PhD Theses (WII)

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Start date: 2024

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    An ecological study on nesting patterns and Behavioural dynamics of vultures in Kangra valley, Himachal pradesh
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2025) Bhattacharya, Malyasri
    Vultures are nature’s most efficient scavengers, playing a critical role in maintaining ecological balance. Their populations in India have suffered a drastic decline from 97-99% between 1993 and 2002, leading to the establishment of captive breeding programs aimed at species recovery. Threats of decline have now stabilized, but little is known about the ecology and survival of the vultures in the wild, necessitating this study for the conservation of vultures in their natural habitat. Kangra Valley, situated in the westernmost region of Himachal Pradesh state in India, is one of India's important vulture sites, supporting most of the nine vulture species recorded in the country. Among these, the White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis), Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), Himalayan Griffon (Gyps himalayensis), and Eurasian Griffon (Gyps fulvus) are the most observed, while the Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus), Red-headed Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus), Slender-billed Vulture (Gyps tenuirostris), and Indian Vulture (Gyps indicus) are recorded occasionally. Kangra is also one of the most densely populated districts of Himachal Pradesh, with an extensive road network, contributing to anthropogenic pressures on vulture populations. While the region has a long history of vulture census efforts, aspects of their breeding ecology remain poorly understood. Why do they select a particular tree for nesting? What are the variables that affect nest site selection? What is the nest success rate? Where do they move, and what is their home range? What are the threats? This study, conducted between 2019 to 2024, focuses on the breeding ecology of White-rumped Vultures in Kangra, examining their nesting preferences, reproductive success, threats to nesting colonies and spatial movements. Additionally, the research explores the climatic niche availability for all nine vulture species found in the region, assessing current and future climatic scenarios to predict potential habitat suitability. The Chir Pine forests of Kangra serve as the breeding habitat for White-rumped Vultures in the region. The breeding season of the White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) in the area extends from November to April, encompassing mating, incubation, hatching, and fledgling development, lasting approximately 25-28 weeks (October—April). Over three consecutive breeding seasons (2021-2024), the study recorded 17 active nesting colonies with a total of 617 active nests, primarily in Chir Pine (Pinus roxburghii) trees. Nest site selection was influenced by tree characteristics, with vultures preferring trees with a larger girth at breast height (GBH) (average GBH of 254.8 cm + 49.3 SD), lower canopy cover (5-10%), greater shrub density (77-100%), and proximity to other nesting trees and water sources. Conversely, areas with high fire activity, dense canopy cover, and limited nearby trees were found to be less suitable. In addition to breeding ecology, the study identified 36 carcass dumping sites in the region. These sites, managed by local communities, serve as designated areas for livestock carcass disposal, primarily for cattle and buffalo. The carcasses are transported from households to the dumping sites by local cobblers, locally known as "Harijans." The decline of open carcass disposal areas has posed further challenges for vulture populations. To understand movement patterns, five wild White-rumped Vultures were satellite-tagged in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, in 2021. The tagged individuals exhibited extensive movements, ranging across Jammu & Kashmir, the Pakistan border near Punjab, and Uttarakhand. Three of these vultures have consistently nested in Dolba and Lapiana within Kangra between 2021 and 2024. The study recorded an average home range of 1367.6 km? for non-breeding individuals and 1719.8 km? for breeding individuals across seasons. The future distribution for the nine vulture species shows a significant decline in the modeled climatic niche for seven vultures by 2041-2060 and 2061-2080. The study identified electrocution, forest fires and poisoning as major threats, with notable vulture fatalities recorded. Major forest fire-prone areas include Gopalpur, Pathiar Range, Lunj, and Baranj Sirmani. This study offered insights into India's largest documented aggregation of 617 White-rumped Vulture nests. The study recommends targeted conservation interventions to ensure the long-term survival of White-rumped Vultures. These include the protection of nesting sites, preservation of old-growth forests, and support for cobbler communities engaged in carcass disposal. Additionally, designated vulture feeding stations within forested areas should be established. Given these findings, the study proposes designating the region as a Vulture Safe Zone, suitable areas for releasing captive-bred vultures with continuous monitoring. Himachal Pradesh Forest Department (HPFD) and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoEFCC) have to come up with guidelines to declare a vulture safe zone as well as a strategic conservation plan to safeguard this critically endangered species.
