Ratna Ghosal
Associate Professor, Ahmedabad University
ratna.ghosal(at)ahduni.edu.in
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Ecology and Environment Lab
What is ecology?
"Scientific study of the interactions that determine the distribution and abundance of organisms” (Krebs, 1985)
What is environment?
The living and non-living factors present on the earth surface. (Modified from Odum, 2012).
My lab works at the intersection of ecology and environment. We try to understand how interactions, whether at the level of species or populations or community, shape and influence different ecological processes, for example, niche compression or behavioral and/or physiological adaptations or how these interactions determine the resilience of an ecosystem. We attempt to investigate the dynamic nature of these interacting factors over both temporal and spatial scales, and to do that, we use different read outs, spanning from behavioural to molecular measures. Our group works on a wide range of model organisms using a combination of field and lab/captive-based observations and experiments. We strive to apply our findings to resolve real-world problems within the domain of conservation biology.
Currently, the lab is working on the following research themes:
Ecological adaptations of a large, freshwater ectotherm, the marsh or mugger crocodiles.
Mugger crocodiles (muggers), originating from archosaurs-the group that included dinosaurs, have been adapting and surviving on the planet earth for several thousands of years. Being cold-blooded, they may face extreme challenges with the global rise in temperature leading to altered climatic patterns. Moreover, within India, muggers live in several pocket populations, including both lentic and lotic ecosystems, and even in sewage or drainage systems, giving rise to severe conflict with the humans. In the lab, we try to understand behavioural and physiological adaptations of the muggers across varying spaces, potentially contributing towards conservation of the vulnerable species.
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Dynamics in the socio-sensory world of the Indian Cichlid, the green chromides.
Cichlids, a group of freshwater fishes, are known for their extensive adaptive radiation, where more than 3000 species have evolved over the past few million years. Cichlids show extensive social structures and have been shown to exhibit complex cognitive abilities. Out of the three cichlid species that are native to India and the subcontinent, green chromides are one of the most widely distributed, and also have economic importance, being popular as a 'food fish'. In the lab, we are studying social and sensory dynamics , in particular the visual system of the green chromides, and the ways in which the species are interacting with their local biotic and abiotic variables.
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Fission-fusion dynamics in shoaling chromides
Success or Failure: Invasion of the Amazon Sailfin Catfish in the Indian freshwaters
Biological invasions impact and alter an existing ecosystem in different ways, affecting populations, physiological processes and behavioral ecology of native species, and disease dynamics, as well. In the lab, we attempt to explore: a) how does an exotic species impact the biology of native species, b) are there any conservation consequences of invasions, c) can a cutting edge biological tool be developed for improved detection of the invasive species. Currently, we are using the Amazon Sailfin Catfish, a freshwater fish that has majorly invaded the Indian freshwaters, as a model system to study their invasion pathways under both laboratory and field conditions.
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Lab is generously supported by:
Ahmedabad University
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
DST-SERB, Government of India
CSIR, Government of India
Island Foundation, USA
Rufford Foundation, UK
Wildlife Conservation Society, USA
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