M Sc Dissertation(WII)

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Author: search.filters.author.Sawarkar, V.B.Has files: Yes

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    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.
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    Extraction of Non Timber Forest Produce from Selected Tree Species in Betul Forest division and its Impact on the Population Structure of these Species
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1997) Koliyal, Anupama; Sawarkar, V.B.; Mathur, P.K.
    This study, carried out from November 1996 to May 1997 in North Betul Forest Division (NBFD), aimed to investigate the impacts of NTFP collection on the population structure of three extracted species namely, Buchanania lanzan, Emblica officinalis and Madhuca indica. Population structure, particularly the proportion of the younger recruitment classes in the extracted site, was compared to that in Satpura National Park, an ecologically similar but undisturbed area, a perfect natural 'control' site. Regeneration of all three were negligible in the harvested site when compared to that in the unharvested site. Interestingly, Timber Forest Products, viz. Tectona gran dis, Bauhinia racemosa, and Chloroxylon sweitenia, which are harvested for parts other than the fruit/seed, showed good regeneration in both sites. The second component of the study viz. the socio-economic investigation of the dependent people showed that they ranked other occupations like Forest Department jobs and agriculture above NTFP collection and realised that collection had a negative impact on the forests. It seems that it is only the want of other income generating opportunities that forces them to continue extraction. Again this offers scope for conservation measures to be implemented. Though a short study like this is limited in its scope for providing long-term solutions, it clearly demonstrates that NTFP collection, particularly of Buchanania lanzan, Emblica officinalis and Madhuca indica in dry deciduous forests of central India does have a significant impact on the forests in general and these species in particular.