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    Management of habitat, its connectivity and human-large carnivore conflict in Western Terai Arc Landscape (TAL)
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2025) Verma, Nishant; Pandav, Bivash; Mondol, Samrat
    A wildlife corridor is an area of habitat that connects wildlife populations otherwise separated by human pressures such as roads, development or logging. Functionally corridors allows for the exchange of individuals between populations, reducing the negative effects of inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity that often occur in isolated populations. The Western Part of the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) a region listed among the 200 globally important ecoregions for its rich assemblage of large mammals. Over time land modifications for agriculture and anthropogenic disturbances disrupted these connections. Despite this the TAK retains immense conservation value, sustaining two level I Tiger Conservation Units - Rajaji Corbett and Chitwan-Parsa-Valmiki- alongside several level II Units. Recent assessment estimate that about 20,800 sq km of tiger habitat remains on the Indian side of the TAL. The study area of this doctoral research spans the Western Terai Arc landscape and centres around Rajaji National Park encompassing connected forest divisions in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh where it aims at (i) Evaluating corridor use by wildlife in Rajaji National Park and adjoining divisions (2) evaluating the extent and severity of human - large carnivores conflict in the Western TAL and (3) Evaluating existing management practices for large carnivore conservation. Towards evaluating the activity of wildlife and for assessing corridor functionality, systematic sign surveys were carried out in 2022–2023 to identify suitable sampling sites across all corridors, prior to camera-trapping. Transects were walked to record signs such as dung, pugmarks, hoof marks, and scrapes of large mammals. Further, a total of 87 camera traps were deployed in 2022 and 2025, yielding a total of 9,670 trap nights. Sign surveys revealed that leopards and elephants were the most frequently encountered species across both eastern and western corridors. Chillawali–Shiwalik showed extensive elephant signs, confirming its role as an elephant movement pathway. Camera traps recorded 17 species in the forest areas and nine in the corridors, with the highest species richness being recorded in Chillawali-Shiwalik, followed by Chilla-Motichur and Laltappar, and Teenpani. Chillawali-Shiwalik had the highest Relative Abundance Index (RAI) for chital (269.53), followed by Teenpani for wild pig (227.2) and sambar (123.31), whereas Chilla-Motichur and Laltappar exhibited lower RAIs for most species. In contrast, adjacent forest areas exhibited higher RAIs across all species, indicating a preference for less-disturbed habitats. Species exhibited distinct activity patterns between corridors and forest areas. Leopards were uniformly active throughout the day in the forest but showed slightly reduced daytime activity in corridors (Δ = 0.71). Elephants exhibited contrasting activity patterns, with a daytime activity peak in forest ranges and a nighttime peak in corridors (Δ = 0.48). These results highlight both the functionality and challenges of four key wildlife corridors in RNP in maintaining connectivity for species within fragmented habitats. Details of human-wildlife conflict incidents were collected from each of the Forest Divisions of the study area for 12 years (2012-2024). Of this, incident details of attacks on humans were available from 2018 to 2024, while livestock depredation incidents were available from 2003 to 2024. Of the collected data, large carnivore conflict incidents were compiled on the basis of the species of carnivore involved, and the incidents were categorised into attacks on humans and livestock depredation. Species-wise conflict points were extracted, and for each of the species, 5000 random points were then generated in QGIS to act as absence points in the study area. 65 incidents of attacks on humans were due to large carnivores – including tigers (n=29), leopards (n=19), and bears (n=17) (2018 to 2024), and 3,258 incidents of livestock depredation were attributed to large carnivores – including tigers (n=615) and leopards (n=2,635) (2003 to 2024). Human population densities were significantly different for locations of bear and tiger attacks on people and random points, whereas livestock population density was significantly different at locations of human-leopard conflict as compared to random locations. Similarly human population densities significantly varied between locations of livestock depredation by tigers & random non-conflict locations, while both human & livestock population densities were significantly different at locations of livestock depredation by leopards and random locations. Elevation gradient (p<0.01) in the study area was one of the major drivers of human conflict with bears and leopards on humans. Distance to linear infrastructure (p<0.01) and Human Footprint Index (p<0.05) majorly drive leopard attacks on people. Additionally, livestock and human population densities (p<0.05) influence bear and tiger attacks on people. Tiger attacks on humans were also driven by distances to linear infrastructure & Protected Area (p<0.01), and nightlight (p<0.01). Annual precipitation, terrain ruggedness & elevation, distances to linear infrastructure & water, human population density, and Human Footprint Index (p<0.001) are some of the factors that drive livestock depredation by leopards & tigers. The results of this study highlight the variations in trends and drivers of conflict with each large carnivore in the study area, with severe socio-economic and ecological consequences. The evaluation of management practices in the Western Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) was carried out using the Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) framework developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), that have been adapted for the Indian tiger reserves. This framework assesses management performance across six broad elements: context, planning, inputs, processes, outputs, and outcomes, and provides a structured mechanism to identify strengths and gaps in conservation practice. Data was collected from (a) working plans and Tiger Conservation Plans, (b) field records and secondary data, and (c) primary evaluation and scoring. The site-specific scores were aggregated to generate comparative rankings across divisions, and grouped under five major elements (context, planning, input, process, and output). Selected critical indicators were examined individually to highlight specific areas of weakness. Additional parameters relating to habitat degradation, encroachment, invasive species status, and habitat recovery were also scored qualitatively. Scores ranged narrowly from 66.41 (Kalsi) to 68.97 (Dehradun), with Lansdowne (68.75), Rajaji (67.19), and Shivalik (67.17) occupying intermediate positions, indicating moderate but consistent levels of management. Disaggregated analysis revealed variation across the five evaluation elements. Planning (68.52) and Inputs (68.75) received relatively higher scores, reflecting the availability of documented management plans, budget allocations, and staffing provisions (Figure 4.2). By contrast, Processes (65.17) and Outputs (62.92) scored lower, indicating weaknesses in implementation and outcome delivery. Indicator-level analysis pointed to specific areas of weakness, specifically indicators related to control of biotic pressures, stakeholder participation, and conflict mitigation consistently received low scores. These findings reveal that management effectiveness in the western TAL is functional but fragile, characterized by strong planning frameworks but weaker implementation and ecological outcomes. The Western Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) represents one of India’s most critical conservation frontiers where ecological connectivity, large mammal persistence, and human livelihoods intersect. This thesis generates crucial understanding of the interdependence between habitat connectivity, conflict mitigation, and management effectiveness. Fragmentation of corridors intensifies edge effects and human intrusion, which in turn elevates conflict frequency, further complicating management efforts. This study provides several actionable insights for strengthening conservation outcomes in the western TAL, including landscape integration, corridor restoration, conflict mitigation, participatory management, monitoring, and policy mainstreaming.
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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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    Aspects and determinants of human-carnivore conflict in tiger corridors of Terai, Western Circle, Uttarakhand
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2024) Ranjan, Vivek; Badola, Ruchi; Dhakate, Parag Madhukar
    Human-wildlife interaction with negative consequences, commonly termed Human- Wildlife Conflict (HWC), is a global conservation challenge. Understanding the cause-effect relationship resulting in HWC is essential to resolve and mitigate the conflict and promote human-wildlife coexistence. However, the increasing human population and rapidly changing demography severely affect the contiguity of forested landscapes and habitats, becoming a major challenge for conserving wide-ranging large mammals. The conservation and protection of wildlife corridors are vital for the survival of wide-ranging large mammals in the landscape. The Terai landscape, located in the foothills of the Himalayas and proximate plains of the Indian Himalayan Region, is one of the most significant and distinct transboundary landscapes worldwide. In recent decades, the Terai region has recorded a rapid increase in human population and industry growth due to its conducive topography for industrial development in the hilly state of Uttarakhand. The region is also home to diverse wildlife, and increased conservation efforts and protection have yielded positive results, with an increased population of endangered wildlife species like tigers in the last few years. With increasing population and shrinking wildlife habitat, human and wildlife's peaceful and sustainable coexistence is distressed, leading to an increased probability of negative human wildlife interaction. The study aims to assess the aspects and determinants of Human-Large Carnivore Conflict (HLCC) in the wildlife corridors and their adjoining habitats in the eastern terai landscape of Uttarakhand state of India. The large carnivores considered for the purpose of this study are tiger and leopard only, which are common in the landscape of the study area. The study has three objectives: to assess the nature and extent of human-wildlife conflict due to large carnivores, the habitat