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 |
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 |
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 |