PhD Theses (SACON)
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Item Study on nest tree preferences by cavity nesting birds in the riverine forests of Athikadavu Valley, Western Ghats, India.(SACON, 2017) Manikandan, P.; balasubramian, P.A study on nest tree utilization and preferences by cavity nesting birds was carried out in the riverine forests of Athikadavu Valley, Western Ghats, India from August 2012 to July 2015. In India, more than 100 species of tree-cavity nesting birds have been identified, but very little information is available about their nesting habits. In the above background, it is felt that a study on tree diversity and its use by birds in the riverine forests of an important river system-the Bhavani a tributary of Cauvery in southern India would be useful in planning biodiversity conservation. The objectives of the study were, i) Quantify the woody vegetation of the riverine forest of Bhavani river in Athikadavu Valley, ii) Find out the nest tree preferences of cavity nesting birds, and iii) Ascertain the characteristics of nest trees and nest cavities used by cavity nesting birds.Item Study on avian frugivory and seed dispersal in the shoal forests of Nilgiri Hills, Western Ghats, India.(SACON, 2013) Anbarasu, C.; Balasubramanian, P.A study on avian frugivory and seed dispersal in 111'0 shola forests of Nilgiri hills, Western Ghats was carried out from January 2009 to July 20 I I. Longwood shola is situated between 11 °43.494'N and 0760 87A63'E) and Eppanadu shola between I lo29. IS]'N and 0760 47.223'E. The objectives or the present study were, i). study avian frugivory and find out major frugivores in the shola forests ii). assessing fruiting phenology of fleshy-fruited tree species and find out the fruiting seasonality, iii). establish the role of avian frugivores in seed dispersal and forest regeneration. Vegetation sampling was done in both the shola forests, Longwood and Eppanadu. One h3 plot (50x20m) were laid in e3ch of the above-mentioned two shola s. Data collected were analyzed to obtain quantitative structure and composition of plant communities. Fruiting periodicity was determined by monitoring tagged trees for 24 months.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 intervalItem Bird community structure along the altitudinal gradient in Silent Valley National Park, Western Ghats, India(SACON, 2008) Anoop Das, K.S.; Vijayan, LalithaMy research on bird community along the altitudinal-habitat gradients and their nest-site partitioning across habitats in Silent Valley National Park (SYNP) has portrayed several patterns. The work has explored some aspects of the processes which accounted for the patterns of variations in the community structure of birds in a pristine forest representative of the post Miocene and Pleistocene uplifted Western Ghats of India. In particular, the study addressed how altitude affected the distribution of birds and how the breeding birds shared their resources. The present study resulted in 5253 birds of 108 species, including 14 endemic species, from the 2314 point counts conducted in six habitats. The total number of species observed was 145 including opportunistic observations. Bird community structure of various habitats in corresponding altitudes varied significantly in terms of composition, abundance and diversity. The maximum species (59.2%) and individuals (27.2%) were in evergreen forest habitat and minimum in BLHF (22.8 % and 5.73% respectively). Shola habitats located at higher altitudes in the study area possessed higher species richness than mid-elevation broad leaved hill forest, which occurs within the altitudinal range of 1500- 1700 m. BLHF could be considered as a transitional zone between evergreen and shola forest. The significant difference in tree species richness of BLHF with adjacent EG and SHOLA habitats partly explain the reduction in number of bird species in this transitional zone.Item Status, distribution and ecology of the Grey-Headed Bulbul Pycnonotus Priocephalus in the Western Ghats, India(SACON, 2007) Balakrishnan, P.; Vijayan, V.S.The Western Ghats of peninsular India is one of the globally important ecoregions harbouring some of the fine rainforests of the world. This mountain ranges host more than 507 species of birds including several endemics little is known, however about the ecology and conservation status of many species. Habitat loss and fragmentation due to human activities the major threats to the restricted-range birds of the Western Ghats. Their narrow habitat requirements, particularly during the breeding season are yet another possible important factor causing their decline. Hence, evaluation of their basic ecological requirements, particularly their selectivity to microhabitats during breeding is of significant value while formulating conservation programme for these species. The Grey-headed Bulbul is a poorly known endemic to the Western Ghats. This restricted range species has a very limited distribution in the heavy rainfall areas in the hills along the south-western side of India from Belgaum and Goa to Kanyakumari. Observations, including