Farah Ishtiaq

Programme: The population genetics of mosquito species in India

Our group is interested in ecology and evolution of vector-borne diseases and evolutionary ecology of avian malaria in the context of climate change. We use a combination of fieldwork and molecular techniques to address ecological and evolutionary processes driving transmission of parasites and population genetics of vector species. Using fine-scale landscape genetics, we explore the relationships between heterogeneous landscape features and genetic variation in vector populations in India. With molecular, ecological and landscape data, in conjunction with computational and analytical approaches, we want to quantify the effects of landscape on gene flow in vector populations to understand how vector-borne diseases spread.

Understanding vector dynamics and disease ecology through landscape genetics

Top left shows seasonal variations in abundance of mosquitoes in a year. Top right shows habitat overlap between different mosquito species and adaptations specific to various habitats. Bottom left and right images show distinct genetic structures in the populations of mosquitoes from different parts of India.

The Field Ecology team

Left to Right: Nikesh Kumar, Swati Prakash, Farah Ishtiaq, Anagha Ajith PK, Mohd Nihad, Manoj Kumar