M Sc Dissertation(WII)
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Item 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.Item The Diel Activity Pattern of Indian Python (Python molurus molurus linn) at Keoladeo National Park and Some Factors Influencing it(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1991) Bhatt, Karamvir; Choudhury, B.C.This study investigated die] activity pattern of Indian python (Python moJurus molurus Linn) at Keoladeo National Park Bharatpur. The study was conducted in an intensive study area of 0.5 Sq Km selected after pre sampling survey in the park. The methodology involved to estimate activity pattern of pythons was monitoring of a permanent transect every four hours, on diel basis, to record python’s tracks and sightings. The diel variations in temperature, humidity, burrow microclimate, prey activity and prey abundance were also quantified along with diel activity pattern of python. Results show a shift in diel activity pattern with seasons. The activity pattern of pythons was diurnal in winter, uniform throughout spring and bimodal crepuscular in summer. There was no significant correlation between python activity and other factors quantified, though temperature and humidity affected the diel activity pattern considerably. The microclimate variation gradient existing between outside and inside burrow possibly play an important role in occupation of the burrow and this in time influence the surface diel activity pattern. The shift in the diel activity is attributed to seasonal change in the abiotic factors. No relationship between prey abundance and activity pattern could be established possibly because python’s ability to go with out food during the cool season. Other factors not quantified during this study like reproductive behavior, body size and biotic disturbances are suspected to be responsible for the observed diel activity pattern of pythons. It is concluded that the diel activity pattern of pythons in KNP is not influenced by just one factor but is a manifestation of a combination of various abiotic, biotic and endogenous factors. A temperature sensitive telemetry study would help further in investigating the ecological aspects of this cryptic species.Item Habitat Use by Radio Instrumented Chital, Sambar and Nilgai in Sariska Tiger Reserve(1991) Chakraborty, Bipul; Goyal, S.P.Item Habitat Utilization and Distribution Pattern of Indian Wild Pig [sus scrofa cristatus] in Sariska Tiger Reserve(1991) Rao, D.D. Bhujanga; Rawat, G.S.Habitat utilization and distribution pattern of wild pig (Sus scrota cristatus) was studied in Core I of Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan over winter and early summer. Habitat was stratified into scrubland, mixed woodland, Zizyphus woodland, and Anogttissus Forest, and important parameters such as vegetation, phenology of important plants, topography, water and disturbance were quantified. Four foot transects (two in plains and two in hills) and three cycle transects covering 188 km and 688 km respectively over two seasons gave a total sighting of 206 wild pigs .Of these 117 were in scrub 35 in Mixed woodland 51 in Zizyphus woodland, and 3 in Anogeissus forest. It was found that wild pigs utilized Zizyphus woodland in winter (density=32.97) and scrubland in summer (density=17.29) more than availability . This shows that there is a definite shift in the habitat use from winter to summer. The distribution pattern of wild pigs in various habitats and availability of important food plants during summer (pinch period) are analysed. The data from dung analysis and indirect evidences from digging show their omnivorous food habit, and a definite seasonality in food intake.Item Spatial and Temporal Patterns in Debarking by Indian Crested Porcupine (Hystrix indica kerr) in Sariska National Park(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1989) Sharma, Diwakar; Prasad, S.N.A study on debarking by porcupine was conducted in Sariska National Park form 6th May to 1Oth october 1989. The climate is semi-arid with mean annual rainfall 650 mm but most of it during monsoon (June-September). Rainfall is variable seasonally and spatially. 4021 trees of nineteen species were examined for debarking in six Intensive study Sites (ISS). Of these Anogeissus pendula (1932), Balanites aegyptica (174) and Capparis decidua (101) were not found debarked. Twelve species were rare «20). Remaining four species Acacia catechu, A. leucophloea , 'Butea monosperma and Zizyphus mauritiana provided the data to study spatial and temporal variations 1n debarking. Both old and new debarking evidences were recorded. In Zizyphus and mixed woodlands the intensity of debarking high. Anogeissus woodland (ISS-5) did not have any tree debarked.Debarking evidences were lower in Zizyphus scrubland, Butea woodland and degraded Zizyphus woodland. The overall difference in debarking in different sites was significant (p ( .0001). Percentage of different species debarked in each ISS varied greatly. This intensity of debarking was positively related to the overall density of trees that could be debarked in a site . A. catechu and Z. uauritiana were significantly more debarked (p ( .05) than other species in respective ISS. iii - The Less debarking was observed in lower and higher girth classes within 41-100 cm. were debarked girth classes. more than any other class. Of the 59 trees recorded debarked 58 were debarked in summer and only 1 was consumed in monsoon. Thus debarking of trees occurs mostly in Bummer when no other food is available for the porcupine. Microscopic analysis of porcupine faeces shows that 75-95% of the food in summer was bark and stem. In monsoon/post-monsoon season grass seeds and monocot formed 33% and 41% of food respectively. Average density of porcupine in Sariska valley based on direct counting was calculated to be 8+2 animals per km2. Debarking does not have 'severe effects on the life and phenology of the tree. From the total density of debarked trees (77 I ha) only 0.79% of the debarked trees were dead. Hence no special measure is required to control debarking but any occurrence of fire should be prevented. If there is fire , these trees will be most severely affected because of their exposed hardwood.Item 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.Item Ecological separation of four sympatric carnivores in Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1989) Mukherjee, Shomita; Johnsingh, A.J.T.The study conducted from 5th May 1989 to 9th October 1989 covering summer and monsoon looked at the ecological separation of four sympatric carnivores in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan. The four carnivores were - Jungle cat (Felis chaus), Fishing cat (Felis viverrina), Jackal (Canis aureus) and otter (Dutra perspicillata). Objectives of the study were to determine differences in dietary composition, habitat occupancy and time of activity as well as to tryout methods for studying sympatric lesser carnivores. Five methods were tried out to obtain these Objectives. Line transects and searches during mornings and nights were used to collect data on prey abundance, location of carnivores and their tine of activity. Scats were collected and analyzed to determine dietary composition and see how they differed among jackal, fishing cat and Jungle cat. Otter spraints were not found. The following conclusions are although some amount of overlap is evident an overall difference in habitat use, time of activity and dietary composition is seen. Jackals and Jungle cats are habitat generalists but dietary specialists. "The fishing cat and otter are habitat as well as dietary specialists . Jungle cat and fishhing cat are largely nocturnal Out the Jackal and otter are active throughout the day. Behavioural observations added to the results obtained from the other methods . 100 methods however were found unsuitable for studying lesser carnivores.