PhD Theses (WII)

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End date: 2019Subject: search.filters.subject.Species abundance

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    Ecology of Golden jackal (Canis aureus) in Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2015) Chourasia, Pooja
    This study aimed to examine the abundance and occupancy of jackal with the application of photographic captures using camera traps and diet composition through scat analysis, investigate species-habitat relationships from habitat features (non-spatial) and remotely sensed features (spatial) to understand how these variables govern occurrence pattern and predict the distribution of jackal in Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan. In India, jackal populations achieve high densities in pastoral areas such as Kutch, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Haryana. This study will vitally improve our state of knowledge to protect jackal and assist the development of theory on their social structure, behavior and habitat preferences in forested ecosystem. The study will help in suggesting localized monitoring mechanisms wherever necessary as this is important in minimizing surprise cases of extinction. The objectives of this study are as follows:-1. To determine the abundance of golden jackal. 2. To estimate the food availability, food habits and dietary niche overlap between golden jackal and other meso-carnivores.3. To evaluate the den site selection by golden jackal and, 4. To evaluate the habitat use by golden jackal. The study was conducted from 2010-2013 in Sariska Tiger Reserve (79° 17’ to 76°34’N and Latitude: 27° 5’ to 27° 33’ E), Rajasthan. Selected 160 km2 of intensive study area which was divided into four blocks. A total of 160 locations were selected for the placement of camera traps where, each block having 21 camera trap stations. Peafowl was observed to be the most abundant prey species throughout the study period. Amongst the wild prey species, nilgai was observed to be the most abundant wild ungulate prey species followed by, chital, wild pig and sambar in the study area..The Species distribution data was collected from camera trapping, direct sighting records, scat locations and track locations and was pooled for the entire study period 2010-2013, collectively making 413 observed point locations in the intensive study area.
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    Abundance, distribution & pattern of human impact on river Dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica).
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2018) Deori, Sunny; Qureshi, Qamar
    This study took place in a tributary of river Brahmaputra named Kulsi which originates from the Meghalaya enters Assam at Umkiam where it is known as Kulsi and finally discharges at Brahmaputra at Nagarbera, Assam. It is a highly populated riverscape. According to 2011 census data, the riverscape has 55972.88 hectares of cultivable land which is solely dependent for irrigation on natural sources (Rainfall and Rivers). Also, the river is divided into 7 River fishery under Revenue department of Assam. About 2500 commercial fishermen are registered under the fisheries of Kulsi River and 1,29,095 cultivators. Apart from this fine quality sand is a boon to the people of Kulsi floodplain. More than 5000 families were dependent on this business. The recent increase in construction business in Guwahati metropolitan and the nearby blooming towns is raising the earning bar of the people of Kulsi River. My study aimed at the following objectives: 1. Estimating the abundance & patterns of dolphin distribution across Kulsi River. 2. Estimating the effects of different human activities which can possibly affect the habitat and distribution pattern of dolphins in Kulsi River (special preferences to existing commercial fisheries, sand mining, & irrigation). 3. Socio- economic status of fishermen community, sand mining community and farmers and their attitudes towards dolphin and wider ecosystem conservation. 4. Examine suitable measures to minimize/prevent the harmfulness of these fishing gears and practices in the commercial fisheries of Kulsi.
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    Evaluating methods to monitor tiger abundance and its prey in Indian Sunderbans
    (wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2019) Roy, Manjari; Sankar, K.; Qureshi, Qamar
    This study conducted to test and evaluate different methods for estimating tiger and its prey population in Sundarban that can be adopted as part of a monitoring programme. For this study techniques were applied for the standard spatially explicit capture-recapture, tailored according to the local conditions to estimate tiger density in Sundarban for three years. Tiger densities were estimated at 4.08 (SE 1.51) in 2010, 5.81 (SE 1.24) in 2012 and 3.15 (SE 0.88) tigers/100 km2 in 2014. The tiger abundance for my camera trapped study area generated through conventional mark-recapture was 11 (SE 2), 24 (SE 3) and 16 (SE 3) tigers for 2010, 2012, 2014 respectively. Ungulates occupy a primary position in the diet of tigers and a monitoring protocol for tiger should inherently include a component of prey base estimation. Boat transect based distance sampling to generate density estimates for four years.
