Citation practice in science: Do we really know what we think we know
Citations are an integral part of the scientific literature. How and what we cite in scientific writing affects our downstream understanding of the system that we study. Using a case study from the mixed-species flocks literature about the idea of 'nuclear species', Hari Sridhar and I explore where this idea originated, what are the most commonly cited references for this idea and how much evidence we have in support for some of the ideas that are now commonplace in this literature. We also discuss some implications that this may have for the way we cite in general. Publication based on this work: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/abs/10.1098/rstb.2022.0108. What rules govern flock formation in mixed-species bird flocks?
This part of my work is about flock assembly and mechanisms of flock formation in the community ecology framework. In this study I examine phenotypic assembly of mixed-species bird flocks to understand the processes that drive flock composition. By examining phenotypic composition of flocks of different species composition and richness I arrive at changes in phenotypic assembly of mixed-species flocks with increase in species number. I also study this at a global scale using data from multiple study sites across the world. Publication: Phenotypic clumping decreases with flock richness in mixed-species bird flocks |
India - Long Term Ecological Observatories (LTEO)
My current research focuses on the effect of climate change on bird populations. Climate change has made it inevitable that we monitor our ecosystems over a long duration. This is essential for effective management and mitigation. The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change launched the India LTEO project for monitoring of various taxa in multiple landscapes in India. One of the LTEO themes is to monitor changes in bird populations since birds are known to be important indicators of changes in the ecosystem. The bird LTEO research group aims to arrive at changes in bird populations over space and time. Read more. |
Species roles in mixed-species bird flocks
Mixed-species flocks are composed of multiple species that vary in how much they contribute to flock formation and maintenance. It has been established that not all species that occur in flocks contribute equally to the benefits gained from mixed-species flocking. In this project I studied species that are important in mixed-flocks to understand the drivers of their importance. Collaborators: Hari Sridhar and Kartik Shanker |
Flock social networks
Mixed-species bird flocks have been examined in a social network analysis framework based on species co-occurrences in different studies. Species centrality is often viewed as an indicator of importance in flocks. Here I examine change in species centrality with increasing flock size to understand the nuances in species importance in flock social networks. I also examine network modularity and species assortment in small flocks versus large flocks to gain insights into functioning of small and large mixed-species bird flocks. This framework can be generalized beyond mixed-species bird flocks to understand the interactions in different animal groups that display variation in group size. This work was done in collaboration with Dr. Dai Shizuka and his student Laura Vander Meiden. Collaborators: Hari Sridhar, Daizaburo Shizuka, Laura Vander Meiden, Kartik Shanker Online version of the publication: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00442-021-05053-z |
![]() A dummy network of species that participate in mixed-species flocks. Birds in the pictures: (Bottom to Top, Left to Right) Brown-cheeked fulvetta, Yellow-browed bulbul, Common flameback, Malabar trogon, Greater racket-tailed drongo, Velvet-fronted nuthatch, Black-naped Monarch, Western crowned warblers, Orange minivet (female), Ashy drongo.
Modified with permission from an illustration by Rangu Narayan.
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Seed dispersal ecology in tropical deciduous forests
I worked on the ecology of tropical deciduous forests of southern and northern India before joining the PhD program at the Indian Institute of Science. This project involved field data collection and management where I worked with a team of 8, on a large scale project that studied different aspects of seed dispersal including fruit removal, frugivore assembly, frugivore movement and gut passage rates. Project website: seeddispersal.weebly.com/people.html |