I  am  a  behavioural  ecologist  and  my  research  interests  lie  in  the  interface  of  ethology,  ecology  and evolutionary biology. I am primarily interested in understanding the ecology and evolution of acoustic communication in animals. Variation and complexity in acoustic communication, the numerous constraints on communication and how animals deal with these are the main drivers of my curiosity and my research largely revolves around these topics. The approaches used are a combination of field and lab-based experiments, empirical observations and theoretical modeling. My work is question-driven and I work on a range of study systems including insects, birds and mammals.

PROJECTS

 

• Evolution of signal design: An astonishing variety of signals exist in the animal kingdom. One of the major aims of my research is to understand the structure of signals used by animals, the ecological contexts in which they are used, the constraints under which the animals must communicate and the evolutionary forces driving the communication system.
• Acoustic communication and sociality: Over the course of evolution, non-human social animals haveachieved remarkable   complexity   in   the   organization   of   their   societies   and   sophistication   in communication. I am interested in understanding the social evolution of acoustic communication. A variety of animal societies, across different taxa, allow us to study this by examining interaction between animals that are mediated by acoustic communication.
• Biodiversity and conservation: Living in the tropics, we are blessed with a rich diversity of habitats, floraand fauna. One cannot turn a blind eye towards the rapid loss of biodiversity and degradation of habitats due to rapid urbanization. Through my research I aim to develop novel, non-invasive and whenever possible, inexpensive techniques to monitor biological diversity in order to concentrate conservation efforts to biodiversity-rich areas.

 

One of the major drawbacks of living an urban life is developing a disconnect with nature and anindifference towards issues related to loss of biodiversity, sometimes even entire ecosystems. Thus, apart from my research, I hope to create awareness about these issues through nature education and public outreach.

More details about group can be found at our group page

• Balakrishnan R., Bahuleyan J., Nandi D. and Jain M. Modelling the effects of chorus species composition and caller density on acoustic masking interference in multispecies choruses of crickets and katydids. Ecological Informatics (in press).
• Jain M., Diwakar S., Bahuleyan J., Deb R. and Balakrishnan R. (2013). A Rain Forest Dusk Chorus: Cacophony or sounds of silence? Evolutionary Ecology (online) doi: 10.1007/s10682- 013-9658-7.
• Rajaraman K., Mhatre N., Jain M., Postles M., Balakrishnan R. and Robert D. (2013). Low pass filters  and  differential  tympanal  tuning  in  a  paleotropical  bushcricket  with  an  unusually  low frequency call. Journal of Experimental Biology, 216: 777-787.
• Jain M. and Balakrishnan R. (2012). Does acoustic adaptation drive vertical stratification? A test in a tropical cricket assemblage. Behavioral Ecology, 23(2): 343-354.
• Jain  M.  and  Balakrishnan  R.  (2011).  Microhabitat  selection  in  an  assemblage  of  crickets (Orthoptera: Ensifera) of a tropical evergreen forest in Southern India. Insect Conservation and Diversity, 4(2): 152-158.
• Jain M., Kuriakose G. and Balakrishnan R. (2010). Evaluation of methods to estimate foliage density in the understorey of a tropical evergreen forest. Current Science, 98(4): 508-515.
• Diwakar S., Jain M. and Balakrishnan R. (2007). Psychoacoustic sampling as a reliable, non- invasive method to monitor orthopteran species diversity in tropical forests. Biodiversity and Conservation, 16 (14): 4081-4093.
• Jain M., Balakrishnan R. (2013). From leaf litter to canopy: noninvasive and reliable sampling in a tropical  rainforest.  In  Lowman  M.,  Soubadra  M.  D.  and  Ganesh  T.  (Eds.)  Treetops  at  Risk. Challenges of Global Forest Canopies (pp 313 – 320). Springer Verlag, New York. Book Chapter.