M Sc Dissertation(WII)

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Author: search.filters.author.Goyal, S.P.Subject: search.filters.subject.Rajasthan

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    Effect of village relocation on ground birds and small mammals in Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, India
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2017) Mondal, Rakesh; Goyal, S.P.; Nigam, Parag
    1) Conservation related resettlement has been practised in India from 1960' s. However, studies related to the effect of village relocation on wildlife are limited. 2) Exploitation of natural resources by resident communities causes direct negative impact on native fauna and flora. These activities may include extraction of natural resources (fodder and fuel) or competition for the available resources by existing livestock with native fauna. Alterations in the vegetation structure can result in alteration of the bird community in these areas. 3) Galliformes is one such taxon that has been documented to be affected by human disturbance and grazing. These species are good indicators of habitat quality as they are solely dependent on the ground layer for food and cover. 4) There are 29 villages inside the Sariska Tiger Reserve and a relocation effort initiated as early as 1966 provides an excellent opportunity to study its effect on wild fauna and flora. 5) The study was carried out in four sites, with two sites where villages had been relocated 50 years (Slopka) and 10 years back (Bhagani); one site where village had been partially relocated (Sukola) and one where the village still existed The primary objective was to understand the influence of village relocation on Ggalliformes, small mammals and small carnivores. Additionally, vegetation structure at each village was also studied to understand influence of village relocation on natural vegetation.
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    Habitat and Food Resources Use in Relation to Sex Age and Group Size in Sambar (Rusa unicolor) During Winter in Dry Tropical Deciduous Habitat of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, India
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2011) Goswamy, Amit; Goyal, S.P.; Sankar, K.
    The study of habitat use depends on various factors' like environmental conditions, resource availability, physiological condition of an animal and sex. The present research for my dissertation shows that it does exist and it attempts to explain how it is happening. Sambar is a major prey species of tiger and other big cats across most of the parks in India. For the conservation of large predators it is important to evaluate and study the habitat requirement of its major prey species in detail to the level of its age and sex categories. My field study was undertaken between Dec 2010 to March 2011. Intensive study area of 90 sq km was selected in Ranthambhore. to quantify resource availability and use by different categories with respect to sex, age and group size during winter. It was found out that there is a difference in the habitat use of sambar due to sex, age and group size categories, out of the many parameters evaluated and comparisons made it was seen that though in some cases the differences were not profound, and some showed only minor changes, but in majority of the cases the trend observed was as per the expectation. Where smaller body size male animals < 3 yrs) and female associated with fawn and subadults always prefer areas having a good quality resource whereas the adult male and sambar in large group size were mainly in the areas of abundant resource rather than the quality.
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    Habitat Relationships and Resource Partitioning in a Lizard Community of the Thar Desert
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2007) Agarwal, Ishan; Goyal, S.P.; Qureshi, Qamar
    A lizard community in the Thar desert was studied in relation to habitat relationship resource partitioning and community niche pattern. The study was carried out in parts of Desert National Park, Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan, Four habitat types were recognized, barren dunes, stabilized dunes, grassland and rocky hills. A visual encounter survey was used to sample lizards within grids. Logistic regression was used to identify determinants of species presence
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    Resource selection and resource partitioning among wild ungulates in the tropical semi-arid forest of Ranthambhore National Park. Rajasthan.
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2001) Bagchi, Sumanta; Goyal, S.P.; Sankar, K.
    This study attempted to explore and describe the pattern of resource selection and inter-relationship in communal niche space of four species i.e. chital, sambar, nilgai and chinkara in dry deciduous semi arid forests of Ranthambhore national park, Rajasthan
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    Food habits and foraging behaviour of Indian Gazelle (Gazella benneti) in Rajasthan desert
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1997) Kodoth, Ganesh; Goyal, S.P.
