Information processing at the limits of size

Ants exhibit dramatic differences in body size within and between species. Irrespective of size, all individuals have to be competent navigators. We identify the behavioural and physiological adaptations evolved by miniature individuals to be competent navigators.

Neural investment to suit locomotory modes

In many arthropods, both between and within species, animals show dramatic variation in their locomotory strategies. Different locomotory modes require distinct neural adaptations. We identify the investment animals make towards brain neuropils in this context.

Visual adaptations for distinct temporal niches

To move from a day- to a night-active lifestyle animals require substantial visual adaptations to cope with the dramatic changes in light intensity. We study congeneric Myrmecia species active at discrete times of the day. In these we have found nocturnal species have largest lenses and wide rhabdoms that increases their optical sensitivity.

Obstacle detection and avoidance in insects

Both walking and flying insects regularly encounter obstacles. The cost of collision with obstacles may simply require a detour that increase travel time. Or in some instances, collision may lead to death. Insects must hence effectively manage their foraging behaviours, detect and avoid obstacles. 

We study how about walking and flying insects detect obstacles against varied backgrounds, and the navigational decisions they make immediately after detecting an obstacle.

Visual navigation in Jumping spiders

Jumping spiders exhibit dramatic variation in morphology, which reflects in the microhabitat they occupy. Through field and lab-based experiments, we are characterising v goal, leads a follower to it. In some species, ants resort to carrying nest mates during nest relocation. In both these cases, we are interested in what information the follower (in tandem running) or passenger (in carrying pairs) acquires and how it utilises it on its subsequent trips

Neural basis of goal directed behaviour

A number of arthropods travel to specific goals, such as home, mating sites and specific food resources. Once animals have identified their goal, they need to maintain a heading direction to travel towards it.

We use pharmacology techniques to investigate the role of specific brain regions. We also use block face EM to reconstruct the neural circuitry of specific brain regions in both ants and spiders.

Biomechanics of Jumping

Jumping is a unique mode of locomotion that arthropods use to travel quickly, avoid obstacles and also to capture prey. Power amplification for jumps is derived from muscles, spring actuation, or based on semi-hydraulic system. We study how arthropods of different sizes execute high precision jumps.

Prey – predator interaction

Ants are dangerous predators of a variety of arthropods. There are some exceptional animals that have evolved unusual strategies to exclusively predate on ants. We characterise the hunting behaviour and the senso

Multiple locomotory strategies in ants

The ants we most frequently encounter are workers which are exclusive ‘walkers’. Like most Hexapods they rely on a tripod gait movement to traverse their terrestrial environment. Some ants that live in the mangrove habitats have a significant challenge of coping with sea water and have resorted to swimming. We are interested in identifying the biomechanics and physiology required to navigate while swimming.

Information transfer during nestmate carrying and tandem running

While most ant species forage individually, some embark on more adventurous behaviours to take their nest mates to a specific goal. In some species, ants engage in a behaviour called tandem running, wherein a leader who most likely ‘knows’ the location of the goal, leads a follower to it. In some species, ants resort to carrying nest mates during nest relocation. In these distinct contexts we study what information is acquired by animals and how relevant information is transferred between nestmates.