PhD Theses (SACON)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://192.168.202.180:4000/handle/123456789/138

Browse

Filter results by typing the first few letters
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Distribution Pattern of Amphibians in Megamalai Landscape, Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu
    (SACON, 2011) Srinivas, G.; Bhupathy, S.
    Amphibians. in particular anurans, contribute a significant proportion or the vertebrate biomass in all the terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. They function as important predator and prey species. However, studies focusing on ecology of these taxa in Indian subcontinent arc scanty. The present study had the following objectives: (1) understand the population of amphibians in the Megamalai landsc;lpe. (2) study the distribution pattern of amphibians with respect to elevation categories and vegetation types and (3) suggest conservation measures. The present study was carried out in Megamalai Hills of Theni Forest Division. From December 2006 November 2008. In the present study. three belt transects Mavadi,. Suruli and Vellimalai were laid from hilltop to the bottom stratified at 200m interval
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    POPULATION AND RESOURCE UTILISATION BY REPTILES IN UPPER NILGIRIS, NILGIRI BIOSPHERE RESERVE, WESTERN GHATS, INDIA
    (SACON, 2005) ARMSTRONG, A. MATHEWS NIXON; Bhupathy, S
    Herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians) are important components of both terrestrial and wetland ecosystems as they play a major role in energy flow and nutrient cycling. Both of them are also excellent indicators of environmental degradation. Being poikilotherms, reptiles tend to partition time and space more often than homeotherms as their physiology and behaviour are closely linked to environmental conditions. However, quantitative data on the population and resource use by reptiles are scanty in India. Resource use can be studied with respect to the three most often recognized niche axes: spatial (habitat use), temporal (activity period) and trophic (food). Herpetofauna of India, one of the most diverse taxa, is poorly known regarding their ecology and population characteristics. Major objectives of this study was to (1) assess the population status of reptiles and factors determining their distribution in various habitats of Upper Nilgiri plateau (2) determine the habitat use and food habits of reptiles, and (3) to understand the resource use at spatio-temporal and trophic levels by reptiles in Upper Nilgiris.