Unravelling Ecological Secrets Through Birds

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Speaker:
Dr Monica Kaushik

About the talk:
Birds are everywhere, and the simple act of counting birds can help understand anthropogenic disturbances, disruptions of ecosystem processes and find solutions to urbanization. Dr Monica Kaushik has used birds as a model taxon for more than a decade to understand how biological invasions can influence bird-mediated seed dispersal in tropical forests of India and Hawaii. During her doctoral research, she studied the impact of forest biomass extraction on bird communities and identified indicator birds for monitoring this. Currently, Monica is studying urban bird communities to identify features that can help in conserving them. In this talk, she will explore such distinct threats (biological invasions, habitat degradation and urbanization) and how birds can help us in understanding their impacts.

About the speaker:
Dr Monica Kaushik is an Assistant Professor at Azim Premji University, Bangalore. She studies birds, their habitats, and how they fare in a world dominated by humans. In scientific terms, she studies the impacts of anthropogenic disturbances on the forest ecosystem and bird communities. Monica is interested in understanding the effects of invasive species on native communities and mutualistic interactions. Currently, she is investigating the patterns of urban biodiversity and their socio-ecological correlates in Dehradun (Uttarakhand), a city in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas. Before joining Azim Premji University, she taught for three years (2019-2022) at the School of Human Ecology, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi. You can get in touch with her to discuss about potential research opportunities through email ([email protected]) or drop her a message on Twitter (@monicakaushik05).