M Sc Dissertation(WII)
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Item Relocation and Resilience : A Case Study from Sariska Tiger Reserve(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Abhishek; Baroth, Anju; Kolipakam, Vishnupriya; Qureshi, QamarRelocation of villages have implications on socioeconomic status of forest dependent people, however studies have often ignored the well-being of people after relocation. Sariska Tiger Reserve has undertaken relocation as one of its key programmes for biodiversity conservation. In my study I took a field work of analysing the ground realities of relocation in Sariska Tiger Reserve. The objectives of the study suggest: (1) documenting the perception of forest department and communities towards relocation. (2) analysing the resilience of communities in “Relocated” and “To be Relocated” sites. My study includes the use of sociological survey techniques including questionnaire survey, semi-structured interviews, observatory analysis, focused group discussion etc. The study was conducted in two relocated sites (1) Rundh Maujpur (2) Bardod Rundh and future projects villages for relocation Kankwari, Haripura, Lilunda and Kraska. 86 households were surveyed in relocated sites and 96 households were surveyed inside the core zone of Sariska. Results of Resilience have been quantified through abstract and non-abstract measurable. The finding in the study shows that, the influence of local inhabitants on relocation process is very limited. Forest department and local authorities need to retrospect their notion of conservation and rethink their plan for relocation.Item A Forked Relationship : Understanding the Acoustic Communication Strategies in Sympatric Drongos(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2019) Lahiri, Sutirtha; Qureshi, Qamar; Kolipakam, V.The competitive exclusion principle states that ecologically similar species cannot co-exist and will either go extinct or develop diverging traits, the concept of environment filtering regards the environment. Patterns of trait divergence vary depending on whether the species occur in sympatry or in allopatry. Sympatry is defined as the co-occurrence of more than one species in the same geographical area with overlapping ranges. If closely related species occur in sympatry, competition is likely to shape divergence in their ecological as well as in the sensory domain, example acoustic signals. Diverse animal taxa employ acoustic signals for a variety of functions including mate choice, species identification, resource defence and other ecological and social functions. The primary aim of an acoustic signal is to efficiently communicate information over relatively long distances. This information, however, is subjected to changes and distortions imposed by the physical structure of the habitat, as well as masking interference from co-occurring signals of other acoustically communicating species. Masking interference by background noise or the simultaneously vocalization of other species- especially ones closely related- incur several disadvantages to the vocalizing individual. Signals with similar features have a high potential of interference for the species vocalizing, as well as for the receiver interpreting it. These disadvantages- or costs- could be the failure to respond to appropriate signals and the unnecessary response to territorial or mating signals not meant for them. However, a number of animals communicate successfully even in noisy and crowded environments, and can locate mates with relatively high success rates. This suggests the presence of powerful strategies to deal with the transmission, detection and recognition of relevant signals. To avoid acoustic competition due to the effect of masking interference, animals partition the acoustic resource in the temporal, spatial and spectral domains. Closely related species tend to be physically and behaviourally more similar than distantly related species, and are likely to possess similar songs and singing behaviour. The relationship between phylogenetic relatedness and trait similarity is investigated by quantifying what is called the ‘phylogenetic signal’- the tendency of related species to resemble each other more than is expected by chance. As a result, acoustic interference is likely to occur more often among closely related species, and they may evolve divergent signals to compensate. Drongos (Dicruridae) are a group of highly vocal passerines known for their vocal plasticity. There is a great extent to which their vocal repertoire can range in terms of diversity and function. Apart from having a wide range of species-specific repertoire, drongos are also mimetic species known to mimic the calls of conspecifics as well as other animals present in their environment. This study, conducted in Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam, focused on the four species of sympatric drongos- the Hair-crested Drongo, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo