Carnivore range dynamics in the Indian Himalaya

Globally, large carnivores are predicted to be redistributed in this century as animals track their thermal niches and move to newer locations. This redistribution is expected to be most dramatic in the high mountain regions experiencing rapid warming. The Indian Himalaya, a biodiversity hotspot, is home to species like the snow leopard (Panthera uncia) and Himalayan brown bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus), which are under threat from climate change.
Our lab is interested in examining the factors that set species range limits, i.e., we are interested in understanding why species are limited to certain areas and how might species ranges expand and contract.