both sightings and collections of Grey-headed Bulbul are very few from 1869 to 2002. It W3S reported as '"fairly common but rather local". However, the recent surveys do not show 'common' in any of the areas covered. This indicates a decline in population probably due to habitat loss and fragmentation. In the above background a detailed study was carried out to assess the status and distribution of Grey-headed Bulbul in the Western Ghats with respect to altitude and habitat and, to explore the habitat selection, for3ging ecology and breeding biology of the species to identify key factors affecting its long- term conservation. Intensive field surveys were Carried out between February 2002 and January 2004Item Status and Ecology of the Nilgiri Pipit in the Western Ghats.(SACON, 2007) Vinod, Uma J.; Vijayan, LalithaStudy was undertaken on the Nilgiri Pipit with the following main objectives a) determine the status b) unravel the ecology c) identify the key factors affecting the survival of the Nilgiri Pipit and suggest management optionsItem Resource utilization patterns of reptiles in the Tropical Dry Mixed Deciduous Forest of Anaikatty Hills, Western Ghats, India.(SACON, 2007) Mukherjee, Debanik; Bhupathy, S.The western ghats is one of the 34 globally recognized biodiversity hot spots. Among the 506 species of reptiles reported distributed in India 165 are distributed in the Western ghats. The concept of a biotic community may be defined as tn assemblages of various organisms living together and interacting at all trophic levels. The present study was undertaken with the following objectives (1) to know the suitability of various techniques for sampling reptiles in tropical mixed dry forest (2) To study aspects of population of reptiles in the Anaikatty hills in terms of species richness, diversity and relative abundance (3) to understand the patterns of resource use by reptiles at various spatio-temporal level.Item Status and ecology of the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon in the Western Ghats(SACON, 2006) Soumasunderam, S.; Vijayan, LalithaConservation of the species requires a comprehensive picture on the status and distribution, ecological requirements for feeding, breeding and other activities. Ecological studies on most of the endemics have not yet been conducted and hence, such information is not available for any management programmes. Moreover, human impacts on the habitats of most species are also not understood. Hence, the present study was conducted on an endemic, endangered species of the Western Ghats which is considered as Globally Threatened, the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon Columba elphinstonii, addressing mainly its biological and ecological requirements.Item Ecological studies of insect communities in Anaikatty hills(SACON, 2006) Eswaran, R.; Pramod, P.Community studies are relatively less in ecological entomology. Documentation of the communities of insects itself is a challenging job because of the inherent weakness in taxonomical brevity at the special level. The present study aimed primarily at exploring the patterns of insect diversity of a dry deciduous forest of Anaikatty hills, Western Ghats. As the term insect holds a large spectrum of organisms with a great level of taxonomic ambiguity, new approaches are needed to face the problems related with its diversity and distribution. The new approach attempted in this study was to examine the dynamics of diversity and abundance at different levels. At the broadest level an attempt has been made to study the composition and changes of insect families within and between different microhabitats of the landscape. At the intermediate level, the species composition, diversity and dynamics of one selected group of insects, viz., butterflies and at a finer level the aggregation and dynamics of the individuals of the selected species of butterflies were studied. The abiotic and biotic influences of these family levels, species level and individual level patterns were also studiedItem Habitat utilization by Malabar Grey Hornbill at Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats. (TH12)(SACON, 2002) Maheswaran, B.; Balasubramanian, P.Utilization of habitat resources, particularly fruit and nest trees, by an endemic bird species, Malabar Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros griseus) was studied in a tropical semi-evergreen forest and the adjoining tea/coffee plantations at Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats. This bird species is mainly distributed in the moist forests of southern Western Ghats. Though some aspects of Malabar Grey Hornbill in an evergreen forest at Anamalai Hills have been studied during the breeding season, fruit utilization during the non-breeding season is not known. Also, the preference of this endemic hornbill for food and nest tree species is unknown. This study aimed to assess the food preferences of Malabar Grey Hornbill during breeding and non-breeding seasons, nest-tree preferences and to identify the keystone resources for the Malabar Grey Hornbill in the semi-evergreen forest.