Publications
Pre-prints
2023
Skandalis DS, Baliga VB, Goller B, and Altshuler DL. 2023. The spatiotemporal richness of hummingbird wing deformations. bioRxiv. doi:10.1101/2023.05.08.539717
Peer-reviewed journal articles
2024
Baliga VB, Dakin R, Wylie DR, and Altshuler DL. 2024. Hummingbirds use distinct control strategies for forward and hovering flight. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 291, 20232155. doi:10.1098/rspb.2023.2155
2022
Smyth G*, Baliga VB*, Gaede AH*, Wylie DR, and Altshuler DL. 2022. Specializations in optic flow encoding in the pretectum of hummingbirds and zebra finches. Current Biology. 32, 1-8. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2022.04.076
* Equal contribution
Harvey CA, Baliga VB, Wong JCM, Altshuler DL, and Inman DJ. 2022. Birds can transition between stable and unstable states via wing morphing. Nature. 603, 648–653. doi:10.1038/s41586-022-04477-8
Gaede AH*, Baliga VB*, Smyth G, Gutiérrez-Ibáñez C, Altshuler DL, and Wylie DR. 2022. Response Properties of Optic Flow Neurons in the Accessory Optic System of Hummingbirds vs. Zebra Finches and Pigeons. Journal of Neurophysiology. 127, 130-144. doi:10.1152/jn.00437.2021
** Equal contribution
2021
Leal PBC, Cabral-Seanez M, Baliga VB, Altshuler DL, and Hartl DJ. 2021. Phase transformation-driven artificial muscle mimics the multifunctionality of avian wing muscle. Journal of the Royal Society Interface. 18, 20201042. doi:10.1098/rsif.2020.1042
Harvey C, Baliga VB, Goates CD, Hunsaker D, and Inman DJ. 2021. Gull-inspired joint-driven wing morphing allows adaptive longitudinal flight control. Journal of the Royal Society Interface. 18, 20210132. doi:10.1098/rsif.2021.0132
2020
Bahlman JW*, Baliga VB*, and Altshuler DL. 2020. Flight muscle power increases with strain amplitude and decreases with cycle frequency in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Journal of Experimental Biology. 223, jeb225839. doi:10.1242/jeb.225839
* Equal contribution
2019
Baliga VB, Szabo I, and Altshuler DL. 2019. Range of motion in the avian wing is strongly associated with flight behavior and body mass. Science Advances. 5, eaaw6670. doi:10.1126/sciadv.aaw6670
Damsgaard C, Baliga VB, Bates E, Burggren W, McKenzie DJ, Taylor E, and Wright PA. 2019. Evolutionary and Cardio-Respiratory Physiology of Air-breathing and Amphibious Fishes. Acta Physiologica. 228, e13406. doi:10.1111/apha.13406
Baliga VB and Mehta RS. 2019. Morphology, ecology, and biogeography of independent origins of cleaning behavior around the world. Integrative and Comparative Biology. 59, 625–637. doi:10.1093/icb/icz030
Harvey C, Baliga VB, Lavoie P, and Altshuler DL. 2019. Wing morphing allows gulls to modulate static pitch stability during gliding. Journal of the Royal Society Interface. 16, 20180641. doi:10.1098/rsif.2018.0641
2018
Baliga VB and Mehta RS. 2018. Phylo-allometric analyses showcase the interplay between life history patterns and phenotypic convergence in cleaner wrasses. American Naturalist. 191, E129–E143. doi:10.1086/697047
2017
Baliga VB, Bernstein ZJ*, Sundaram S*, and Mehta RS. 2017. Labrid cleaner fishes show kinematic convergence as juveniles despite variation in morphology. Journal of Experimental Biology. 220, 2787–2797. doi:10.1242/jeb.153783
* High school intern, UCSC-SIP
Diluzio AR*, Baliga VB, Higgins BA, and Mehta RS. 2017. Effects of prey characteristics on the feeding behaviors of an apex marine predator, the California moray (Gymnothorax mordax). Zoology. 122, 80–89. doi:10.1016/j.zool.2017.03.002