structure and composition of the wildlife corridors and the diet preferences and consumption patterns of large carnivores in the corridor habitat. The thesis has been divided into six chapters, where the first two chapters are a general introduction and literature review, and the following four chapters talk about socio-ecological factors, habitat quality of corridor habitats, implications of habitat changes on HLCC, and diet profile of two sympatric large carnivores of the study area, i.e. tiger and leopard. The study area is part of Terai Arc Landscape (TAL), a Tiger Conservation Landscape (TCL_Id-44) of global importance with the potential for increasing the wild tiger population. The study was conducted in the delineated wildlife corridors for large mammals in the terai landscape of Uttarakhand state of India. The study focuses on the critical wildlife corridor in high tiger density and transboundary areas, providing crucial connectivity of habitats and wildlife populations. The study area is divided into two study blocks for the spatial convenience of the study: Block 1 comprises the Kosi Corridor, and Block 2 comprises theKilpura-Khatima-Surai (KKS) and Boom-Brahmadey (BB) corridor and their adjoining forests. Kosi corridor connects Corbett Tiger Reserve to Pawalgarh Conservation Reserve in Ramnagar forest division. The KKS and BB corridors in Block 2 have contiguous and interconnected habitats adjoining Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary in the Haldwani Forest Division of Uttarakhand, connecting to Pilibhit Tiger Reserve and Sukhlaphanta National Park through forest of Nepal. The study area is rich in faunal diversity and home to a few important large mammals, such as the Tiger, Leopard and the Asian elephant. In order to understand the nature and extent of HLCC in the landscape, it was essential to understand the socio-economic conditions and perceptions of the communities. We conducted random household (HH) semi-structured questionnaire surveys and discussions in the villages located in the corridors. The information on HWC compensation records was also collected from the Uttarakhand Forest department to analyze the patterns of conflict incidences. The results show that livestock grazing, fuelwood, and fodder collection from the forest are common and prevalent practices. About 90% of the households have LPG connections at home, yet most HH members still visit forests for collection. The education level among the respondents is low, with maximum HHs having an annual income of less than one lakh. The major occupation as the primary source of income in the study area is casual labour work, and most of the HHs have land holdings of less than an acre. The incidences of HLCC mainly occurred inside the forest areas and later half of the daytime, i.e., from noon to evening. The season of incidence and condition of the body of the depredated livestock show significant association with the place of incidence. The seasonality pattern of HLCC incidences shows nan incidents during monsoon in study block 1, whereas in block 2, it is in winter. The trend of incidences over the last 13 years in study block 1 shows a peak in tiger and leopard cases during July and August and forecasts an increase in cases over upcoming years. The annual trend of HLCC in the two study blocks is significantly different. The nature of HLCC in the study area is both tangible, which can be visually observed and intangible, which has imbibed effects with direct and indirect impacts. The tangible nature of large carnivore conflict is the direct impacts in the form of human casualty and livestock depredation. The intangible nature of the conflict with indirect impacts are psychological— fear of large carnivores and sense of insecurity, social — loss of livelihood and family security. The aspects of HLCC are socio-ecological, with both the social factors of communities residing around the forest and the ecological processes influencing the HWI. In rapidly transforming human-dominated landscapes, anthropogenic activities and disturbances significantly impact the ecological processes and landscape characteristics. The habitat quality was assessed using the nested quadrat method for vegetation and camera trapping for large carnivore population estimation and prey availability. The camera trapping was done using the capture-recapture method in 2 sq. Km sampling grids. The results show maximum tree diversity in the BB corridor, with good to fair Sal regeneration in all three corridors. However, most of the tree species show poor to no regeneration. Sixty-one species of trees were recorded from the three corridor areas sampled. As an invasive plant species, Lantana camara is more prevalent and extensive in study block 1 and Ageratina adenophara in block 2. The grassland habitat is shrinking, and less in all three corridor habitats.Anthropogenic disturbance is high in block 2 in comparison to block 1, while tree cutting and lopping are the most prevalent anthropogenic disturbance signs observed in all three corridors at equivalent levels. The medium-sized prey is the most abundant prey base in both the study blocks, with maximum relative abundance of Spotted deer. However, the relative abundance of Sambar deer is higher in the bhabar topography area of corridors and maximum in large sized prey. The study block | has 16 adult tigers and 22 leopards, while block 2 has 31 adult tigers and 40 leopards. The wildlife habitats of the three corridor areas studied have good tree diversity and