PhD Theses (WII)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://192.168.202.180:4000/handle/123456789/104
Browse
17 results
Search Results
Item Status, habitat use and factors affecting breeding waterbirds of Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, Ladakh (India).(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2020) Mahar, NeerajTourism has evolved as an alternative livelihood for the local people and has reduced their direct dependencies on natural resources and perhaps indirectly contributed towards nature conservation. However, unregulated tourism activities have led to degradation of natural systems and increased the ecological vulnerabilities of local communities. Often, tourism and other developmental activities related disturbances collide with the peak season for several biological processes and affect the ability of natural system to revive and restore itself. In case of waterbirds these disturbance affect the breeding success. Other than anthropogenic activities, domestic dogs, apparently the most abundant carnivores in the world, pose a major threat to local wildlife. Recent studies have determined waterbirds as an important part of their diet. The existing literature clearly suggested that there was a huge information gap regarding Trans-Himalayan wetlands and their avifaunal characteristics. Previous studies were either site specific or species-specific, and thus, landscape level base line data was either scanty or unavailable. The Trans-Himalayan wetlands of India are increasingly under anthropogenic stress which is affecting their ecological structure and functions, especially the breeding birds. Blacknecked crane (BNC) is one of the flagship species of these wetlands. With the above background, I decided to study and understand their ecology and major threats faced by waterbirds and wetlands of Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary (CWLS). The objectives for this work were to (1) assess the population status and habitat use by waterbirds, (2)evaluate the factors affecting the breeding waterbirds, and (3) assess change in the wetland area.Item Distribution of breeding Phylloscopus and Seicercus warblers in the Himalayas: Role of ecomorphology and competition.(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2012) Ghosh, Mousumi; Rawat, G.S.; Price, TrevorPresent study is carried out for the overarching goal of understanding the ecological and historical determinants of geographic and altitudinal distribution of sixteen breeding Phylloscopus and Seicercus species in the Himalayas. The broad research objectives were as follows: 1. Assess the availability of arthropod resources across the eastern and western Himalaya along the elevational gradients. 2. Identify the climatic correlates of the breeding distribution of Phylloscopidae. 3. Examine the geographic variation in foraging ecology of Phylloscopidae across the Himalayan bioclimatic gradient.Item Patterns of distribution and multiscale-habitat correlates of riverine birds in the upper Ganges, Western Himalaya.(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Sinha, Ankita; Ramesh, K.; Jayapal, R.Fauna associated with riverine ecosystems vary considerably at the global scale ranging from obligate terrestrial to obligate aquatic. Birds constitute key components of wildlife along running water systems. 2. The global river bird community is diverse with 66 species, spanning across 19 families with 37 non-passerines and 29 passerines. Asia has the maximum number of species followed by South America and Africa. 3. The global distribution ranges of specialist river birds show that large areas of the world hold few or no specialist riverine birds. Richness peaks in the eastern Himalaya and the Myanmar-China border, around the Kakabo Raazi mountains where more than 15 species of specialist river birds overlap in range. 4. Species richness reflects considerable radiation in particular groups; Muscicapidae (small passerine insectivorous birds mostly belonging to the old world) in Asia, ovenbirds (Funariidae) and tyrant flycatchers (Tyrannidae)in South America, and the Pratincoles (Glareolidae) in Africa. 5. Ecological understanding and conservation efforts of specialist river birds remain rudimentary especially in the tropics where rivers are faced with a host of threats. 6. In this particular study, field surveys were undertaken to understand bird community composition and river habitat characteristics across summer (breeding) and autumn (wintering/non-breeding) seasons in the Bhagirathi basin, a major headstream of the Upper Ganges in the state of Uttarakhand in the western Indian Himalaya between years 2014 and 2018.Item Patterns of Avian Diversity in different land-use and forest patch size of Kumaon Himalayas, Uttarakhand(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Arya, Sumit Kumar; Gopi, G.V.The present study was conducted in the Pithoragarh districts of the Kumaon Himalayas in Uttarakhand. The point count method was performed in matrices of agriculture land and forests of the lower Pithoragarh district to assess bird diversity patterns in different land use, habitat types, and disturbance regimes. A multiscale landscape heterogeneity approach was performed for determining the impact of forest patch size and vegetation structure on bird diversity. For assessment of the seasonal changes in the bird diversity pattern, a village ecosystem was monitored in the landscape.Item Seasonal Pattern in Habitat Selection by Birds of Jhimil Jheel Conservation Reserve Uttarakhand(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2022) Das, Ankita; Ramesh, K.The present study was initiated to assess seasonal pattern in habitat selection by birds in Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserve (JJCR) which is a small-sized Protected Area (PA). This work also focuses on both ‘process’ and ‘pattern’ of bird community