PhD Theses (WII)

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Start date: 2022Subject: search.filters.subject.Mammals

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    Patterns and Determinants of mammalian assemblage in an Eastern Himalayan Landscape unit
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2025) Chackaravarthy, S. Deepan; Gopi, G.V.; Ramesh, K.
    This thesis presents a detailed investigation of the mammalian assemblage in a selected landscape unit in the Eastern Himalayan in the Far East region of Arunachal Pradesh. The selected landscape unit is located in a Himalayan biodiversity hotspot, with its mountain ranges are biogeographically well connected to the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. The study unit remains one of the least explored forests for mammalian species, except for a few prior expeditions. The unit is situated between two contiguous tiger reserves, The Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Namdhapa Tiger Reserve to the south, and the state’s largest wildlife sanctuary, the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary, to the north and the Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary to the west. The landscape units encomposses protected areas, including the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary, and forest divisions of Lohit, Anjaw, Anini, and Namsai forest divisions. The terrain is rugged and hilly, traversed by various rivers and streams, which are the contributors to the river Brahmaputra. We conducted a reconnaissance survey to fulfil the objective of creating an inventory, and the resulting information guided the deployment of camera traps in locations optimal for effective photo capture of mammals. The objective of the study also examines the perception of the indigenous people towards mammalian, species. A questionnaire survey was conducted in and around the study unit, to assess the perception, which also provides information about species that are not directly captured in the camera-trap monitoring programme. The study documented several mammalian species in the selected landscape unit, with species, like tigers (Panthera tigris) and leopards (Panthera pardus), were reported from secondary sources and direct sightings. Dhole (Cuon alpinus), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), and Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) are the top predators recorded using camera traps. Certain species of conservation interest are also reported, such as Alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster), Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens), and the recent past distribution of Wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee). This information adds additional credits for reintroduction programs in future. Both bear species, the Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus) and the Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus), are recorded in this study. The recently segregated species Gongshan Muntjac (Muntiacus gongshanensis) and data-deficient species like the Northern Tree Shrew (Tupaia belangeri) were also recorded during the study period. Though the study reported flying squirrels at taxa level the region is occupied by species that are listed as endangered and critically endangered. The Critically Endangered Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) was also recorded with one individual rescued during the study. The habitat suitability prediction for selected species, both at a regional scale and at the landscape unit level provided valuable insights for conservation and management. The analysis using time-stamped camera-trap images shows that the interaction of Dhole and Yellow-Throated Martens with prey is high, possibly due to the lower density of higher Felids. The activity pattern of the Mishmi Takin (Budorcas taxicolor taxicolor) offered valuable and additional information about the migratory species which moves across habitats and elevations seasonally. The questionnaire survey on the people’s perception revealed that the people’s cultural connectedness to the wilderness remains strong. A community-based participatory approach should be developed in this region to enhance conservation practices. The study also identified an increasing trend of negative interaction with species such as the dhole (Cuon alpinus) and crop damage caused by the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) recorded through indirect evidence. Additionally, there are also two least studied rodents: The Asiatic brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus macrourus) and the Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica), which was noted to requiring further studies on their ecological role in the region. There have been discoveries of new species very recently in this region, underscores the need for a deeper understanding of species distribution in this region. In a landscape where people are deeply connected to culture, tradition and beliefs, there needs to be an inclusive approach for further exploration. A significant proportion of respondents indicated that cultural beliefs and traditional rights interlink with species protection in the region. A successful transfer of knowledge either the stratified sampling of communities and citizens to ensure that only those most apt to conduct science are invited to participate (Fernandez-Gimenez, 2008). It deals with the General Introduction about the study and its objectives. It deals with the description of the study area. It describes the basic Inventory of mammals, which is one of the core findings of the study. It focuses on the suitable habitat modelling of select mammal species recorded in the study unit. It examines the Diel activity pattern, temporal activity overlap, and spatial co-occurrence of mammal species in the study unit, serving as a representation of the species activity patterns in Eastern Arunachal Pradesh. It explores the perception of people on mammalian conservation in the landscape unit, based on a questionnaire survey.
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    Genetic assessment of the Non-descript pig breeds across selected regions of Uttarakhand
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2023) Sahoo, Khushboo; Gupta, S.K.; Gopi, G.V.
