...of Southern India.

Speaker : Mr. Robin Vijayan (National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore)

Organiser : Department of Ecology, French Institute of Pondicherry.

Abstract

I present the results of a five-year study that address key questions regarding the evolution and conservation biology of a threatened, endemic bird that inhabits this landscape. Using mitochondrial DNA, the study examines the role of ancient geographical gaps in the population history of the species while also examining the role of climate in recent colonization events. This study also examines more recent and perhaps cultural differences by examining the song structure of the species across three populations. The influence of forest patch size and disturbance on the population density and survival rate of the species on one of the "islands" was also examined during this study. The species responded to patchiness at different scales in the species' distribution ranging from genetic to cultural. Finally, at the local scale, we found that the species was affected by anthropogenic disturbance that had a socio-economic cause. We have suggested conservation measures based on the scientific output of the project that can be implemented on the field.

I will also talk briefly on how, with Dr. Uma Ramakrishnan of NCBS, we propose to examine the evolutionary history of the Shola forest ecosystem using many plant and animal species, in a possible collaboration with the French Institute.

Sur le site de l'Ifp.