Members
14th
Term: Apr. 2024 ～
:Global Type
:Tenure-track Type
● SHARMA POKHAREL Sanjeeta Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Wildlife Endocrinology, Conservation Physiology, Mammalian Ecology, Behavioural Ecology, Chemical Ecology
Research Topic: Reconstructing paleoecology of extinct Japanese elephant species
Host Department: Division of South East Area Studies, Asian and African Area of Studies (ASAFAS)
Previous Affiliation: Asian and African Area of Studies (ASAFAS)
Short Introduction
Spanning over a decade, my research evolved around understanding the adaptive mechanisms of free-ranging Asian elephants in response to their rapidly changing environments. Specifically, I have focused on the physiological ‘adjustments’ elephants undergo in response to ecological and anthropogenic disturbances. Studies show that elephants attempt to ‘adapt’ to extreme challenges, physiologically and behaviorally. Therefore, the primary focus of my research is to investigate the long-term consequences of these short-term adaptations on the fitness and survivability of elephants. Conducting longitudinal studies of slowly reproducing long-lived elephants over generations is impractical. Thus, I have sought to study elephants retrospectively. As a Hakubi researcher, I will undertake a retrospective study to delve into the past (paleoecology) of extinct elephants (proboscideans) to predict the future (fitness and survival consequences) of living (extant) elephants. Simultaneously, I will pursue a parallel line of research on the long-term ecology of wild Asian elephants, focusing on their physiology and behaviour.
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