Research

Mating success of Alternative Reproductive Tactics (ARTs)

Co-existence of traits providing the same set of outcomes has been a central question in evolutionary biology. ARTs are discrete phenotypes that are employed by organisms to achieve successful fertilisations. In collaboration with Viraj Torsekar, I showed that two competing ARTs, i.e., silent and calling, in a population of tree crickets can be maintained by virtue of the equal mating success they confer on the males. Furthermore, the equal mating success of both ARTs holds across a range of predation risk environments.

Satellite behaviour and its advantages

Satellite behaviour is primarily observed during community foraging and conspecific mating. During conspecific mating, weaker or inferior males locate themselves close to dominant males to give themselves a chance to intercept females approaching the dominant male. In tree crickets, males can attract females by producing tonal calls. However, we do observe that males can obtain mates even when they are silent. In my research, I study whether silent males can indeed obtain mates by behaving as satellites and whether such a tactic is adaptive.

Effect of spatial structure on co-existence of traits

Spatial structure of habitats can affect the probability of interaction between individuals in a population which can affect the fitness of certain mate acquisition strategies. In tree crickets, males can baffle, call or remain silent. Using an data driven individual-based model (ibm) constructed in collaboration with Anand Shikhara Bhat, I showed that habitat heterogeneity can facilitate co-existence of mate acquisition tactics in males of a tree cricket species.