    The Indian gazelle inhabiting the arid regions is studied with respect to their food habits and foraging behaviour. In arid areas the selection of a habitat by an animal is mostly governed by spatial and temporal distribution and abundance of food items and the food requirements of that species. This becomes critical especially in an semi-agricultural landscape where the ecosystem is altered without any consideration for the animal. The study was conducted in a habitat close to human habitation around Jodhpur after the harvest. This area is dominated by desert vegetation such as Crotalaria burhia. The study is conducted for a period of six months encompassing two seasons winter (December 15, 1996 - February 20, 1997) and summer (March 20, 1997 - May 10, 1997). The intensive study area was differentiated into six habitat types based on the structural and floristic composition of the vegetation-viz, crop fields, fallow lands, scrub area dominated by Zizyphus, and hedges of Maytenus-Capparis Zizyphus among the agricultural fields. Differential habitat selection by gazelle was observed during summer and winter mainly due to selection of diet based on seasonal nutritional requirements. Diet selection is looked in terms of use-availability and plant chemistry. Based on a relative preference ratio, the habitat and food types were ranked, and the observed trends are explained in terms of the existing theories on diet selection. Diet composition varies with the age and sex classes of the animal viz. breeding males, sub-adult males and adult females. In winter and summer differences in habitat use was exhibited by gazelle, also there was a difference in proportion of the food species in the diet between two seasons. The scrub area was dominated by vegetation having higher crude protein and tannin, was used more than, available in order to supplement their diet (especially in the case of , females) and in summer the crop fields dominated by Crotelaria burhia were used more by all categories of animals. Females fed on a high protein and less tannin diets which is pronounced in winter, sub-adults also fed on a diet having higher protein and tannin, while males were not biased towards a high quality food both in winter and summer. These differences were influenced by the spatial distribution, of food species, plant chemistry, and the differential use of food species among different age and sex classes during the two seasons. Protein and tannins along with moisture seem to govern diet selection rather than just being a function of availability during winter and summer. Spatial distribution of food plants along the habitat types (in the current land-use pattern) does influence habitat use by gazelle. Selection and proportion of the time spent on food species during summer and winter suggest that Indian gazelle is a browser.
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    Food Resource Partitioning Among Sympatric Bovids Chinkara, Blackbuck and Nilgai in Rajasthan Desert
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1989) Kunhunu, N.V.Ashraf; Goyal, S.P.
    Patterns of dietary selection, overlap and spatial distribution were investigated for three species of sympatric wild ungulates and four species of domestic ungulates (goat, sheep, camel and cattle> during four seasons (summer, pre monsoon, monsoon & post monsoon) in Rajasthan desert. The objective was to determine the mechanisms of food resource partitioning among these seven species of ungulates and the factors allowing their coexistence. Two study areas, Dhawa-Doli and Janwar-Doli were selected for the study, based on the density and distribution of the three wild ungulates. More emphasis was given to Dhawa-Doli where two of the three species (chinkara & blackbuck> were common. Food habits were studied by direct observations. Feeding activity was recorded for feeding height, plant species and part eaten. Availability was determined by percentage cover classes. Three major vegetation zones were identified at Dhawa-Doli. Six study sites were selected across the three vegetation zones. Blackbuck were primarily grazers in monsoon when crops were beginning to grow and annual plants were abundant. Chinkara and nilgai browsed throughout the study and did not show any preference for monocots in periods of resource abundance (monsoon and post monsoon). Food habits of wild ungulates differed more between zones in summer and pre monsoon, when resources were limiting and the effect of vegetation zonation on food habits was evident. In monsoon and post monsoon when resources were abundant, the effect of vegetation zonation was negligible as opportunity for selection increased. Though dietary similarity was more in terms of plant species eaten between chinkara and goats and between sheep and blackbuck, they differed greatly in proportion of utilization. Greater overlap between chinkara and blackbuck during premonsoon suggest a possible temporary interspeciflc competition. In scrublands, dietary overlap was more between species with similar feeding strateg1es (goat & chinkara - sheep & blackbuck) and was less between species with dissimilar feeding strategies. Nilgai was spatially separated in summer and pre monsoon and showed a seasonal spatial overlap w1th chinkara and blackbuck at Dhawa-Doli during crop season. While blackbuck and nilgai exhibited a spatial divergence in response to temporal and spatial availab1lity of food resources, chinkara was largely sedentary. Though utilization of different habitat subun1ts (crop fields, cultivated fields and scrublands) were largely determined by the amount of disturbance, ch1nkara showed a random utilization of these subunits. Blackbuck showed a slight avoidance for crop fields, at least at day time, even though they consumed more crops than chinkara. Mean feeding height for domestic ungulates decreased towards post monsoon as they spent more time feeding on annuals. However, the mean feeding height for wild ungulates increased in response to the growth form of plants. The difference in utilization of different foraging strata was more evident between browsers and more similar between grazers. Broadly, this study suggests that dietary differences among all species were more important than spatial differences, in food resource partitioning.