NISER

Phylogenetics, Systematics, Biogeography

https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?hl=en&user=46WWAAsAAAAJ

The contemporary distribution of biota within the Indian subcontinent must have been shaped by its unique history. The Indian subcontinent was part of Gondwanaland and had close tectonic associations with Africa, Madagascar and Seychelles before eventually colliding with Eurasia, resulting in the orogenesis of the Himalayas. The initial contact of the Indian plate with Southeast Asia may have potentially resulted in exchange of biota across these two landmasses. On the other hand, the contemporary Indian subregion reusers insular from other biogeographic zones areas owing to various geographic barriers. Prolonged insularity generally promotes diversification in lineages with limited dispersal ability, resulting in endemic radiations. Beyond bearing these unique spatial and temporal signatures in its biotic assembly, the Indian subcontinent itself is heterogeneous in its topography with about ten major river systems/ basins flowing out of the peninsula. Additionally, the Indian subcontinent has about six major hill ranges. Cumulatively, these factors would have had (or still have) a significant effect on the contemporary distribution of biota within the Indian subcontinent, resulting in an interesting mix of lineages. Indian biota may therefore be composed of ancient Gondwanan relicts to lineages that dispersed more recently from other regions. I am personally interested in South Asian herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians), largely owing to their diversity and antiquity. However, in my lab we have a set of broad interests ranging from understanding systematics, biogeographic patterns and evolution of characters in a diverse range of taxa from the Indian subcontinent. As a lab PI, I want to usertain and inculcate a keen interest in organismal biology, ecology, natural history, systematics and biogeography.