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My research interests range across systematics, historical biogeography, diversification and trait evolution.
My research interests range across systematics, historical biogeography, diversification and trait evolution.
Trait evolution
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While chance plays a big role in evolution, repeated evolution of complex traits is a commonly observed phenomenon which begs the question 'How predictable is evolution and under what circumstances is it predictable?' To better understand this, I am interested in studying trait evolution and its intrinsic and extrinsic drivers using comparative phylogenetic and genomic tools.
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Lajmi, A., Verma, A., & Karanth, K. P. (2020) Repeated evolution of terrestrial lineages in a continental lizard radiation. Journal of Evolutionary Biology.
Errbii, M., Ernst, U., Lajmi, A., Gadau, J., & Schrader, L. (2021). Genomic architecture and evolutionary dynamics of a social niche polymorphism in the California harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex californicus. BioRxiv 2021.03.21.436260; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.03.21.436260
Errbii, M., Ernst, U., Lajmi, A., Gadau, J., & Schrader, L. (2021). Genomic architecture and evolutionary dynamics of a social niche polymorphism in the California harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex californicus. BioRxiv 2021.03.21.436260; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.03.21.436260
Diversification |
Time-calibrated phylogenetic trees inform us about not just how species are related to each other, but also tempo of diversification. This information when combined with data on natural history, phenotype, and/or climatic niche can give us insights into processes underlying patterns of diversification. I am keen on examining patterns of diversification as well as the underlying processes in a phylogenetic framework.
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Lajmi, A., Verma, A., & Karanth, K. P. (2020) Repeated evolution of terrestrial lineages in a continental lizard radiation. Journal of Evolutionary Biology.
Lajmi, A., & Karanth, K. P. (2020) Eocene–Oligocene cooling and the diversification of Hemidactylus geckos in Peninsular India. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution.
Lajmi, A., & Karanth, K. P. (2020) Eocene–Oligocene cooling and the diversification of Hemidactylus geckos in Peninsular India. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution.
Historical
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In the last 90 million years, the Indian plate has drifted from southern to the northern hemisphere making contact only intermittently with various landmasses, until it finally collided with Eurasia. With the Himalayas and Thar desert acting as dispersal barriers, Peninsular India is yet again an insular landmass. This unique history provides an exciting backdrop to study the assembly of flora and fauna on the Indian plate.
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Lajmi, A., Bansal, R., Giri, V., & Karanth, P. (2019). Phylogeny and biogeography of the endemic Hemidactylus geckos of the Indian subregion suggest multiple dispersals from Peninsular India to Sri Lanka. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 186(1) 286–301 https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zly047
Species
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Identifying species is not only crucial from a conservation perspective, but also to understand macroevolutionary patterns. As a part of investigating these patterns, species delimitation has become an important part of my work, since a large proportion of diversity remains undocumented in Peninsular India. I am keen on utilising multiple lines of evidences— genetic, morphological, ecological, environmental data— to delimit species.
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Lajmi, A., & Karanth, K. P. (2020) Eocene–Oligocene cooling and the diversification of Hemidactylus geckos in Peninsular India. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution.
Bajaru, S., Lajmi, A., Manakadan, R., Kulavmode, A., & Ramakrishnan, U. (2020) Assessing the status of critically endangered Kondana soft-furred Rat (Millardia kondana) using integrative taxonomy: combining evidence from morphological, molecular and environmental niche modelling. Mammalia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/mammalia-2019-0056
Lajmi, A., Giri, V. B., & Karanth, K. P. (2016). Molecular data in conjunction with morphology help resolve the Hemidactylus brookii complex (Squamata: Gekkonidae). Organisms Diversity & Evolution, 16(3), 659-677.
Bajaru, S., Lajmi, A., Manakadan, R., Kulavmode, A., & Ramakrishnan, U. (2020) Assessing the status of critically endangered Kondana soft-furred Rat (Millardia kondana) using integrative taxonomy: combining evidence from morphological, molecular and environmental niche modelling. Mammalia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/mammalia-2019-0056
Lajmi, A., Giri, V. B., & Karanth, K. P. (2016). Molecular data in conjunction with morphology help resolve the Hemidactylus brookii complex (Squamata: Gekkonidae). Organisms Diversity & Evolution, 16(3), 659-677.