    India, which has ancient history of pig rearing, is home to several indigenous pig breeds that reflect the adaptation of Sus scrofa to different environmental and cultural conditions. However, only 13 of these breeds are currently recognized and documented by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources. The present research was undertaken to identify the spatial distribution, socio-economic status, pig husbandry methods of pig rearers, and the impact of Exotic pig breed on the indigenous breed and ecology of the region. As molecular characterization is a valuable tool that provides insights into the evolutionary history and genetic diversity of the current pig breed raise in a region. Hence by incorporating molecular techniques in understanding of the domestic pig breed and their interactions with ecosystems, promote more precise and science-based management that contributes to biodiversity conservation and sustainable husbandry practices. The present study will also aim to evaluate the maternal lineage, genetic diversity and population structure of the domestic pig breeds at the regional scale, using microsatellite markers and mitochondrial DNA sequences. The survey and sampling was done in the planar (Dehradun, Haridwar and Nainital) districts of Uttarakhand, a mountainous state of India that lies in the foothills of Himalayas, where rapid urbanisation and continuous migration make us reconsider the necessity of an organise promotion of the piggery sector due to its multiple ecological implications.
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    A study on predation ecology of large carnivores with special reference to human-carnivore conflicts in Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, Central India
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2022) Chatterjee, Anindita B.; Sankar, K.; Qureshi, Qamar; Jhala, Y.V.
    Seven years of data (2008 – 2015) resulted in phot-capture of 96 unique individual tigers in the study area. The estimated survival rate of individual tigers was high. Survival of female tigers were higher than that of the male tigers but the range was overlapping. Apparent survival and transitional probabilities were best explained by gender specific models. Survival constant was selected as the best model for estimating growth rate of tigers. Calculated annual growth rate was 13% with no observed sex bias.
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    Ecology and ranging behaviour of Elephants, Elephas maximus, and its implications for managing human-elephant conflict in Chhattisgarh, India
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2022) Lakshminarayanan, N.; Pandav, Bivash
    In the East-central region of India that supports the smallest regional elephant (Elephas maximus) population, the elephant ranges have expanded in northern Chhattisgarh (erstwhile eastern Madhya Pradesh) since late 1980s. Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh during the year 2000, and thence, the State has been witnessing elephant range expansion and concomitant population growth resulting in acute human–elephant conflict. Over 60 human lives are lost every year due to human–elephant conflict, and the trend is only increasing. Chhattisgarh scenario represents challenges facing management of elephant populations undergoing environmental dispersals that typically result from saturated habitat conditions in the elephant home ranges. In response to the prevailing conflict situation, the study aimed to understand facets of elephant ecology and aspects of human–elephant conflict to generate management perspectives. Historic information available as fragments in literature indicates that elephant distribution in the whole of East-central region was marked by both range expansions and local extinctions during the last one century. In particular, the contemporary phenomenon of elephant range redistribution in the East-central region peaked after 1980s, and coincides with large-scale human-induced disturbances to the formerly intact elephant habitats in the region. There were also pull factors like creation of pseudo-habitats (providing only cover for elephants) through forestry operations that possibly attracted elephants to human–dominated areas perpetuating human-elephant conflict. In Chhattisgarh, the elephant distribution during the period 2012 to 2017 was reported from 16 Forest Divisions and four Protected Areas in the north and north-central regions of the state. The elephant population, as enumerated by Chhattisgarh Forest Department during 2021, ranged from 250 to 300.
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    The conservation of musk deer: integrating ecology and genetics in North-Western Himalaya
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2023) Sharief, Amira; Chinnasamy, Ramesh; Sharma, Lalit Kumar; Thakur, Mukesh
    This study highlights the combined use of ecological models and genetics of musk deer in the North-Western Himalayas. By employing both ecological models and genetics, this research aims to identify populations and regions that require high conservation priority to ensure the species' survival.
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    Study on distribution and relative abundance of large mammals and impact of human disturbance in and arond Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2023) Ahmed, Arif; Gopi, G.V.
