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. 

BELab-2019

Logo design: Nakul Raj

Recent Publications
MahuaSeedDispersal

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)

Jungle_Babbler

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)

Trohinae1

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)

Jungle_Babbler

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)

What's new?
Sonam_Thesis_lite
Congratulations Sonam

Sonam graduated from IISER-M in September 2022. Her work in BEL was on communicative complexity in avian vocalizations. She has joined Dr. Raghav Rajan at IISER Pune as a postdoc . 

Harish_LGB_lite
Welcome Harish

Harish has a Masters in Zoology and joined BEL for his PhD work in August 2022. He is a recipient of a Junior Research Fellowship from UGC and is passionate about field ecological studies on birds and mammals.

ashish-jha-2

Welcome Ashish!

Ashish joined BEL in March 2022 as an IISER M Postdoctoral Fellow. In February 2023 he was awarded the National Postdoctoral Fellowship from DST SERB. Ashish did his Ph.D. from CCMB and is working on avian diet analysis using IRMS at BEL, IISER M.

MS17_Lite - 1
Congratulations MS17!

7 Masters students from BEL graduated from IISER-M in Aug 2022: Vaibhav (ontogeny of cricket calling), Barsa (moths of Himalayas), Geetika (Babbler bioacoustics), Sooraj (Sunbird vocalizations), Afzal (cricket mate choice), Kaustubh (bird song  geographical variation), Ushnik (mouse neurobio, Gottingen)

"What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.
Jane Goodall
Funding
Funders_cropped