I am a biologist with broad interests in ecology and evolution. My research is largely focused on the ecology, evolution and perception of acoustic communication in animals. I use a combination of field and lab-based experiments, empirical observations and computer simulation-based approaches to address my research questions. I have worked in a variety of habitats ranging from the rainforests of Western Ghats in Southern India to the foothills of Western Himalayas and on diverse study systems including insects, fishes, birds and mammals.
Smells ripe: olfactory cues likely mediate Mahua seed dispersal by fruit bats
Fruit scent as an indicator of ripeness status in ‘bat fruits’ to attract ‘fruit bats’: chemical basis of chiropterochory
Mahandran V, Hakkim H, Sinha V, Jain M
Acta Ethologica (2023)
Being Social: Jungle Babbler behaviours varies across day and seasons
Temporal variation in the behaviour of a cooperatively breeding bird, Jungle Babbler (Argya striata)
Yambem S, Jain M
Tropical Ecology (2022)
New species of Teleogryllus described from India after 50 years!
Taxonomic revision of Teleogryllus mitratus & T. occipitalis in India, with the description of Teleogryllys rohinae
Jaiswara R, Desutter L, Jain M
Zootaxa (2021)
Decoding the babble of Jungle Babblers: Contextual communication
More than just babble: functional and structural complexity of vocalizations of Jungle Babbler
Yambem S, Chorol S, Jain M
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology (2021)
Soniya graduated from IISER M on 1st September 2023. She worked on various aspects of the behaviour of Jungle Babblers. She has laid the foundations of much of what we know about these birds!
Bahee joined BEL as a Postdoctoral Fellow in September 2023. Bahee did his PhD with Prof. Hema Somanathan at IISER TVM. He will be working on the movement ecology of birds and bats at BEL, IISER M.
Congratulations Ashish!
Ashish had joined BEL in March 2022 as an IISER M Postdoctoral Fellow and subsequently as a NPDF. He has now joined Wildlife Institute of India as Scientist C and will leas his own group.
7 Masters students from BEL graduated in June 2023: Swastika, Arunima, Rahul and Anjna worked in BEL. Prabhat, Maia and Kartikey worked with external supervisors. Congratulations to all!