Kartik Shanker

Research

Community ecology, biogeography and macroecology

We are working on the distribution of diversity at various levels of organisation, from genes to ecosystems, and at various scales from local communities to macro-ecological regional scales. We work in terrestrial habitats mainly in the Western Ghats, but extending to the other parts of India including the Eastern Ghats and Northeast India. We also work on coastal and marine systems, both along the mainland coast as well as the offshore islands. Our model systems include a range of small vertebrates in forest systems and coastal and marine fauna. We combine field ecology, phylogenetic information and ecological modelling to understand evolutionary and biogeography patterns, and assist conservation prioritisation. In addition, we are interested in large scale altitudinal and latitudinal patterns using integrated models which incorporate neutral theory, ecology and evolution. Current research projects include studies of mixed foraging flocks of birds, distribution patterns of birds and plants, and phylogeny and biogeography of snakes and frogs. We are also initiating projects on the diversity and distribution of coastal and marine invertebrates.

Marine turtle biology and conservation

Five of the seven species of marine turtles are found in Indian coastal waters and at least four have significant nesting beaches and/or feeding areas. We are continuing molecular genetic studies of these turtles to explore phylogeography and population genetics, and studying other aspects such as multiple paternity. We are also initiating tagging and telemetry studies for leatherback turtles in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. We have a long term population monitoring programme for mass nesting populations of olive ridley turtles in Orissa. Most recently, we have studied the effect of light pollution on the mis-orientation of hatchlings in Rushikulya. We have also initiated a collaborative effort with NGOs along the mainland coast to monitor temperatures, and potential impact of climate change on sea turtle populations through its impact on sex ratios.

Socio-ecological studies of conflict

There is conflict between humans and wildlife in many contexts, which usually manifests itself in the form of loss of lives and livelihoods either directly (loss of lives or liveliihoods) or indirectly (loss of access to resources). In the terrestrial realm, we are developing a synthetic framework to examine conflict in different ecological, sociological and economic contexts, in order to identify the drivers of conflict and develop solutions. We are also beginning work on the political ecology of natural resource management in coastal and marine systems, and its implication for the conservation of these resources.