Theme

Fig biology

Image: Figs (enclosed inflorescences) on a Ficus racemosa L. tree on the campus of Indian Institute of Science.
Credits: Yathiraj G.

Theme

Ant–plant interactions

Image: An experiment in progress at Agumbe: Sucrose solution being fed to ants on the leaf of Humboldtia brunonis Wall. plant. Also seen is a domatium (swollen internode) that houses these ants.
Credits: Yathiraj G.

Theme

Fungus-farming in termites

Image: Inside a termite mound—major and minor termite workers of Odontotermes obesus depositing boluses.
Credits: Nikhil Pradip More

Theme

Bioengineered structures

Image: A termite mound at the campus of Indian Institute of Science.
Credits: Yathiraj G.

Theme

Plant–pollinator interactions

Image: A butterfly foraging on Jambhli Manjiri (Pogostemon deccanensis) at Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary.
Credits: Nikhil Pradip More

Theme

Mimicry in spiders

Image: Locate the crab spider!
Credits: Saveer Ahmed

Theme

Malabar Giant Squirrel and Phytochemistry

Image: A Malabar Giant Squirrel foraging at Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary.
Credits: Renee M. Borges

Projects

Assets acquired from The Ecology and Genetics of the living root bridges of Meghalaya, 2022-2025, Department of Biotechnology (DBT)- Project

The living root bridges of Meghalaya are a unique cultural heritage; efforts are currently underway by the Meghalaya State Government to declare these bridges as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Root bridges are also unique examples of living architecture (Heinrich et al. 2019) wherein a living entity provides functional value in terms of constructions that can be utilised by humans. Having said that, living construction materials also need protection from various factors that could contribute to their decline; these include pests, pathogens, as well as lack of regeneration owing to impaired pollination and/or seed dispersal services. Examination of the genetic diversity of adult trees that constitute the bridges as well as of juvenile stages, and evaluation of the pollination and seed dispersal services, will provide insights into the long-term survival of this cultural heritage. For example, low genetic diversity could make the bridges vulnerable to pest and pathogen attack, and low recruitment of new and genetically diverse individuals into the population could signify lack of replacement of older bridges by new robust material.

Current Projects:

  • Grand challenge: Education on Chemical Ecology in the Anthropocene, 2023-2029, International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS)

Completed projects:

  • Towards a general framework for geomaterial use by animals: Comparing bioengineering principles in termite and potter wasp mud architecture, 2022-2025, Department of Science and Technology (DST)
  • The Ecology and Genetics of the living root bridges of Meghalaya, 2022-2025, Department of Biotechnology (DBT)
  • The vulnerability of pollinators and pollination services in India in the context of climate change, 2018-2019, Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF)
  • Understanding the respiration and growth of a microcosm: The case of a fig syconium, 2018-2021, Department of Science and Technology (DST)
  • Renewal of J.C. Bose Fellowship to Prof. Renee Borges, 2021-2026, Department of Science and Technology (DST)
  • J.C. Bose Fellowship to Prof. Renee Borges, 2016-2021, Department of Science and Technology (DST)
  • Chemical ecology of the north east region (NER) of India: A collaborative programme linking NER and Bangalore researchers, 2015-2021, Department of Biotechnology (DBT)
  • Investigating the ecology of the ant-plant Humboldtia brunonis (Fabaceae) in relation to its domatia-inhabiting fungi, 2016-2018, Department of Science and Technology (DST)
  • Understanding the ecosystem service of pollination in a fragmented seasonal cloud forest in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, 2014-2017, Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF)
  • The movement ecology of fig wasps: how fig wasps find their fig targets using plants volatiles, 2013-2016, Department of Science and Technology (DST)
  • Fungus-farming by termites, 2012-2015, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)
  • The nutritional ecology & Ant-Plant mutualisms, 2009-2012, Department of Science and Technology (DST)
  • The visual & ecological adaptations for nocturnality in Carpenter Bees of the Genus Xylocopa, 2006-2009, Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA)
  • The Chemical Ecology of Species Interactions: The Fig-Fig Wasp System, 2005-2016, Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF)
  • The Chemical Ecology of Species Interactions: The Termite-Fungus Mutualism System, 2005-2016, Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF)
  • The Visual Ecology of Species Interactions: Flower-Visitor Interactions, 2005-2016, Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF)
  • The Behavioural Ecology of the Mimicry Between Ants and Spiders, 2003-2007, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)
  • The chemical ecology of fig mutualisms, 2002-2005, Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research (IFCPAR)
  • The pollination and dispersal ecology of Mussaendra glabrata, 1999-2002, Department of Science and Technology (DST)

Field site

The Western Ghats of India

Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary
Agumbe Reserve Forest
Magod
Bisle Reserve Forest
Sampaji Reserve Forest
Makut Reserve Forest
Kudremukh
Talacauveri, Padinalaknad Ghat Reserve Forest
Mammankolli: Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary
Solaikolli: Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary
Uppangala
Karinja

Photo by Yathiraj G.

Field site

North-Eastern India

Meghalaya

Photo by Lucy B. Nongbri

Field site

Bengaluru, Karnataka

Indian Institute of Science
Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research
Gandhi Krishi Vigyana Kendra

Photo by Nikhil P. More

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