one of the most widely distributed primate species in India with high degree of morphological and genetic variability. The project merges genetics, morphology, behavior and ecology to clarify species status of different Hanuman langur populations.
My role includes carrying out the genetic analyses. Using one mitochondrial and several nuclear markers, I am trying to find out how many species of Hanuman langurs does multi-locus molecular data supports. Moreover I am plotting these genetic data to previously defined taxonomical species in order to obtain a robust taxonomy of Hanuman langurs.
The challenging aspect of this work involves the use of non-invasive sources of DNA such as feces where as the keen part include the molecular analyses involving phylogenetic and population genetic tools .
REKHA WARRIER
I am primarily interested in Ecology and conservation Biology. More specifically I am interested in understanding the effects of habitat alteration and degradation on the genetic structure of species populations. At CES, I was involved in a project that explored the phylogeography and structure of the centipede genus Rhysida in India.
I am primarily interested in Ecology and conservation Biology. More specifically I am interested in understanding the effects of habitat alteration and degradation on the genetic structure of species populations. At CES, I was involved in a project that explored the phylogeography and structure of the centipede genus Rhysida in India.
KARTIK V. RAO
I worked on a project involving the DNA barcoding of Satyrine butterfiles
I worked on a project involving the DNA barcoding of Satyrine butterfiles
MANJUNATHA REDDY
I was involved in a DBT funded project titled “Identification of Satyrine butterflies of peninsular India through DNA barcodes”. Satyrine butterflies commonly called as browns are poorly studied and taxonomically problematic group. Current morphology-based classification schemes have not been successful in resolving subspecies/species status or their evolutionary relationships. We were using molecular data to resolve their classification, develop DNA barcodes for species identification, and detect cryptic species. Additionally, information derived from this research projects could also be used to rate species for conservation action.
To this end, DNA was extracted from multiple samples of all currently recognized species (around 31) of satyrine butterflies of peninsular India. Mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene and two nuclear markers, Elongation factor 1 alfa and wingless will be sequenced from these samples. A phylogenetic analysis of these sequences will be undertaken using various tree-building methods to determine the usefulness of these markers in DNA barcoding of satyrine butterflies. The resulting phylogenetic trees will used to resolve their taxonomy and evolutionary relationship as well as identify cryptic species.
Other research Interests:
To use molecular techniques in entomology, since it is a new level of resolution for the study of insect ecological systems and taxonomy.
I was involved in a DBT funded project titled “Identification of Satyrine butterflies of peninsular India through DNA barcodes”. Satyrine butterflies commonly called as browns are poorly studied and taxonomically problematic group. Current morphology-based classification schemes have not been successful in resolving subspecies/species status or their evolutionary relationships. We were using molecular data to resolve their classification, develop DNA barcodes for species identification, and detect cryptic species. Additionally, information derived from this research projects could also be used to rate species for conservation action.
To this end, DNA was extracted from multiple samples of all currently recognized species (around 31) of satyrine butterflies of peninsular India. Mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene and two nuclear markers, Elongation factor 1 alfa and wingless will be sequenced from these samples. A phylogenetic analysis of these sequences will be undertaken using various tree-building methods to determine the usefulness of these markers in DNA barcoding of satyrine butterflies. The resulting phylogenetic trees will used to resolve their taxonomy and evolutionary relationship as well as identify cryptic species.
Other research Interests:
To use molecular techniques in entomology, since it is a new level of resolution for the study of insect ecological systems and taxonomy.
Office Staff
BHAVANI S.
I am handling the back office work including accounting and financial matters of the lab. Basically I am a science graduate (B.Sc.).
Even though I am doing administrative work, I like being around the people doing science and I am always fascinated by the projects in which people of the lab are involved viz Butterflies, langurs and lizards etc. I help in the smooth execution of these projects and I am very happy to be here working with such a dynamic group.
I am handling the back office work including accounting and financial matters of the lab. Basically I am a science graduate (B.Sc.).
Even though I am doing administrative work, I like being around the people doing science and I am always fascinated by the projects in which people of the lab are involved viz Butterflies, langurs and lizards etc. I help in the smooth execution of these projects and I am very happy to be here working with such a dynamic group.