PhD Theses (WII)

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Start date: 2022Subject: search.filters.subject.Population estimation

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Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
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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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    Habitat use and interactions of mammalian carnivores in the tropical forest of Manas National Park, Assam, India
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2023) Bhatt, Urjit; Adhikari, B.S.; Lyngdoh, Salvador
    The study was conducted at the Manas National Park (MNP), East Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot, in Assam. Previous research on MNP revealed their significance in supporting diverse wildlife, including mammalian carnivores, focusing on their distribution patterns, relative abundance indices, and population estimates. However, interactions, co-existence, and habitat use among carnivores in the park remain understudied, creating concerns for conservation efforts given the threats to biodiversity in Southeast Asia. Examining these aspects of MNP, with their varied ecological niches and body mass variations, can shed light on species interactions and habitat preferences. understanding these complex relationships and habitat use is essential for effective conservation and management strategies to ensure the long-term survival and ecological balance of carnivore communities. The thesis used camera traps to assess the richness, species composition, encounter rates, trap efforts, and threat status of mammalian carnivores in the MNP. The objectives of the study were to (a) assess diversity and species composition of mammalian carnivores, (b) determine temporal interactions among carnivores and their potential prey species, and (c) evaluate space and habitat use of mammalian carnivores in tropical forest of MNP.
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    Understanding Wolf Howls and their application in individual identification and population estimation
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2022) Sadhukhan, Sougata; Habib, Bilal
    The current study addresses the knowledge gap about Indian wolf vocalisation. Alongside, it focuses on the identification potentiality of wolf howl to an individual level for using them in population estimation through mark-capture-recapture. The study also includes the howling behaviour and responses of the Indian wolf to various ecological and anthropogenic factors. Understanding the howling behaviour is key for designing howl survey methods for wolf census. As howl survey is a technique to detect wolves over long distances, the technique might provide a cost-effective solution for population estimation and a noninvasive monitoring tool for Indian wolves in human-dominated landscapes.
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    Response of small carnivore community to landscape and climatic variability in the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area, the Western Himalaya
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2022) Bandyopadhyay, Meghna; Ramesh, K
    This study will add knowledge about the elusive and lesser-known small carnivores in a gradient of disturbed and less disturbed habitats. Objectives The study focusses on the following objectives: 1) Occurrence and abundance estimation of small carnivores across space and time along the elevation gradient. 2) Assessment of community composition of small carnivores and association with other small carnivore species. 3) Evaluation of landscape sensitivity by representative small carnivore species. 4) Distribution modelling of indicator species to anthropogenic and climatic effects in the current context Study focusses on the arrangements of small carnivores along the elevation gradient in terms of site intensity usage and abundance of small carnivores. Marked (leopard cat) and unmarked (red fox) species were considered and statistical models were used to find the overall abundance and also across the elevation gradient in space and time. demonstrates the coexistence patterns of small carnivores (red fox and leopard cat) in three dimensions; space, time and diet. The niche dynamics was assessed and compared between low human disturbance and high human disturbance areas. Study reveals how the coexistence patterns of small carnivores change with differential human disturbances.
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    Foraging ecology of Great-Slaty Woodpecker in and around Pawalgarh Conservation reserve in Western Himalaya
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2024) Kaur, Sarabjeet; Gopi, G.V.; Uniyal, V.P.
    The Great Slaty Woodpecker (Mulleripicus pulverulentus, Temminck 1826) is an old-world woodpecker that prefers mature and old-growth dipterocarp forests (including Shorea robusta, Sal) across its known distribution range. The study reveals population demography, the social system and foraging behavior from logged forest and infer the distribution and home range of the Great Slaty Woodpecker, a cooperative breeding bird species, in and around the Pawalgarh Conservation Reserve in the western Himalaya of Uttarakhand state. This study presents the first census conducted for the Great Slaty Woodpecker, providing an ecological baseline for the species population estimation from its known distribution range. I inferred the home range size of each group based on 161 independent sightings of 11 family groups. These sightings represent behaviors such as foraging, nesting, roosting, vocalizations, and territory defense
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    Understanding aspects of demography and resource partitioning mechanisms of large felids among with abundance and spatial distribution of prey in Similipal Tiger Reserve, Odisha
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2024) Rathore, Harshvardhan Singh; Pandav, Bivash; Jhala, Y.V.
    This study investigates the crucial aspect of coexistence for large predators like tigers and leopards sharing the same landscape and delves into the population dynamics of these animals by identifying the mechanisms of resource partitioning. By acting as a window into the inner workings of the ecosystem, the study reveals how tiger and leopard populations function alongside each other. Identifying the factors that influence their ability to share the resources successfully is vital for developing more effective conservation strategies. This knowledge ultimately contributes to ensuring the long-term survival of both tigers and leopards in this landscape. A precise assessment of several demographic parameters is necessary to make informed management decisions for their conservation within this unique habitat. These parameters include population density, sex structure, recruitment, and survival rates. With this background, the study comes with the following objectives. (1) To assess the abundance and spatial distribution of prey in STR.(2) To assess the various demographic parameters of large felids (tiger and leopard) in STR. (3) To determine the mechanisms of resource partitioning of the tiger and the leopard in STR. Similipal Tiger Reserve is located in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, between86˚06' and 86˚36' East longitude and 21˚31' and 22˚02' North latitude. The study was carried out over three years (2019–2021) across eight ranges in the core area of STR: Chahala, Nawana North, Nawana South, and Pithabata South Wildlife in the northern core, and UBK, Jenabil, Bhanjabasa, and National Park in the southern core.