* Undergraduate student
Law CJ, Baliga VB, Tinker MT, and Mehta RS. 2017. Asynchrony in craniomandibular development and growth in Enhydra lutris nereis (Carnivora: Mustelidae): are southern sea otters born to bite? Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 121:3, 420–438. doi:10.1093/biolinnean/blw050
2016
Baliga VB and Mehta RS. 2016. Ontogenetic Allometry in Shape and Flexibility Underlies Life History Patterns of Labrid Cleaning Behavior. Integrative and Comparative Biology. 56:3, 416–427. doi:10.1093/icb/icw028
Baliga VB and Law CJ. 2016. Cleaners among wrasses: Phylogenetics and evolutionary patterns of cleaning behavior within Labridae. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 94A, 424–435. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2015.09.006
Bryce CM, Baliga VB, De Nesnera KL, Fiack D, Goetz K, Tarjan LM, Wade C, Yovovich V, Baumgart S*, Bard DG, Ash D, Parker IM, and Gilbert GS. 2016. Exploring Models in the Biology Classroom. The American Biology Teacher. 78:1, 35–42. doi:10.1525/abt.2016.78.1.35
* High school teacher
2015
Baliga VB and Mehta RS. 2015. Linking Cranial Morphology to Prey Capture Kinematics in Three Cleaner Wrasses: Labroides dimidiatus, Larabicus quadrilineatus, and Thalassoma lutescens. Journal of Morphology. 276, 1377–91. doi:10.1002/jmor.20425
2014
Baliga VB and Mehta RS. 2014. Scaling patterns inform ontogenetic transitions away from cleaning in Thalassoma wrasses. Journal of Experimental Biology. 217, 3597–3606. doi:10.1242/jeb.107680
Peer-reviewed software publications
2021
Baliga VB. 2021. gaussplotR: Fit, predict, and plot 2D-Gaussians in R. Journal of Open Source Software. 6:60, 3074. doi: 10.21105/joss.03074
2019
Baliga VB and Senthivasan S. 2019. workloopR: Analysis of work loops and other data from muscle physiology experiments in R. Journal of Open Source Software. 4:43, 1856. doi: 10.21105/joss.01856
Conference papers
Full-length papers submitted in concert with conference presentations; not peer-reviewed
2020
Harvey C, Baliga VB, and Inman DJ. 2020. Control force required to morph the elbow and wrist in gulls. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Scitech 2020 Forum. Held January 6 - 10, 2020 in Orlando, FL. doi:10.2514/6.2020-1037
2019
Harvey C, Baliga VB, Altshuler DL, and Inman DJ. 2019. Pitch Control Effectiveness of the Avian Elbow and Wrist via a Numerical Lifting Line Analysis. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Scitech 2019 Forum (AIAA 2019-0853). Held January 7 - 11, 2019 in San Diego, CA. doi:10.2514/6.2019-0853
Inquiry-based teaching modules
Available at the SCWIBLES Modules page
2014
Baliga VB, and Yew B. 2014. Demystifying Dimensions: A mini-lesson on dimensional analysis. Product of GK-12 SCWIBLES, NSF DGE-0947923
Baliga VB, Yew B, Herradora R, Callahan W. 2014. A Fact of Matter: Exploring trends across the Periodic Table. Product of GK-12 SCWIBLES, NSF DGE-0947923
de Nesnera K, Baliga VB, et al. 2014. Presentation Skills: A video designed for science fair participants in high school. Product of GK–12 SCWIBLES, NSF DGE-0947923
Baliga VB, and Baumgart S. 2014. A Matter of Human Proportions: Are you Vitruvian? Product of GK-12 SCWIBLES, NSF DGE-0947923
2013
Baliga VB, and Baumgart S. 2013. Hold Your Breath: What triggers the dive response in mammals? Product of GK-12 SCWIBLES, NSF DGE-0947923