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INVESTIGATOR'S PROFILE

 

 

 

Dr. R. SANKAR

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                       
Assistant Professor
Department of Animal Behaviour & Physiology 
School of Biological Sciences,
Madurai Kamaraj University,
Madurai- 625 021

Research Areas

1. Pheromones and Reproductive Behaviour of Mammals
2. Behavioural ecology
3. Cell Physiology

Visits Abroad and Training
Post Doc Research Fellow (2006, Oct- 2008, March) in Laboratory of Physiology, Dept of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate school of Veterinary medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan. 060-0818.
 
Awarded
MONBU  KAGAKUSHO Scholarship from Japanese government by 2006.

Contact Details

Phone: +91 9751494615
E-mail: shankarphd@yahoo.co.in
Fax     : 2459181

Research Interest
Pheromones are species-specific chemical signals, involved for communication among individuals. The phreomone signals play an integral part in mediating reproductive interaction in many mammals and can yield information about an animal such as identity, social status and sex.  Such signals have rarely been considered in birds, but recent results have shown that chemical signals are actually used by different bird species to find food and to recognize their home and nest. Bats are the only mammals that can fly. Bats are actually quite harmless and are important indicators of a healthy eco-system.  Most of the wildlife bats suffer from habitat loss due to ecological succession. Investigating the role of chemical signals and providing a suitable solution through chemo signals for bat conservation will enhance sexual potentiality and productivity in this endangered species. Since there is no report in the bat pheromones, it is worthwhile to identify and analyze the bioactivity of individual volatile compounds in the bats sources.

Publications
1.  R. Sankar, G. Archunan, 2008. Identification of putative pheromones in bovine   
      (Bos taurus) faeces in relation to estrus detection. Animal Reproduction Science.  
      103: 149-153.
       
2.  R. Sankar, G. Archunan- and Y. Habara, 2007. Detection of oestrous-related   
     odour in bovine (Bos taurus) saliva: bioassay of identified compounds. Animal.  
     1:9, 1321-1327.

  
3.  R. Sankar and G. Archunan, 2005.     Discrimination of Bovine Estrus-Related
     odours by Mice. Journal of Ethology. 23: 147-151.

4.  R. Sankar and G. Archunan, 2004.     Flehmen response in bull: Role   of vaginal     
      mucus and other body fluids of bovine with special reference to estrus.   
     Behavioural process. 67: 81-86.

5.  R.Sankar and G. Archunan, 2002. Occurrence of flehmen reaction in bull towards
      bovine (Bos taurus) estrus urine. Proc Symp Reprod Biol Comp Endocrinol.,   
      Jan, 7-9.