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    Determinants of occurrence of snow leopard and its prey species in the Indian Greater and Trans Himalaya.
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2017) Ghoshal, Abhishek; Pandav, Bivash; Bhatanagar, Yash veer
    Understanding patterns of species occurrences and how their distribution and abundance are affected by abiotic and biotic factors have been a major theme of ecological research. The range and changes in the distribution of a species are important parameters to assess conservation status. Robust assessment of factors affecting species distribution and abundance contribute to the identification of conservation issues, appropriate scale(s) for species conservation and key stakeholders. This study is attempted to understand how distribution and abundance of a large-ranging and difficult-to-sample carnivore and its primary wild-prey species are affected by topographic, vegetation and land-use variables, at wide and fine spatial scales. Study is focused on the snow leopard (Panthera uncia), the elusive, rare and endangered apex predator of the Central and South Asian mountain systems, and its main prey, blue sheep or bharal (Pseudois nayaur) and Asiatic ibex (Capra sibirica) for the work. I have utilized tools from quantitative ecology and social sciences through the thesis.
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    Spatial pattern in the occupancy and abundance of red junglefowl (Gallus gallus) in western Shivalik landscape, India.
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2015) Fernandes, Merwyn; Sathyakumar, S.; McGowan, Phillip
    This study was to identify landscape-level patterns of distribution, abundance and habitat occupancy of G. gallus across different spatial and temporal scales in a forest landscape, to help guide strategies for Galliformes conservation management. The present study was undertaken in an area (29˚54’ to 30˚24N and 77˚32’ to 79˚12’ E) that is situated within the Shiwalik Hills of Northwestern India, in the districts of Dehradun and Haridwar in Uttarakhand State. G. gallus is listed as a ‘Least Concern’ species, making an assessment of their status requires reliable information on population size and distributions. The structural component of understorey was one of the most important factor that determined occupancy and detection probabilities for the species. The structural components are known to provide cover to G.gallus, and other gallinaceous species that nest on the forest floor. The main threat to G. gallus is hybridisation and hence there is an urgent need to assess ranging patterns, survivorship and other basic demographic parameters, population status, genetic variability and purity of G.gallus in areas adjoining PAs where most of these forests have multiple uses and domestic/feral fowls are in close proximity in order to keep the common species common.
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    Ecology of sympatric small carnivores in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2013) Kale, Riddhika; Sarkar, K.; Qureshi, Qamar
    This study aimed to examine the abundance and occupancy of small carnivores with the application of photographic captures using camera traps and diet composition of small carnivores through faecal analysis, investigate seasonal species-habitat relationships from microhabitat (non-spatial) and remotely sensed features (spatial) to understand how these variables govern their occurrence pattern and predict the distribution of small carnivores in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Western Ghats. The study was conducted from 2009-2011 in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (11°32' 11°43'N; 76°22'-76°45'E), Western Ghats. This study will critically improve our state of knowledge to protect lesser carnivores and aid the development of theory on their social structure, behavior and habitat preferences.Study species include jungle cat (Felis chaus), leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), rusty spotted cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus), common palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), small Indian civet (Viverricula indica), brown palm civet (Paradoxurus jerdoni), grey mongoose (Herpestes erdwardsii), ruddy mongoose (Herpestes smithii) and stripe-necked mongoose (Herpestes vitticollis). The objectives of this study area as follows:- 1. To determine the abundance and occupancy of small carnivores in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve. 2. To study the dietary pattern of small carnivores. 3. To determine spatial and non-spatial variables governing the occupancy of small carnivores and 4. To predict the distribution pattern of small carnivores through habitat suitability modeling in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.
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    Habitat suitability evaluation for leopard (Panthera pardus) using remote sensing and GIS in and around Chitwan National Park, Nepal
    (wildlife Institute of India, 2011) Thapa, Tej Bahadur; Mathur, V.B.; Goyal, S.P.
