Driven by quantitative ecology and science communication, my research and outreach projects explore invasive plant dynamics, mangrove biogeography, national database curation, and community-engaged ecosystem restoration.
Ongoing projects
Indian Alien Flora Information (ILORA) database
About ILORA
It is widely acknowledged that biological invasions are now a major global challenge for the conservation of natural resources and biodiversity. However, response capacities in emerging economies are rarely adequate to deal with this pertinent threat. Although the existing country-level checklists are crucial tools for the effective management of alien plant invasions, a comprehensive national database integrating socio-economic, geographical, and ecological attributes of alien plant species may aid in advancing current research and policy directions by many folds.
This project was initiated in early 2020 to develop a curated database of the alien vascular flora of India. The database framework is now ready, and it presently contains 14 attributes for 1747 alien plant species in India. The database is known by the name of ILORA (Indian Alien Flora Information). The database has scopes for bidirectional information exchange with the user and has the potential to become a nationwide collaborative platform for the scientific community.
Published research
The database itself
The database was published and made accessible for research without any restriction, given that the data paper is properly cited.
Policy interventions
Based on the introduction pathways and current economic uses of the invasive alien plant species in India, we proposed a set of policy interventions, identified potential hurdles for the effective implementation of such policies in India, and outlined a dynamic decentralised system with a standard operating procedure.
Factors for successful invasion
By considering 13 variables related to biogeography, introduction pathways, uses, functional traits, and distribution for 715 species belonging to three invasion categories, we identified the relative influence of these biotic and abiotic factors on the successful naturalisation and invasion of alien plant species.
Supplementing occurrences
Given that global databases like the GBIF are often not exhaustive and poorly represent the actual distribution of the invasive alien plant species in the country, we compiled occurrence data for these species from literature records and herbarium sheets. Our dataset supplemented the GBIF data by 60.39% and added new occurrence information for 64 invasive and naturalised alien plant species in India.
Climatic niches
Since most invasion studies compare climatic niches only at a global scale, we tested whether biogeographic origin, invasion history, and socio-ecological traits shape niche dynamics at a regional scale instead. Analysing the realised climatic niche of 101 invasive alien plant species in India, we found that a species' region of origin and residence time significantly influence the extent and direction of its climatic niche shift.
Ongoing research
Large-scale predictive modelling to identify the invasion hotspots in India
- Online trading of alien plants in India
Completed projects
Molecular understanding of phenotypic variation in invasive plants
About
Phenotypic variation, one of the strategies of successful invasion, can be influenced by genetic diversity and environmental influences or the interaction between the two. In the absence of standing genetic variation, the plasticity of ecologically relevant traits of a genotype may also influence invasion success. Epigenetic modifications have been recognized as the key mechanism behind plastic responses of plant traits to environmental cues and the microevolution of natural populations. This project aims to understand the molecular mechanisms behind phenotypic variation for invasive plant species.
Past, present, and future distribution of mangroves in the Indo-West Pacific
About
The mangroves provide a range of essential ecosystem services. However, over-exploitation, climate change, natural geographic events, and cryptic ecological degradation have brought these valuable natural resources to the face of extinction in the foreseeable future. This project aims to understand their distribution across time and space to provide important clues for conservation measures of these valuable natural resources.
Online trading of alien flora in India
About
Online trading has opened a new distribution channel for non-native species, yet India lacks a framework to monitor this domestic market. This project curated and analysed trade data for invasive and naturalised alien plant species sold across major e-commerce platforms and online nurseries in India, revealing how ecological traits shape their pricing and trade patterns. Based on these findings, the project proposed actionable measures to regulate online plant trade and strengthen the country’s biosecurity infrastructure.
Research grants
1. Small Grants Program, Azim Premji University
- Year: 2024 – 2026
- Amount: INR 5,00,000
- Project: Online trading of alien flora in India – causes, consequences, and roads ahead
- Status: Ongoing
2. National Natural Science Foundation of China, Research Fund for International Young Scientists
- Year: 2021-2022
- Amount: RMB 3,00,000
- Project: Implementation of a novel framework for understanding the molecular basis of phenotypic variation and its role in successful invasion
Status: Complete
3. The Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities
- Year: 2021-2022
- Amount: RMB 1,50,000
- Project: Genetic and epigenetic regulation of phenotypic variation in invasive weed Mikania micrantha
- Status: Complete
4. The Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation
- Year: 2021-2022
- Amount: RMB 1,50,000
- Project: Phylogenetically informed and trait-based distribution model as a tool to prioritize areas for invasive plant management in tropical Asia
- Status: Complete