M Sc Dissertation(WII)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://192.168.202.180:4000/handle/123456789/3

Browse

Author: search.filters.author.Mathur, V.B.Subject: search.filters.subject.Ungulates

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Ranging, Activity Patterns and Habitat Use of Blackbuck and Nilgai in Velavadar National Park, Gujarat, India
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2001) Sahabandhu, H. Dhanushki R.; Chellam, Ravi; Mathur, V.B.
    I studied the activity patterns, ranging and habitat use of blackbuck (Antelope cervicapra rajputanae) and nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) in Velavadar National Park from November 2000 to April 2001. Scan sampling was used to record blackbuck and nilgai activity patterns. Herds were also followed from sunrise to sunset to study the diurnal movements. Satellite imagery was used for vegetation mapping. Habitat availability and usage of both species were examined by plotting the grazing circuit on the satellite imagery. Activity patterns were found to differ amongst the various social groups, habitats and seasons. Temporal variations in foraging time and resting time were found in all the groups studied. Blackbuck had three foraging peaks and two resting peaks as compared to nilgai, which had two, and one peaks respectively. Diurnal distances were not found to differ in any of the different blackbuck or nilgai groups or between the two species. Differences between blackbuck herds in different seasons and habitats were attributed to the nutritional levels and the spatial dispersion of vegetation. Foraging behaviour decreased in summer supporting results of previous studies that blackbuck reduced foraging due to lower nutrition levels. Male blackbuck was found to forage 67% compared to 58% by females. This difference was attributed to larger body size in males, and the upcoming rutting/lekking season. No difference was found between nilgai males and females, except usage by females was slightly more in high nutritional areas. Female nilgai were found to become more selective in summer, by increasing their foraging time from 43% to 55%. But no difference in habitat usage was found, possibly due to sustenance from Prosopis juliflora pods. Blackbuck were found to spend more time foraging (53%) compared to nilgai (43%). This was due to blackbuck being more selective in the prevailing drought conditions, while nilgai were possibly supplementing their diet with P Juliflora pods. Differences between the two species in temporal allocation of foraging time was found which was ascribed to difference in gut capacity. No seasonal differences were found between the two species, except that nilgai were found to be using high nutrition areas. Nilgai were found to be more selective nutritionally than blackbuck, possibly due to nilgai being an intermediate feeder compared to blackbuck, which are coarse bulk feeders.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Habitat Utilization by Hog Deer (Axis Porcinus) in Relation to other Sympatric Species at Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1999) Biswas, Tanushree; Mathur, V.B.; Sawarkar, V.B.
    This study on habitat utilization by hog deer (Axis porcinus) in relation to other sympatric species (chital & rhino) was carried out from December 1998 to April 1999 in Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary, West Bengal, The spatial and seasonal differences in habitat utilization of grasslands by hog deer, chital and rhino were investigated, The study was restricted to various types of grassland s existing within the sanctuary which were broadly stratified into five major types: Pure grassland (natural ), pure grassland (plantation), Savanna grassland (natural) and Savanna grassland ( plantation) and riverine grassland, Different habitat were traversed on riding elephants on selected paths to collect data on animal abundance/hr based on sightings in different habitat types, A total of nine transects were laid in different habitats to quantify availability of habitat parameters and their selection. Dung abundance was quantified using belt transects, at each 100m interval on the transects, The availability and utilization of habitats based on direct and Indirect methods were examined using Neu et al (1974), The results showed that hog deer selected areas with extensive grass cover with structural mosaics of cover and mostly early phenophase as opposed to habitats with low cover values, High abundance of hog deer were found in areas with higher proportion of Imperata cylindrica, Fire or burning of grasslands in combination with rain seemed to influence the overall selection of habitat by hog deer, Cutting of thatch by local people also influenced the habitat use by hog deer, Area preferred by hog deer were found to have high cattle dung density thus showing a very high pressure on areas preferred by hog deer, Interaction with chital seemed to be very low as the areas preferred by hogdeer are avoided by chital, Rhino also showed a similar trend with preference for plantation grassland areas and avoidance for natural grassland, Apart from the effect of these sympatric species directly, habitat use by hog deer seemed to have been influenced by the management steps taken to provide protection to Rhino, Plantation areas raised for the management of rhino were avoided by hog deer.