    The leopard Panthera pardus is one of the large felid of Asia and Africa that is threatened by habitat loss and direct conflicts with humans. Owing to low population densities and cryptic habits leopard has remained little studied. This study evaluated landscape characteristics; determined distribution and relative abundance of leopards, analyzed diets of leopards and assess the extent, nature of human leopard conflicts and examined habitat use and preference in and around the Chitwan National Park and Buffer Zone (CNPBZ), Nepal. Methodologies used to accomplish these objectives included remote sensing, geographic information system (GIS), ecological field work (line transect sampling for prey, camera trapping for leopard and scat collection), social surveys and lab work for diet determination using micro histological technique. Abundance and density information forms the baseline for conservation planning. Camera-trap surveys were carried out during winter 2008/09 and 2010. This study provided much needed baseline information on habitat characteristics of CNPBZ, abundance of leopard and prey population, feeding ecology and prey selection by leopard, leopard- human conflicts and habitat use of leopards.
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    Ecology of medium and small sized carnivores in Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2011) Gupta, Shilpi; Sankar, K.; Qureshi, Qamar
    To assess wildlife population trends, scientifically based monitoring programs must be carried out. A new generation of camera traps and the use of well developed capture-recapture models have led to an increase in the use of remote surveying and monitoring methodologies for nocturnal species. Population estimates can be done for individually identifiable cryptic nocturnal species through camera trap. The study was carried out in Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR), western Rajasthan, India, (79° 17’ to 76°34’N, 27° 5’ to 27° 33’ E) from November 2007 to June 2009. The objectives of study are (1) To estimate the abundance of medium and small sized carnivores such as striped hyena, jackal, jungle cat, civets and mongoose. (2) To study the prey availability and food habits of medium and small sized carnivores and To assess the habitat suitability for these carnivores. In this study, both capture - recapture method and Royle -Nichols (2003) approach was applied to photographic capture trap data to estimate density and abundance of nocturnal cryptic species. The results of this study presented both numerically and also in the form of habitat suitability maps for all the study species in the study area. These finding have potential to develop basis for managing areas for these medium and small sized carnivores in Sariska and other similar habitat in semi arid zone.
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    A study on water bird population and human use of Hokersar and Hygam wetlands of Kashmir valley for conservation planning
    (2009) Hamid, Fozia; Hussain, S.A.
    The primary focus of this study was to evaluate the landscape composition and describe the floristic communities; assess the waterbird abundance and its spatio-temporal variation. The study also examined the resource dependence of local communities and their conservation attitudes towards these wetlands. The objectives were set forth: Map the habitat types with respect to water depth and vegetation characteristics of Hokersar and Hygam wetlands of Jammu & Kashmir. Derive spatio-temporal variation in the density and diversity pattern of waterbirds in these wetlands. iv Examine the seasonal pattern of use of these two wetlands by migratory and resident waterbirds. Examine the extent of use of these wetlands by the local people and their perception and attitude towards these wetlands. The field work was done during July to October 2004; mid-winter (December - January, 2004-2005); post-winter/ spring (February - April, 2005); summer (July - August, 2005), from June to October, 2006 and from June to October 2007. A structured questionnaire was designed and employed to obtain information on socio-economic parameters and vi dependence on wetland resources. The findings of this study indicate a difference in landscape structure between two wetlands. The pattern of land use - land cover between two landscapes shows that the extent of marshy areas was more in Hokersar wetland landscape (35.65%) than Hygam landscape (22.26%).
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    Diversity and structure of spider assemblages in Terai Conservation Area (TCA)
    (2009) Hore, Upamanyu; Uniyal, V.P.
    The present study was carried out in Terai Conservation Area (TCA) which represents one of the last remnants of Indian Terai ecosystem. The TCA is an important regional, national and international centre for biodiversity. The resulting complex of woodland-grassland-wetland ecosystems of TCA harbours a wide variety of floral and faunal life, including several charismatic and obligate species. This area has witnessed dramatic changes in land use policies, forest management practices, and persistent factors like forest fire, flooding and livestock grazing. Keeping in view these perspectives, this study intends to document the extent of spider assemblages that exists amongst various habitats, identify factors underlying the patterns of association, and assess the effect of grassland fire on spider diversity in the TCA. This study provides a baseline inventory of the diversity of spiders including description of anatomical features of spider in general, their relation to classification, and genera of spiders sampled from the TCA during three years of fieldwork. The present study analyses the effect of local habitat factors on regional spider richness and diversity. The objective is to untangle the relative importance of habitat structure and other environmental variables.