and Bronzed Drongo- and how they partition their acoustic niche. The study also looks into the ecological adaptations to counteract the impact of masking interference by habitat and closely related congeners. Active acoustic recording was done to record the four species of drongos in the study area. Line transects were walked along trails to calculate the density of each drongo species. Passive acoustic recorders were used to study the vocal activity patterns in the drongos. The study found evidence of overlapping acoustic niche between the drongos. However, they were significantly different from each other in the individual acoustic parameters. The drongos also occupied separate height classes, barring the lesser racket-tailed and the greater racket-tailed drongo. However, the drongos did not separate in their vocal activity pattern, suggesting overlap in the diel pattern. The study thus gives insight into the acoustic space of a group of highly versatile bird as well as the strategies they adapt to avoid interfering each other and thus co-exist.Item How Disturbed are the Disturbed Ones ? Impacts of Anthropogenic Stressors on the Socio-Ecological Interactions of Terai Gray Langur (Semnopithecus hector) in Shivalik Hills(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Dwivedi, Divya; Habib, Bilal; Qureshi, QamarAnimals respond to the changes in their habitats numerically and behaviourally. Alterations caused by anthropogenic stresses, like habitat degradation, fragmentation, urbanisation, changes in land use patterns, etc., changes the ecology of most species. Understanding the patterns adopted by these species to successfully survive and reproduce in such habitats is of utmost importance. This study tried to understand the impacts of human disturbance on the socio-ecology of Terai Gray langurs in Shivalik landscape, by comparing the ecology of langur troops inside the protected forest with the troops in disturbed forest. Four troops of Terai Gray langur, of comparable sizes, two in each treatment were selected.Item Comparative Analysis of Abundance Estimation Methods for Ungulates Along with their Spatio-Temporal Interaction and Habitat use in Pakke Tiger Reserve, Anunachal Pradesh(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Singh, Tarun; Kolipakam, Vishnupriya; Qureshi, Qamar; Sathyakumar, S.Abundance estimation and habitat utilization of species are critical for the conservation of any species. The forests of North-Eastern India are challenging due to the low abundance of ungulates, dense undergrowth, and logistic feasibility. In this study, we attempt to use camera trap-based methods (distance sampling and random encounter model) to estimate the abundance and habitat use of five ungulate species in the Pakke Tiger Reserve of western Arunachal Pradesh. This study was conducted from February 2021 to May 2021.This study provides crucial information on abundances and habitat use, which can be used for focussed conservation efforts for ungulates occurring in low densities.Item Impact of Habitat Fragmentation on Diurnal Squirrels in Lowland Tropical Forests of Upper Assam North-East India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2019) Sumashini, P.S.; Nair, Manoj V.; Qureshi, QamarThe effect of forest fragmentation on a set of ecological parameters, namely, species richness, densities, activity patterns, vertical space use for foraging, diet and nesting characteristics of diurnal tropical tree squirrels was investigated in five forest fragments (three in <5 km2 and two in 20-30 km2 size classes) and compared against two large forest tracts (>100 km2) in upper Assam, north-east India. The study focused on the four common diurnal squirrels, Malayan Giant Squirrel, Red-bellied Squirrel, Hoary bellied Squirrel and Himalayan Striped Squirrel. A set of established trails were used to survey the sites. The diversity of squirrels in the fragments was explained by size of the fragments, intactness of the forest and disturbance levels. The fragments were in a state of continuous degradation, habitat variables being influenced more by disturbance levels than by size. Medium-sized fragments continue to retain the diversity of squirrels by the virtue of small pockets of intact habitat in the fragments, while small fragments have been rendered depauperate by synergistic effects of habitat loss, degradation and hunting. Density estimation using trails as transects under distance sampling framework revealed that densities of Malayan Giant Squirrel showed a declining trend in medium fragments and the absence of the species in the small fragments. Densities of Himalayan Striped Squirrel were comparable in large forests and medium fragments and the species was not recorded from the small fragments. Densities of RBS were high across all sites, including the small fragments Time activity budget, vertical space use for foraging and diet were investigated underthe umbrella of changes along basic niche dimensions of time, space and