Lab Research Interests

Research in the lab broadly encompasses the seven interrelated research themes described below:

  1. Determination of the timing and direction of African-Asian faunal exchanges;

  2. the use of molecular markers, morphology, molt (in birds) and GIS to infer current and historical population processes at various temporal and spatial scales across different landscapes;

  3. investigation of evolutionary versus ecological processes as determinants of distribution patterns;

  4. evolution of life-history traits, extent of sex-ratio manipulation and extra-pair paternity in birds;

  5. diversification and taxonomy of sunbirds (Old-World ecological analogues of hummingbirds);

  6. disease ecology of avian malaria; and

  7. investigation of candidate loci underpinning morphological and physiological adaptation.