complexity. However, the regeneration of tree species is poor for most species. The shrub and herb cover are also low for most areas in all three corridors, affecting the lower structure of forest habitats. The extensive growth of weed species like Lantana camara and Ageratina adenophora also affects understory species' composition, structure, and tree regeneration. The poor regeneration and deteriorated lower strata vegetation with sparse undergrowth are unfavourable conditions for breeding large carnivores, which requires dense patches for hiding their offspring. The lack of such patches and high human disturbance forces them out of the forest to use sugarcane farm fields to raise and hide their young ones, as has been observed in many instances in the Terai-Bhabar landscape. Using human-modified landscapes by large carnivores for their life cycle stages is unsuitable for human-wildlife coexistence and increases the vulnerability of negative HWI. ASS Bind Expert in CC EE TTT The implications of habitat transformations on HLCC were assessed by identifying spatial conflict hotspots based on compensation records of the last 14 years and the magnitude of incidents related to large carnivores in different locations. The Land Use Land Cover (LULC) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) change over twenty years were assessed. The Nighttime Light (NTL), an indicator of human growth and activity centres, was also assessed for a decadal change. The impact of changes in these habitat attributes on hotspots was assessed using the Generalized Linear Model. The model shows that the impact of vegetation health change and human activity or disturbances have a significant effect on conflict hotspots. The very high-risk zones are also located in the delineated corridors near bottleneck areas. The study has highlighted that the implications of habitat changes are significant for HLCC. The implications of habitat changes vary with the landscape and regional attributes, as observed in our study at two sites with varied underlying factors other than habitats. In the present conservation paradigm of large carnivores, it is essential to understand the feeding habits and prey-predator dynamics outside protected areas. Our study fills this gap in our understanding of the dietary habits of sympatric large carnivore species outside protected areas (PAs) in the terai landscape of India. It focuses on the feeding ecology of tigers and leopards in wildlife corridor habitats outside PAs. Our results show a significant dependence of tigers and leopards on medium-sized prey, i.e., Wild boars and spotted deer. It also shows a 93% overlap between tiger and leopard diets in the study area. However, it is crucial to augment wild prey availability in the wildlife corridor habitats, where grazing pressure is high. The problem of stray cattle has further escalated the issue of livestock depredation by large carnivores. Conservation strategists must consider the feeding habits of the predators and how these are changing due to the induced effects of anthropogenic activities.
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    Assessment fof Bees in Agroforestry in Kangsabati South Forest Division, Purulia, West Bengal
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2024) Das, Pallabi; Uniyal, V.P.; Chandra, Kailash
    Plant pollinator interactions have evolved through diffuse co-evolution, representations of relation between plants and animal species, where bees play a crucial role in preserving native plants' diversity and their reproduction success. This research intended to investigate the bee community composition in the agroforestry ecosystem, focusing on the impact of anthropogenic activities on pollinator diversity and ecosystem services of wild bees. This study made an effort to compile a list of bee species in both agriculture and forest ecosystems and their interaction with plant functional groups in the study site. The study was conducted in Kangsabati South Forest Division (KSFD) in Purulia, West Bengal. Extensive field research was conducted from February 2020 to April 2023. In the study, 25 species were successfully documented from three habitats: mixed forest, Sal forest, and agricultural landscape. The study found that the majority of residents in the study area were below the poverty level and an Indigenous community, relying on forest for firewood and non-timber forest product (NTFP). Agriculture practices were prevalent, with migrant labor being a significant trend. The agricultural practice was not considered eco-friendly, and excessive pesticides were used. The study also found that less than 50% of the respondents were familiar with bees. Subsistent and unskilled agriculture was practiced by less literate farmers, leading to land degradation and wasteland. The study highlights the need for eco-friendly agriculture practices and the degradation of natural habitats due to human activities. The relationship between bee species diversity and the stability of ecosystem service (E.S.) was investigated in this study. The study categorized bee communities into social and wild bees, and interpolated (IDW) diversity maps were generated for each survey site. The decline in population and diversity of bees' is observed gradually due to the influence of several anthropogenic activities, as demonstrated by several past studies. A low to slightly intermediate anthropogenic impact, mainly for agricultural landscapes, was noticed through the Human Footprint Index (HFI) map of KSFD.