diet. Niche width along time decreased in the fragments for all squirrels suggesting reduced active periods. For the Malayan Giant Squirrel, niche width decreased along the other two dimensions as well in the fragments, suggesting restriction of foraging strata and diet. On the other hand, for the Red-bellied Squirrel, niche width increased along vertical space use and diet axes suggesting expansion of niche in the fragments. These differential responses of species to habitat fragmentation resulted in changes in overlap between species in fragments and a potential alteration of competitive dynamics between species in modified habitat conditions. Comparing trends in density estimates and responses of squirrels along basic niche dimensions revealed that similar inferences can be drawn from the two assessments about the potential sensitivity of a species to habitat fragmentation. Responses along basic niche dimensions can be possibly used to make prior assessments of responses to habitat alteration before differences in densities, which is a more gradual process, start to show up. It is clear from the findings of the study that diversity of squirrels depends on quality of habitat. Medium-sized fragments have the potential to retain the diversity of squirrels. They should be prioritized and accorded enough protection to deter further degradation and hunting in these fragments. Malayan Giant Squirrel and Himalayan Striped Squirrel appear to be sensitive to habitat fragmentation, while the Red-bellied Squirrel appears to be tolerant.Item Ecological Aspects of Vertebrate Scavenging in Central Indian Forests(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2019) Iyer, Bhavya; Jhala, Y.V.; Qureshi, QamarScavengers assist in the cycling of nutrients in the ecosystem. However, few studies have examined the relative importance of microbes, invertebrate and vertebrate scavengers on the decomposition of carrion. Biotic and abiotic factors have both been known to affect scavenger communities. Environmental factors such as region, climate, season, habitat type, along with resource-specific factors such as carcass size influence the species which feed on a carcass as well as the time to detection of the carcass and carcass persistence time. Size in particular plays an important role in the species feeding on a carcass, with larger vertebrate scavengers more prevalent at larger carcasses. Vultures are the only vertebrates which are obligate scavengers, relying on carrion alone as a food source. Other than vultures, all vertebrate scavengers are facultative scavengers. This includes most mammalian carnivores, which hunt for prey but also make use of carcass availability. This increases the interaction routes linking the processes of scavenging and predation, increasing stability of the food web. Vultures in particular, as the only obligate vertebrate scavengers, seem to play a special role in scavenger communities. Exclusion of vultures from carcasses has been linked with longer decomposition time, more intra-species contacts at carcasses (potentially leading to increased disease spread), and increased number of species feeding at the carcass. I carried out this study to better understand the interactions between scavengers and carrion, and to observe, if any, the effect vultures and carcass size have on scavenger communities. The study was carried out in two protected areas in Madhya Pradesh – Kanha Tiger Reserve and Panna Tiger Reserve – from December 2018 to April 2019. Carcasses of animals – cattle, chital, and sambar – killed by wild predators, as well as fresh carcasses (goats and chickens) were monitored using infrared camera traps. I also carried out an experiment to observe the comparative rate at which vertebrate, invertebrates and microbes consume carrion biomass using chicken carcasses and different treatments. Vertebrate scavengers were found to remove carrion at the highest rate, at 99% biomass per day, followed by invertebrates (4.9% per day), and microbes (2.9% biomass removed per day). Despite greater vulture presence in Panna Tiger Reserve, and a relatively low vulture population in Kanha, Analysis of Similarity could not find a significant difference in the vertebrate scavenger species assemblage (the number of species and the relative abundances of those species) that visited monitored carcasses between the two study sites. Carcass size also did not significantly affect which species visiting the carcasses. I carried out occupancy modelling to estimate the probability of detecting a carcass by individual species of the carcass. Covariates which were found to affect detection probability were canopy cover, initial age of carcass, initial weight of carcass, horizontal cover, and vulture presence at the carcass. The use of occupancy modelling for estimating detection probability of carrion for different vertebrate scavengers is a unique approach, and with more data can be highly informative of the patterns and processes that govern the