Dr. Chetan Nag K S
Deputy Director & Associate Professor, CUBEC
Jain (Deemed-to-be-University)
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
I am broadly interested in biodiversity, conservation, & terrestrial Ecology with an emphasis on Urban biodiversity & Ecology. My interests are in addressing “basic” questions in Biodiversity & Ecology under a terrestrial setting. Specifically, I am interested in studying the patterns and processes underlying the functioning of a terrestrial ecosystem through field observations, and field- and lab experiments within a fundamental (evolutionary/ecological) and applied (conservation-oriented) framework.
I am currently focusing on
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Primate Hybridization studies between Hanuman langur (Semnopithecus entellus) and Nilgiri langur (Semnopithecus johnii) of South Western Ghats using a molecular genetic approach
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Urban Ecological studies to understand processes that drive biological diversification as a result of human influence. Specifically, I am interested in themes such as Urban species traits and evolution; urban habitats and urban biotic communities to understand
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Urbanization as a selective force changing the composition of animal communities
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Animal species responses & adaptations to challenging situations in urban and suburban environments through an integrated approach under the climate change scenario.
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To this end, I have chosen amphibians, birds & mammals to answer my questions in an evolutionary ecology framework but I am flexible as long as the research question demands me to move to any animal model systems and tools.
Besides research, I am deeply committed to science-based teaching, both at Bachelor’s and Master’s levels. Other than my time in History & Philosophy of Science, Science outreach lectures, I follow the literature on Indian tradition & Culture under a Comparative Science of Cultures framework, do a lot traveling, and enjoy Hindustani classical music.
Education and employment:
BSc (2003): MES College, Bangalore University, Bangalore, India
M.Sc (Zoology, 2005): Dept. of Zoology, Bangalore University, Bangalore, India
M.Phil (Zoology, 2007): Periyar University, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India
Ph.D. (Zoology, 2012): SACON- Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
Postdoctoral scholar (2011-2012): CES, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
Instructor (Biology, 2012-2017)- Undergraduate Program, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
Collaborators:
Prof K Praveen Karanth, Chairman, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India (https://praveenkaranth.weebly.com/)
Dr. K P Dinesh, Scientist D, Zoological Survey of India, Western Regional Center, Pune, Maharashtra, India (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Dinesh-Kp)
Dr. H.N. Kumara, Principal Scientist, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Anaikatty, Coimbatore-641108, Tamil Nadu, India (https://www.sacon.in/people/faculty/principal-scientist/?uid=dr-h-n-kumara)
Mr. Rajesh Puttaswamaiah, Citizen Scientist & Trustee, Bat Conservation India Trust, Kadabagere, Magadi Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka-562130 (http://batconservationindia.org)
Selected Publications:
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Tudu S, S J A, Nag K.S. C. A review of Szulkin, M., J. Munshi-South, and A. Charmantier, eds. 2020. Urban Evolutionary Biology. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 303 pp. ISBN 978-0-19-883685-8. JAD 2024; 6 (1) URL: http://jad.lu.ac.ir/article-1-422-en.html
Deepak, P., Dinesh, K.P., Nag, K.S.C., Ohler, A., Shanker, K., D Souza, P., Asha Devi, J.S. (2024). Revisionary studies on the genus Sphaerotheca Günther, 1859 (Anura: Dicroglossidae) and description of a new species from the metropolitan suburban area of city Bengaluru, India. Zootaxa 5405 (3): 381–410
Kumara, H. N., Sasi, R., Mahato, S., Kumar, S., Nag, K S C., Suganthasakthivel, R., Ramesh Kumar, P., Umapathy, G., Singh, M., & Singh, M. (2024). Distribution, social organization, and management of Semnopithecus johnii: An umbrella species of fragmented landscape of the Western Ghats. Biotropica, 00, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1111/ btp.13287
Kumari K S., Puttaswamaiah R., Nag K S C. 2023. Preliminary analysis indicates dietary similarities in the prey composition of Hipposideros hypophyllus Kock and Bhat, 1994 (Chiroptera: Hipposideridae) and sympatric congeneric species. Journal of Animal Diversity. 5 (4). URL: http://jad.lu.ac.ir/article-1-317-en.html
Bramhi, S C., & Nag, K.S.C. 2023. Identifying the Linnean Shortfalls and the Prominence of DNA Barcodes in Urban Areas: Reviews and Reflections from Indian Cities. In Justin A. Daniels (Ed.), Advances in Environmental Research. Vol 95: 181-198 pp. Nova Science publishers, Inc, USA.
Nag, K.S.C., Deepak, P. and Hegde, A. (2023) A Rapid Survey of the Anuran Diversity at Nandi Hills and Moodiganahalli village, Chikkaballapur District, Karnataka, India. Hamadryad: 40, 29–36
Kumara, H. N., Sasi, R., Mahato, S., Kumar, S., Nag, KSC., Suganthasakthivel, R., Ramesh Kumar, P., Umapathy, G., Singh, M., & Singh, M. (2023). Distribution, social organization, and management of Semnopithecus johnii: An umbrella species of fragmented landscape of the Western Ghats. Biotropica, 00, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1111/ btp.13287
Nag, K. S. C. (2022). Height variations of Large Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis nests in response to anthropogenic presence at two lakes in Bengaluru. Indian BIRDS 18 (3): 74–78.
Nag, K.S.C. (2020). A new report on mixed species association between Nilgiri Langurs Semnopithecus johnii and Tufted Grey Langurs S. priam (Primates: Cercopithecidae) in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Western Ghats, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 12(9): 15975-15984. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.5615.12.9.15975–15984
Nag, K.S.C. (2020). A review of- Darwin Comes to Town: How the Urban Jungle Drives Evolution. Menno Schilthuizen. Quercus Editions Ltd (2018). Current Science, 118 (11), 1843-1844. 10th June. https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/118/11/1847.pdf
Singh, M., Kumara, H.N., Dittus, W., Kumar, A. & Nag, K.S.C. 2020. Semnopithecus priam. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T167546892A17942964.
https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T167546892A17942964.en
Singh, M., Kumara, H.N., Kumar, A. & Nag, K.S.C. 2020. Semnopithecus hypoleucos. The IUCN
Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T167543916A17942313.
https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T167543916A17942313.en