|
RESEARCH
I have a broad interest in biology encompassing the fields of natural selection theory, genetics, community ecology, and conservation biology. However, I use two systems as microcosms to study a range of phenomena such as morphological evolution, sexual dimorphism, geographical distribution of animals and speciation that fascinate me. The first is Batesian mimicry, which is the mechanism by which unprotected prey species gain protection from predators by their resemblance to protected (e.g., toxic) species that the predators have learned to avoid based on prior experience. The second system is Indian butterflies, which, with ca 1,300 species and over 3,000 subspecies arranged in an interesting geographic mosaic, offer virtually unlimited oportunities to study biodiversity, biogeography, community ecology, population biology and conservation issues. More information on these and my other research projects is given below.
Diversity and evolution of Batesian mimicry: The magnificent diversity of Batesian mimicry is manifested in several sex-limited and polymorphic types, offering an excellent system to study natural, sexual and frequency-dependent selection in shaping the evolution of sex-limited traits and polymorphism. However, currently there is little understanding of how this diversity is distributed among species, and how different mimicry types have evolved in relation to each other. To answer these questions, I have developed: (a) a mathematical model of the ecological conditions and selection regimes under which various mimicry types may be favored, and (b) a graphical model that connects various mimicry types by hypothetical character state changes within a phylogenetic framework. I am testing the mathematical model with field data on population and community dynamics in the Eastern Himalayan and Western Ghats butterfly "mimicry rings" (a community of mimics and the toxic species they mimic). Simultaneously, I am testing predictions of the graphical model using a maximum likelihood analysis of evolution of mimicry types on a molecular phylogeny of Papilio swallowtail butterflies. Read more ...
|
|
|
Wing color pattern evolution, speciation and mimicry in Menelaides swallowtail butterflies: Mormon swallowtails (subgenus Menelaides) make up a diverse group of Papilio with ca 50 species distributed over the Indo-Australian Region. The geographic mosaic of their distributional ranges, endemism and diversification in regional hotspots and subspeciation at sometimes micro-spatial scales make them a promising group for studying biogeographic processes and speciation. Many of them also show a spectacular diversity of Batesian mimicry and wing patterns and include such iconic mimetic species as Papilio memnon, P. polyes and P. aegeus. Read more ... |
|
|
Molecular genetics of mimicry in Papilio polytes butterfly: Papilio polytes, a widely ranging Asian swallowtail, has a single male form and several female forms, most of which mimic locally abundant toxic Pachliopta butterflies. There is a dominance hierarchy between female forms, the non-mimetic female form being recessive to all others. I am studying the molecular genetic basis of female-limited mimetic polymorphism in P. polytes in collaboration with Marcus Kronforst and Sean Mullen. Read more ... |
|
|
Ecology, biogeography, phylogenetics and conservation of Indian butterflies: Over the years
I have studied seasonal population dynamics, effects of fire and grazing
on butterfly diversity, ecological morphometrics, distribution of diversity
in the Western Ghats, annual butterfly migrations in southern India, community structure of butterflies in the Anamalai Hills, mimicry, and conservation prioritization of Indian butterflies. So far, my major work on Indian butterflies, among the publications listed elsewhere, is a book on Peninsular Indian butterflies. Now I am focusing on studying biogeographic patterns of butterfly diversity and evolutionary relationships of Indian endemics, and assessing extinction risks and conservation issues of Indian butterflies. Read more about my work on Indian butterflies on the continually updated and expanding website on Indian butterflies, or browse my academic and natural history publications. |
|
|
Hybrid speciation and mimicry in the Papilio glaucus species group: Recently discovered North American Papilio appalachiensis is a supposed hybrid species between Papilio glaucus and P. canadensis. It has a mix of morphological and phenological traits, and presumably genetic polymorphisms, derived from its putative parental species. It shares its mimetic female form and some wing pattern elements with P. glaucus but most other traits with P. canadensis. I am using a variety of molecular genetic approaches to investigate the evolutionary history of P. appalachiensis and its relationships with P. glaucus and P. canadensis to determine whether it is a product of historical hybridization between the latter two species. Read more ...
|
|
|
Mating system and reproductive behavior of wrinkled frogs: I study the wrinkled frog, Nyctibatrachus petraeus, which shows a unique combination of reproductive behaviors: (a) absence of amplexus, (b) resource-based male territoriality, (c) very small clutch size, (d) multiple mating by both males and females, (e) oviposition on vegetation outside water, without a foam nest, and (f) plastic development time that is sensitive to risk of predation. These behaviors show similarities with the Neotropical poison-dart frogs (Dendrobatidae), glass frogs (Centrolenidae) and red-eyed tree frogs (Agalychnis spp). This unique mating system makes it an attractive behavioral study system. Read more ... |
|
 |
Diversity and Structure in Nectar-feeding Butterfly Communities (June-August 2003): This was an experimental ecological study investigating effects of competition and invasive species on the diversity, community structure and foraging behavior of nectar-feeding butterflies. I carried out this study at Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica. The system consisted of over three dozen species of butterflies feeding mainly on Lantana and Wedelia. The butterfly community was numerically dominated by two species of Anartia butterflies. After experimentally removing Anartia, diversity in this butterfly community increased two-fold, influencing community structure but not foraging behavior. Read more in Kunte 2008 (Oikos; PDF file) and Kunte 2007 (Functional Ecology; PDF file). |
|
|
Ecology of intestinal parasites of wild mammals (1994-95, 2000-2001): This was mainly my mentor Milind Watve's research project, which I joined as an undergraduate research assistant cum field data collector. However, I am listing it here because I think this research was really very cool, and I very much enjoyed wandering the forests of Mudumalai, Tadoba, the Himalayas and NE India for this project. And something else came out of it, too: a book and a paper! One of the first papers from this study was featured in a full-page news coverage in Science (27 June 1997, vol. 276:1972). I like to use this as an example of the kind of mutual benefits generated by research involving undergraduate students. |
|
|
You can read about my work that is not covered in the research outlines above by checking through my publications, or by visiting the natural history and The age of exploration, discovery and excitement continues ... pages.
I am always open to new, exciting ideas and to scientific collaborations, so please contact me if anything on this page, or science in general, is of interest to you.
|
|