structure. The work also focusses on how small-sized PAs are equally important in conserving wildlife species such as birds. Understanding the relationship of birds with habitat provides insights into habitat use, which contributes in the conservation of species. Habitat selection of birds is one of the foremost steps to understand the complexity of their community. Some factors influencing habitat selection are habitat heterogeneity, structure and composition of vegetation, seasonality and co-occurrence. Habitat heterogeneity helps in maintaining high bird diversity. Abundance and distribution of species in a community also depends on the physiognomic, floristic composition of the forest vegetation and seasonality. For the present research work, the study area was stratified into six habitats: plantation, mixed deciduous forest (mixed forest), riverine habitat, scrub forest, grasslands and agriculture fields-human settlement.Item 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, PhillipThis 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.Item Nesting ecology of colonial waterbirds at Bhitarkanika mangroves, Orissa(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2010) Gopi, G.V.; Pandav, BivashColonial nesting is an important feature among a majority of the members of Pelicaniformes and Ciconiiformes. The nesting colonies of these birds that represent spatial and temporal clumping of nests are popularly referred to as heronries. One of the largest heronries in India is located in the Bhitarkanika mangroves, along the east coast of India. Birds use five species of mangrove trees for nesting which include Excoecaria agallocha (Guan), Heritiera fomes (Bada Sundari), Cynometra iripa (Singada), Hibiscus tiliaceus (Bania), Tamarix troupii (Jagula) for nesting in the heronry. . The breeding birds in this mixed species colony are Asian Openbill, Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Little Cormorant, Darter, and Black-headed Ibis. The heronry in Bhitarkanika is located in an island covered with mangrove vegetation. The availability of large number of nest trees in terms of the mangrove forest and foraging areas in terms of the wetlands inside the forest and the paddy fields surrounding the forest are believed to be the factors favouring such large congregation of breeding water birds in the heronryItem 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%).Item Ecology of the Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) in Kachchh, Gujarat, with reference to resource selection in an agro-pastoral landscape.(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2013) Dutta, Sutirtha; Jhala, Y.V.; Rahmani, Asad R.The Great Indian Bustard is an obligate grassland bird endemic to this region with a global population of only about 300 birds. Present study is based on Species's status, resource selection, behavioual aspects and socio-ecological context to reformate viable bustard conservation strategies. The study was conducted during 2007-11 in SW Kachchh (Gujarat, India)Item Habitat selection of birds in New Forest, Dehra Dun, India.(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2007) Mohan, Dhananjai; Johnsingh, A.J.T.The New Forest campus is primarily a man-made ecosystem created in the 1920s mainly to house the Forest Research Institute. Much of the area of what is New Forest today was under agricultural fields till they were acquired in 1920s by the British and there after considerably large areas of this sprawling campus were developed into demonstration forests, gardens, experimental plantations areas, and arboretum by planting them up. In addition, there is a block of natural forest on the northern part of the campus which belongs to 3C2b(i) type (Moist Bhabhar Sal forests). The present study was restricted to ca. 150 ha of wooded part of the 463 ha of the campus. Two hundred and seventy six birds have been reported from the campus till date. The campus is managed through management plans prepared at a ten year cycle. Four distinct vegetation types were identified in the wooded parts of the New Forest campus based on the vegetation composition and structure. These, namely, Chir Pine plantations, Gardens, Mixed plantations and Natural forests were recognized as the four distinct habitats for the birds, the first three being man-made. The bird abundance was estimated by conducting point transects which were done over a two year period from October 2004 to June 2006 and collected habitat structure and composition data by laying out vegetation plots around the point locations for the bird transects (bird centered vegetation sampling). The guild structure of the birds of New Forest was investigated and factors determining it were identified. The seasonal change in guild structures both within and across various habitat types was also looked into. Birds were divided into fifteen fine feeding guilds. A distinct habitat selection by birds was observed amongst the four identified habitats of New Forest as seen from multiple response permutation procedure (MRPP) and hierarchical clustering of sample points in different habitats on the basis of bird composition. The present study shows that despite some degree of biotic pressures, natural forest habitat still possesses the highest bird richness as compared to the well-preserved mature plantations even with mixed crop. It also supports the highest density of birds of all the habitats of New Forest. The highest number of indicator birds has also been reported from this habitat. A large number of biome restricted bird are reported from this habitat which has led to the declaration of New Forest as an Important Bird Area. This habitat which is typical of northern part of Dehradun valley is under great threat in most parts owing to a rapid spread of urbanization and the patch in New Forest may be the only one to provide long term preservation to its typical flora and birds.