relationship between species and carrion. Detection corrected, model inferred occupancy gave significant improvement over the naïve occupancy estimate for all species, suggesting that carcass detection by scavengers or low abundance of scavengers was a limiting factor for visits of carcasses by vertebrate scavengers.Item A Forked Relationship : Understanding the Acoustic Communication Strategies in Sympatric Drongos(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2019) Lahiri, Sutirtha; Qureshi, Qamar; Kolipakam, VishnupriyaThe competitive exclusion principle states that ecologically similar species cannot co-exist and will either go extinct or develop diverging traits, the concept of environment filtering regards the environment. Patterns of trait divergence vary depending on whether the species occur in sympatry or in allopatry. Sympatry is defined as the co-occurrence of more than one species in the same geographical area with overlapping ranges. If closely related species occur in sympatry, competition is likely to shape divergence in their ecological as well as in the sensory domain, example acoustic signals. Diverse animal taxa employ acoustic signals for a variety of functions including mate choice, species identification, resource defence and other ecological and social functions. The primary aim of an acoustic signal is to efficiently communicate information over relatively long distances. This information, however, is subjected to changes and distortions imposed by the physical structure of the habitat, as well as masking interference from co-occurring signals of other acoustically communicating species. Masking interference by background noise or the simultaneously vocalization of other species- especially ones closely related- incur several disadvantages to the vocalizing individual. Signals with similar features have a high potential of interference for the species vocalizing, as well as for the receiver interpreting it. These disadvantages- or costs- could be the failure to respond to appropriate signals and the unnecessary response to territorial or mating signals not meant for them. However, a number of animals communicate successfully even in noisy and crowded environments, and can locate mates with relatively high success rates. This suggests the presence of powerful strategies to deal with the transmission, detection and recognition of relevant signals. To avoid acoustic competition due to the effect of masking interference, animals partition the acoustic resource in the temporal, spatial and spectral domains. Closely related species tend to be physically and behaviourally more similar than distantly related species, and are likely to possess similar songs and singing behaviour. The relationship between phylogenetic relatedness and trait similarity is investigated by quantifying what is called the ‘phylogenetic signal’- the tendency of related species to resemble each other more than is expected by chance. As a result, acoustic interference is likely to occur more often among closely related species, and they may evolve divergent signals to compensate. Drongos (Dicruridae) are a group of highly vocal passerines known for their vocal plasticity. There is a great extent to which their vocal repertoire can range in terms of diversity and function. Apart from having a wide range of species-specific repertoire, drongos are also mimetic species known to mimic the calls of conspecifics as well as other animals present in their environment. This study, conducted in Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam, focused on the four species of sympatric drongos- the Hair-crested Drongo, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo and Bronzed Drongo- and how they partition their acoustic niche. The study also looks into the ecological adaptations to counteract the impact of masking interference by habitat and closely related congeners. Active acoustic recording was done to record the four species of drongos in the study area. Line transects were walked along trails to calculate the density of each drongo species. Passive acoustic recorders were used to study the vocal activity patterns in the drongos. The study found evidence of overlapping acoustic niche between the drongos. However, they were significantly different from each other in the individual acoustic parameters. The drongos also occupied separate height classes, barring the lesser racket-tailed and the greater racket-tailed drongo. However, the drongos did not separate in their vocal activity pattern, suggesting overlap in the diel pattern. The study thus gives insight into the acoustic space of a group of highly versatile bird as well as the strategies they adapt to avoid interfering each other and thus co-existItem Assessing the synergistic effect of two invasive plants on native plant communities in Kanha National Park, Central India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2017) Rastogi, Rajat; Shrivastava, Aseem; Qureshi, QamarOver time, community assembly and functioning of native ecosystems is known to shift from native species to non-native species thus, restructuring the native community. When this shift of diverse native ecosystem interaction to less diverse invasive-centric interaction, occurs due to synergistic effect of two invasive species, it is known as ‘invasional meltdown’. Since last two decades, the effects posed by invasive species on ecosystems are widely debated. Studies across the globe have reported simplification in community structure with biological invasions, leading towards monotonous ecosystems and homogenization of biodiversity. 