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    Ecology of Seagrass Habitats and its associated macrobenthic invertebrates in Andaman islands, India
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2024) Gole, Swapnali; Sivakumar, K.; Johnson, J.A.; Das, Himansu
    The diversity, composition, and growth of species in plant communities are shaped mainly by their complex interactions with local environmental settings. Owing to the unprecedented global decline of seagrasses, it is crucial to understand in-situ ecological interactions for informing mitigation measures. However, several ecological aspects of seagrass ecosystems are under-studied in the tropical Indian waters, which fall in the highly productive Indo-Pacific seagrass distribution bioregion, offering many socio-ecological services. In this context, my study aimed to address the ecological gaps in India's unique seagrass biodiversity hotspot, the insular archipelago called the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI). Objectives of the study were 1) To assess the spatial distribution patterns of seagrass habitats and associated macrobenthic invertebrates in the Andaman Islands, 2) To understand the seasonal variation in seagrass meadows and associated macrobenthic invertebrates, 3) To understand the structural diversity of seagrass meadows and its influence on associated macrobenthic invertebrates, and 4) To document the Traditional Ecological Knowledge on seagrass habitats. The field study was carried out between 2018 and 2022, with a significant sampling period between January and May, as it is the best feasible season for fieldwork in ANI. The spatial diversity, distribution, and growth of seagrasses in the present study were primarily governed by the water depth, habitat heterogeneity, substrate types, and availability. The study suggests that any alterations in the benthic habitat profile of these meadows are likely to affect the species distribution patterns and overall ecological services offered
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    Movement and space use pattern of Tigers in the Eastern Vidarbha landscape, Maharashtra, India
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2024) Hussain, Zehidul; Habib, Bilal
    Movement is a crucial ecological process that influences the survival, population dynamics, and evolution of animals. Animal movement patterns are diverse and are influenced by life stages, sex, age, and habitat requirements. The relationship between animal movement and conservation is complex, particularly due to human-induced environmental changes This study emphasises that various factors influence animal movement, including individual characteristics and external factors such as resource availability, distribution, competition, and predation. Animals adjust their space use based on seasonal changes in resource availability. Additionally, movement patterns and space use can be influenced by habitat disruption, forcing individuals to displace and establish new home ranges. Landscape features play a significant role in animal home ranges, with resource distribution determining the extent of the required area. Fragmentation of habitats and human activities can affect landscape connectivity, leading to isolation, reduced gene flow, and potential genetic bottlenecks or local extinctions. Thus, maintaining habitat connectivity is crucial for long-term survival of highly mobile species. The study highlights the need for comprehensive datasets and technological advancements, such as GPS tracking, to study animal movement and behaviour. It also emphasises the importance of studying dispersal patterns, as dispersed individuals often encounter humandominated landscapes and face increased vulnerability to anthropogenic effects. This study focused on quantifying movement patterns and space use across three life stages: predispersal, dispersal, and post-dispersal phases. The results revealed differences in space use within and outside protected areas, with individuals outside protected areas requiring larger territories. The study also identified seasonal variations in space use and movement patterns, with dispersed tigers exhibiting the highest space use. Land-use composition, landscape configuration, and anthropogenic disturbances influence the use of tiger space. These findings provide insights into the factors influencing tiger movement and space use in a human-dominated landscape. They highlighted the importance of maintaining habitat connectivity, reducing anthropogenic disturbances, and restoring suitable habitats outside protected areas to facilitate dispersal and ensure the long-term survival of tigers.
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    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,
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    Spatial modelling of critical dugong habitats (CDHs) in India
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2024) Seal, Sohom; Sivakumar, K.; Raman, Mani
    In India, there is a scarcity of comprehensive data on dugong distribution and their habitat suitability, complicating the development of effective conservation strategies. Baseline data on priority areas for dugong conservation was provided by the Wildlife Institute of India back in 2012. Therefore, a temporal data gap exists for a re-evaluation study of CDHs through collating recent dugong occurrences and fishing pressure collected through primary surveys. Further, this study could fill the data gaps by employing advanced spatial modelling techniques and integrating primary and secondary data collected through multi-stakeholder involvement, thereby providing a robust understanding of recent and more accurate CDHs. The study focused on four key dugong ranges along the Indian coast: the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI), Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar (PB-GoM) in Tamil Nadu, and the Gulf of Kutch (GoK) in Gujarat. These regions are recognised for their rich marine biodiversity and extensive seagrass meadows, which are critical for dugong survival. The ANI features relatively pristine marine environments, while PB-GoM and GoK are heavily impacted by fishing activities and coastal development, making them significant areas for conservation focus. The primary objectives of this study are: 1) To understand the distribution status of seagrass meadows in selected dugong habitats using in situ and remote sensing data, 2) Mapping the interface between dugong distribution and fisheries in selected dugong habitats, 3) Mapping the environmental governing factors that determine dugong distribution, and 4) Integrating environmental and habitat parameters in GIS platform to classify Critical Dugong Habitats (CDHs). The study employed a combination of in-situ surveys and remote sensing techniques to map seagrass meadows. Intertidal and subtidal surveys were conducted using the line-intercept transect method, and satellite imagery from Sentinel-2A and 2B was utilised for classification in the Google Earth Engine platform. The study highlights the challenges of mapping in turbid waters and identifies suitable classification algorithms curated for different water conditions for better mapping accuracy.
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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