PhD Theses (WII)

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Study on waterbird assemblages of the Middle Ganga river
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2025) Aftab; Mathur, V.B.; Hussain, S.A.
The Ganga River, one of Asia's most biodiverse riverine systems, exemplifies this ecological significance, hosting a rich assemblage of aquatic species, including over 150 waterbird species, and threatened taxa such as the Gangetic River dolphin, gharial, and Indian skimmer. However, these ecosystems face severe threats from climate change, habitat degradation because of anthropogenic activities, including unsustainable development, and pollution, leading to an estimated 10,000– 20,000 freshwater species being extinct or at risk of extinction globally. In India, the Ganga River is significantly impacted by the over-extraction of water from dams and barrages, industrial and sewage effluents, sand mining and riverbed agriculture, resulting in significant biodiversity loss. Waterbirds are key indicators that reflect the health of wetland and riverine ecosystems, owing to their sensitivity to environmental changes. Their roles as pollinators, seed dispersers, predators, and nutrient cyclers emphasise their ecological importance. In the Gangetic plains, waterbirds rely on the dynamic hydrological processes of rivers and associated wetlands for feeding, breeding, and roosting. Yet, these habitats are under immense pressure from urbanisation, agriculture, and pollution, with up to 40% of India's wetlands lost over the past 50 years. The middle stretch of the Ganga River, supporting rich diversity of waterbirds and other aquatic fauna, remains understudied, with limited comprehensive data on waterbird assemblages and their responses to a range of environmental and anthropogenic factors. This PhD thesis investigates the spatio-temporal patterns of waterbird assemblages along the middle stretch of the Ganga River, aiming to address critical knowledge gaps in their status, distribution, and ecological dependencies. The study pursues four key objectives: (1) to determine the status, distribution, and assemblage patterns of waterbirds; (2) to identify habitat features governing waterbird assemblages; (3) to assess the impacts of anthropogenic pressures; and (4) to prioritise areas for waterbird conservation. Through systematic surveys and ecological assessments, this research seeks to generate comprehensive data on waterbird diversity and evaluate the influence of habitat characteristics, such as channel depth and width, bank features, and water quality, alongside anthropogenic stressors like sand mining, solid waste dumps, pollution, and habitat fragmentation.
Assessment of altered land use pattern on the middle Ganga river hydrodynamics using Geospatial modelling
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2025) Ali, Zeeshan; Hussain, S.A.
Food habits of sympatric large herbivores in Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2023) Devi, Anita; Hussain, S.A.; Badola, Ruchi
This study aims to a. address the welfare state of Asiatic lions (Panthera leo persica) based on environmental factors and individual-level differences, and b. propose a methodological framework for evaluation and improvement welfare in captive environments. In this chapter, I will set up the context for this study with a brief chronology of our understanding of the origin of animal welfare and the science of zoo biology and their relevance to the Asiatic lion conservation breeding programme (CBP)
Plant community structure and biomass productivity of seasonally flooded wetlands of Brahmaputra floodplains, Assam India
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2024) Sharma, Monika; Hussain, S.A.; Badola, Ruchi
The study aimed to (a) examine the seed bank characteristics of seasonally flooded wet grasslands (b)Examine the plant species composition of these wet grasslands in terms of species diversity, richness and community structure (c) determine the biomass productivity of these wet grasslands in different inundation and management regimes and invasive removal (d) quantify the amount of biomass extracted by local people from Kaziranga tiger reserve,
Eco toxicological and Spatial risk assessment of estrogenic endocrine disrupting compounds in Middle Ganga
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2024) Shah, Ruchika; Talukdar, Gautam; Hussain, S.A.
Chemical pollution threatens 60% of marine mammals, making it the second most significant threat to marine biodiversity. However, this alarming figure highlights the even greater risks faced by freshwater ecosystems, where biodiversity declines are happening at a faster rate than in marine environments. Freshwater ecosystems are especially vulnerable to the impacts of chemical pollution due to their limited water volume and flow, which reduces the dilution of contaminants. Their close proximity to pollution sources—such as agricultural runoff, industrial discharge, and urban waste intensifies this exposure. Furthermore, restricted natural flushing and water exchange, along with nutrient loading and additional stressors like habitat degradation and invasive species, further amplify the impacts of pollution on freshwater biodiversity. The Middle Ganga Reach (MGR), along the state of Uttar Pradesh, serves as an important habitat for endangered riverine mammals, yet faces intensified challenges to habitat suitability for these species due to various anthropogenic pressures, including EDC pollution from both point and non-point sources. Although research on e-EDCs in the river has progressed over the years, the spatiotemporal data remains incomplete and fragmented, particularly lacking in detailed characterization of point source contamination. This is a significant gap in our understanding of current risks and may result in inadequately informed and insufficient conservation efforts The objective of this thesis research was to investigate (a) the spatiotemporal distribution and load of e-E-EDCs in drains effluents and MGR (b) investigate and assess the estrogenic potential and ecological risk of selected e-EDCs to aquatic life, (c) identify high-risk zones spatially in river, and (d) assess the bioaccumulation potential of e-EEDCs in the prey species of the Gangetic dolphin, quantify the associated ecological risks, and identify suitable biomonitors for evaluating e-EDCs exposure in the MGR. The study also proposes a monitoring framework to provide guidance on monitoring and assessment of chemical contamination in Gangetic dolphin and habitats.

PhD Theses (WII)

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