Farah Ishtiaq, Ph.D.

Post-doctoral Researcher

My research interests are the ecology, behavior, evolutionary biology and population genetics of birds. I did my doctoral research on the "Comparative Ecology and Behaviour of Storks with special reference to endangered species in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, India". I focused on the feeding and nesting ecology and resource partitioning between four resident species of storks.

I subsequently conducted surveys and a pioneering study on India's most endangered and enigmatic owl species-the Forest Owlet Heteroglaux blewitti in collaboration with the Bombay Natural History Society and Smithsonian Institution. The Forest Owlet is a recently rediscovered species with a small, severely fragmented population known from currently only four localities. It is believed to be declining as a result of loss of its deciduous forest habitat.

My research at the Smithsonian mainly involves molecular genetic analyses of avian malaria parasites and Hawaiian birds. This has been a good research opportunity to further my knowledge of evolutionary and conservation biology and also to learn molecular methods. Avian malaria is found worldwide and is transmitted by mosquito vectors. Avian malaria is caused by species of Plasmodium and Haemoproteus. I am using mitochondrial DNA and other genetic markers to determine the phylogenetic relationships of different species of avian malaria (Plasmodium sp.) and the phylogeographic structure of one widespread species that also was introduced to Hawaii (Plasmodium relictum). The phylogeny of Plasmodium species will also be related to the species of avian host to see if there is evidence for host-specificity suggested by morphological evaluations.

Academic Qualifications

• Ph.D. (Wildlife Science) Aligarh Muslim University,1999.

• Master of Science (Wildlife Science) Aligarh Muslim University, 1994.

• Bachelor of Science (Zoology) Aligarh Muslim University, 1992.

Selected Publications

• Rasmussen, C. P. and F. Ishtiaq (1999). Vocalizations and Behaviour of Forest Spotted Owlet Athene blewitti. Forktail (15): 61-66.
• Ishtiaq, F. and A. Rahmani (2000). Cronism in Forest Spotted Owlet Athene blewitti. Forktail (16): 172-173.
• Ishtiaq, F. and A. Rahmani (2000). Further information on the status and distribution of Forest Owlet Athene blewitti in India. Forktail (16): 125-130.
• Ishtiaq, F., S. Jhunjhunwala, Z. Islam and A. Rahmani (2001). Conservation of Galliformes through IBA approach (Pheasant Symposium Proceedings-2000).
• Jhunjhunwala, S., Rahmani, A. R., Ishtiaq, F. and Islam, Z. (2001). Important Bird Areas Programme in India. Buceros Vol. 6. No. 2.
• Ishtiaq, F., Rahmani, A.R. & Rasmussen, P. C. (2002). Ecology and behaviour of
  the Forest Owlet (Athene blewitti). In Newton, I., Kavanagh, R.P., Olsen, J.
  & Taylor, I.R. 2002. Ecology and Conservation of Owls. Melbourne: CSIRO
  Publishing. Pp. 80-88.
• Ishtiaq, F., A. Rahmani, S. Javed and M. Coulter. Nest-site characteristics of Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus and Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, India. (Accepted in 2001 for J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc.)
• Ishtiaq, F., M. Coulter, A. Rahmani. Comparative feeding ecology of four species of Storks in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, India. (Communicated to Waterbirds)

Revision: February 2003