M Sc Dissertation(WII)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://192.168.202.180:4000/handle/123456789/3
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Item Factors Governing the Spatial Distribution and Density of Asiatic Lions (Panthera leo persica) in Gir Protected Area(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2015) Gogoi, Keshab; Jhala, Y.V.; Qureshi, QamarThis study is based on population estimation and spatial distribution of Asiatic lion.Item Abundance, Habitat Relationships and Behavior of the Semi-Fossorial Indian Desert Jird, Meriones hurriancae, in Kachchh, Gujarat(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2011) Ramesh, Divya; Jhala, Y.V.; Qureshi, QamarPopulation sizes, habitat relationships and behaviour are among basic ecological aspects pivotal to demystifying a species and its place in the ecosystem. Numerous in species and number, desert rodents offer immense scope for such investigations. The Indian desert jird, Meriones hurrianae, though common, is remarkably little known. This study, conducted in Kachchh, Gujarat, estimates population sizes, examines factors in the habitat likely to influence their occurrence, and elucidates the activity pattern and time budget across 2 land use types, agricultural and natural areas, during winter (December February) and summer (March-May). Animals were caught in 9 colonies using Sherman traps and population estimated under closed population Capture-Mark-Recapture framework in Program MARK, using individual covariates (age class, gender, body weight, site). Colony parameters (length, width, number of holes) were regressed against known Mark-Recapture (MR) population estimates to develop predictive models for estimating population size from indices. Population sizes varied from 2 to 10 individuals. Number of holes in a colony provided robust estimates of the number of individuals in that colony (N=16, R2=0.96, t=18.19, pItem Resource utilization and parental investment in the Indian for (Vulpes bengalensis) in Kutch, Gujarat(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2005) Home, Chandrima; Jhala, Y.V.I studied the resource utilization patterns in the Indian fox (Vulpes bengalensis) with respect to diet in Kutch, Gujarat. Resource use and availability by foxes were compared between two habitats and between two seasons. Resource availability was quantified through transects laid in both the habitats for the different prey items: mainly mammals, birds, reptiles, arthropods and fruits. Resource availability differed in both the habitats as well as across seasons (summer and winter). Density of fruiting shrubs (particularly Zizyphus) and gerbil burrows were significantly different between the two habitats. Gerbil population mean obtained from different colonies trapped during the study period showed a significant relationship with the total number of burrows in the colony (R2 =0.969). Scats collected from den sites were used to quantify resource use of the Indian fox. The minimum number of scats that can be used to estimate the annual food habits of the Indian fox in' a dry arid area like Kutch is about 110 scats. Frequency of occurrence of prey species also differed across habitat and seasons. The food habits of the Indian fox comprised of varied items, mainly arthropods like beetles, orthopterans, scorpions and termites. Among the other items, rodents, hares, spiny tailed lizards, birds and eggshells as well as fruits have been found. Arthropods were the most frequently occurring prey items (75% and above), among them particularly the termites. They are seen to be selected more than availability within the habitat. This was indicated by the three methods used to compare use versus availability (Ivlev's Index, Bonferroni's CI, and Compositional Analysis). However the Indian fox is seen to maximize energy requirements by selecting gerbils next in the preference after arthropods being selected more than availability during most cases within the habitat. Density of breeding units evaluated in the scrubland showed a density of 0.1 O/sq Ian. The density of breeding pairs obtained in this particular study was much higher as compared to the ones reported earlier for Kutch (0.04-0.06/sq Ian) due to good rainfall in the preceding two years thereby indicating a good prey base as compared to other years.Item Home Range, Ranging Patterns and Abundance Estimation of Golden Jackals in the BHAL Region of Gujarat(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2001) Aiyadurai, Ambika; Jhala, Y.V.Studied Golden Jackals (Canis aureus) in the Bhal area of Gujarat using radiotelemetry. Six jackals were trapped in Velavadar.National Park during November and December 2000 using rubber-padded leg-hald traps. The average home range size of jackals was estimated to be 14. 30 ± 4.06 sq. km. The core areas of jackal home ranges were highly correlated with vegetation cover. Habitats preferred for core areas were Prosopis juliflora and grasslands. Jackals ranged an average distance of 6.8 ± 0.91 km in a night. Most movements were out of the park to surrounding villages, which were rich in food resources for jackals. I evaluated two techniques to estimate jackal abundance namely the track plot method and simulated howling responses method in six areas differing in jackal abundances in the Bhal and Kutch regions. The latter technique gave a better resolution of abundance categories within the study sites.