    The current study was started to gather baseline data on a few ecological factors (Diversity, distribution, relative abundance, Activity pattern and habitat preference) of selected large animals in Mehao WS. Northeast India. The study period was November 2017 to 2020. The objectives of the study are 1. To estimate the relative abundance and occupancy of selected large mammals in and around Mehao wildlife sanctuary. 2. To develop Habitat suitability model for selected large mammals in and around Mehao WS 3. To analyse the land use/land cover change pattern and to identify the main driving factors.
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    Molecular Phylogeny and Population genetic structure of Northern Red Muntjac (Muntiacus vaginalis) in India
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2022) Singh, Bhim
    Present study is based on the genetic diversity, phylogenetics, and the population genetic structure of Indian red muntjac in India and also compared with other existing muntjac. The objectives of the study are: 1. To assess the genetic diversity of the Indian red muntjacs among different populations using mtDNA and microsatellites markers. 2. To investigate the phylogenetic relationships of Indian red muntjac with respect to other species. 3. To investigate the population genetic structure, gene flow and demographic history of Indian red muntjac.
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    Spatial abundance of ungulates and role of predation on chital (Axis axis) demography and behaviour in Corbett Tiger Reserve, Uttarakhand, India.
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2022) Banerjee, Sudip; Jhala, Y.V.; Qureshi, Qamar
    To address the first objective which was to estimate the abundance of ungulates in different habitats of CTR, I have used line transect-based distance sampling approach to estimate the density of four major ungulate species (chital, sambar deer, barking deer, and wild pig) of CTR in ~520 sq. km of the Corbett National Park (CNP) region. Density was estimated using 156 spatial transects replicated 1 to 4 times over four sampling years. Both year-wise and pooled (weighted average of four years) density estimates were highest for chital followed by sambar. Barking deer had the lowest density. Chital density has remained stable over the years. Post-stratifying the densities of the four ungulates by three major habitat types of CNP (grassland, saldominated, and mixed deciduous) exhibited the highest density of chital in the grassland and lowest in the sal-dominated forest. Sambar density on the other hand was highest in the mixed deciduous and lowest in the grassland. Barking deer also exhibited a similar trend of habitat-wise density. A significant part of my thesis was focused on the objective of evaluating the precision and cost-effectiveness of three different density estimation techniques. The diverse ungulate assemblage and complex terrain of CNP provided an excellent environment to conduct this experiment.
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    Understanding the impact of habitat fragmentation on sympatric Large Carnivore connectivity across Tiger Reserves in Maharashtra, India
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2022) Modi, Shrushti; Habib, Bilal
    This study is an effort to understand the impact of habitat fragmentation on the connectivity of sympatric large carnivores across the tiger reserves of Maharashtra. The top predator assemblage in Maharashtra's major tiger reserves and surrounding areas consist of three species: tiger, leopard, and dhole. Most connectivity studies focus on the single species, which does not incorporate other species' requirements and conservation interests. As a result, given the current context of haphazard development, there is a need to develop a multispecies conservation plan that focuses on multidimensional aspects for several species of interest. Given this, the current study was conducted in major tiger reserves and surrounding protected areas, i.e., Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR), Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR), Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR), Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR), Umred Karandhla Wildlife Sanctuary (UKWLS) in the state of Maharashtra. The objectives of the study were to (i) Develop and standardise molecular markers for species and individual identification, (ii) Meta-population dynamics of tiger, leopard and Asiatic wild dog across the tiger reserves of Maharashtra, (iii) Impact of habitat fragmentation on the gene flow and genetic connectivity across the habitat connectivity gradient of the tiger reserves. The three species from the major carnivore guild suggests that landscape genetic patterns respond to the ecological differences in habitat characteristics, and disturbance can differentially affect landscape genetic structure. The study develops a framework for the landscape genetic study of any species starting from the sampling to understanding the impact of habitat fragmentation on the functional as well as structural connectivity of these species. The empirical findings of this study provide an outlook to delineate the corridor planning as per species need and do not follow the one for all approach. This study also developed the first PCR based protocol for dhole species identification and a better individual identification panel. The study will help in introducing species-specific modifications in connectivity corridors planning. It has paved the way to consider the requirements of each species while establishing priority-based conservation. As obtained in this study, landscape genetics outputs, coupled with multispecies connectivity models, could help prioritise the conservation of areas where maintaining connectivity is most critical.
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    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)