Research

Microbes are important component of multicellular life. In insects, the microbial associations are widespread and contribute to the physiology, behaviour and ecology. Moreover, recent works suggesting that microbiomes even contribute to phenotypic plasticity and adaptation of insects into novel ecological niches. My ongoing research is to determine whether and how insect gut microbiomes contribute to the niche-specific adaptation and the associated life history traits evolution.

Specific Projects

1. Role of microbes in adaptive evolution of reproductive capacity in Drosophila

Ovarioles are egg-producing subunits of insect ovaries. The number of ovarioles in the ovaries largely determines female reproductive capacity in Drosophila. Recent studies on Hawaiian Drosophila have shown that breeding niche influences evolution of reproductive capacity. I investigate how gut and breeding niche associated microbiomes regulate adaptive ovariole number variation in Drosophila.

2. Gut microbiomes and host specialization in Drosophila sechellia

In recent years, it has become evident that plant- or insect-associated microorganisms, through their effects on plant defenses and nutrient utilization, confer success to the insect host in otherwise inaccessible nutritional niches. I investigate how different niche-specific microorganisms contribute to the host specialization in D. sechellia, a dietary specialist endemic to the Seychelles Islands.