My work aims to explore some of the ecological mechanisms that could be driving patterns of reef recovery in the Lakshadweep islands. Post-disturbed reefs are often dominated by dead coral skeletons, which become the primary settlement structure for new coral. However, these dead coral structures differ substantially in their inherent mechanical stabilities. I am interested in the interactions between substrate, structure and local hydrodynamics in influencing the early post-settlement fate and survival of coral recruits, and the repercussions this can have for reef-scale benthic recovery.

Shreya is currently pursuing her doctoral research on coral reefs at the University of Hawaii.