2. I assessed the interaction of two invasive plant species, Lantana camara complex (lantana) and Pogostemon benghalensis (pogostemon) with native understorey vegetation in Shorea robusta (Sal) forest of Kanha National Park, Central India. Here, I tested biotic homogenization, invasional meltdown and intermediate disturbance hypothesis. To achieve this, 56 km2 out of 230 km2 of Sal forest covering 5613 cells (100X100m) was extensively surveyed, to model species distribution of lantana and pogostemon using different correlative, mechanistic and ensemble models. From the surveyed area, 120 plots (10X10m) were selected based on the percent cover of invasive species, where vegetation and soil sampling was conducted. The correlations in community composition with edaphic and climatic parameters were established using nonparametric ordination, and the potential effects of single invasive species and their interaction were estimated using linear models by considering the uninvaded plots as control. 3. From the sampled area, 40 km2 (71%) and 37 km2 (66%) were found to be invaded by lantana and pogostemon respectively. Lantana presence was best explained as a function of nearby lantana density and was constrained by evapo-transpiration rate of summer, light availability and dry stress. Whereas, pogostemon presence was best explained by moistness of forest patch, lower summer temperature and habitat openings due to anthropogenic factors and was constrained due to climatic heat, edaphic dry stress, and remote deciduous forest. Study results indicate an insignificant effect of intermediate disturbances, and significant impacts of invasive species on species composition and edaphic factors, thereby affirming the biotic homogenization and invasional meltdown hypothesis and rejecting intermediate disturbance hypothesis. Present study can be used as an evidence to prioritize immediate management interventions in areas where multiple invasions are present, as the chances of extirpation of rare species is high.Item Has conservation gone to the dogs? : ecological aspects of free ranging dogs of the Thar(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2017) Mohandas, Monisha S.; Jhala, Y.V.; Qureshi, Qamar; Dutta, SutirthaOne of the few mammals to have a near-global distribution, dogs (Canis familiaris) are an introduced mammalian predator. Dogs have contributed to 11 vertebrate extinctions and are a potential threat to 188 threatened species globally. This study investigates population sizes, ranging patterns, behavioural activity, and resource utilisation of free-ranging dogs in Thar landscape, Rajasthan. 2. Using double sampling framework, I calibrated effort-standardized counts (C) with mark-recapture based abundances (𝑁̂) that was used to estimate dog abundances within human habitation. Landscape-scale dog abundance was estimated using vehicle transect based distance sampling. Home ranges of nine free-ranging dogs was determined using locations from radio-telemetry. Resource use was quantified as feeding durations on various food items based on continuous monitoring. Resource availability was quantified as wild prey and livestock carcass density using line transect based distance sampling. This study provides information on important aspects of free-ranging dog ecology and their impacts in Thar landscape. It provides the basis required for implementing dog control programs in the landscape focusing on the flagship and critically endangered great Indian Bustard Ardeotis nigriceps.Item See Through Sound : Understanding the Pattern of Habitat use by Ganetic River Dolphin in the Kaziranga Part of Brahmaputra River(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2019) Abhishek, B.; Qureshi, Qamar; Johnson, J.A.Studying the habitat and its associated features is important because of its driving factors that limits the abundance and distribution of a species. This study mainly focuses upon the abundance, distribution, activity and habitat use pattern of Gangetic river dolphins in part of the Brahmaputra River that flows through Kaziranga National Park. The abundance of Gangetic river dolphin and its relatedness to the different habitat features of the river and fish species were studied. The 92 km length of river in the study area was divided in to 43 segments, which were further broadly classified in to different river morphology.