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.

Karthik V Rao

E-mail: rao84kat@gmail.com

Project: DNA barcoding of satyrine butterfly

Manjunatha Reddy

E-mail: reddygvm@gmail.com

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.

K A Subramanian

I was born and brought up in Palakkad gap, one of the geological wonders of the world. The foothills of the Western Ghats profoundly influenced and encouraged me to grow up as a bird watching entomologist. I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Zoology from Govt. Victoria College, Palakkad, Kerala and Master’s in Medical Entomology from Vector Control Research Institute (ICMR), Pondicherry. After completing my Master’s I got an opportunity to work at the Centre for Ecological Sciences, IISc, Bangalore. During this time, I completed my doctoral thesis on stream insect communities of the Western Ghats from Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai. I was awarded DBT-postdoctoral fellowship at NCBS, TIFR Bangalore to work on development of olfactory system in a polymorphic ant species. Recently, I was awarded the DST-SERC Young Scientist Fast Track Fellowship to work on molecular phylogeny of endemic damselflies of the Western Ghats.

I am interested in evolution and diversification of biological communities. I address this question by studying stream insect communities as a model system. I study this system by combining methods in systematics, community ecology and molecular phylogeny. Results from research is important to identify and prioritize areas for freshwater biodiversity conservation.

Currently I am working on the ecology and molecular phylogeny of dragonflies and damselflies (Insecta:Odonata) of the Western Ghats. I also study the community ecology of stream insects, focusing on the impact of riparian land use on stream insect communities.

Smitha S Kumar

“Species that are rare, endemic and habitat specialists are more adversely affected and tend to be lost faster than other species.”

(Schaller, 1977)

At CES, I woked on the Phylogeography and Population Genetic Structure of Nilgiri tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius). The Nilgiri tahr is an endangered mountain goat distributed along the Western Ghats in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. I am using molecular genetic markers (mtDNA) to explore the relationships among populations of the Nilgiri tahr and use this information to determine the genetic diversity of the Nilgiri tahr across its geographic distribution.

At present, the study comprises following questions:

1. Analyze genetic variation within and among populations of Nilgiri tahr across the species range

2. How does inbreeding affect the small, isolated subpopulations and connected subpopulations?

3. Examine the role of biogeographic barriers in determination of gene flow among populations of Nilgiri tahr.

The story so far:

From our studies, Cytochrome b region of the mitochondrial genome is highly conserved in Nilgiri tahr. I am looking at other markers like ND5 and D-loop of the Mitochondrial genome to answer the aforementioned questions.

Other Interests:

Evolutionary biology of diseases, Host-vector-pathogen evolution, Environmental stress and adaptation in plants.