M Sc Dissertation(WII)
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Item Exploring ecological separation between Himalayan blue sheep and Himalayan ibex during winter in Indian Trans-Himalaya(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2024) Prakruthi, G.M.; Sathyakumar, S.; Lyngdoh, Salvador; Bhatnagar, YashveerAccording to resource selection theory, two related species with similar ecological requirements compete for the same resources. They can only coexist if they are ecologically separated, either by habitat or food preference. This study explored the resource use and ecological separation of ibex (Capra sibirica himalayanus) and blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) during the winter in the Spiti Valley, focusing on their segregation in space, habitat use patterns, diet, and activity pattern. The study was conducted in Kibber and Chicham areas (57 km2) of Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, Himachal Pradesh, India. This study slightly deviates from the findings of a previous study by Namgail (2006), which reveals a high overlap in the habitat use between ibex and blue sheep in the Zanskar mountains. Systematic sampling using transects and trails, vantage points, opportunistic sampling, and camera traps was employed. Habitat and vegetation variables were recorded at random points and animal sightings to understand the patterns of habitat use and food selection. Spatial and temporal overlaps were analysed and micro-histological analysis of faecal samples compared the proportions of monocots and dicots in their diets. The study investigated how ungulates utilize habitats and their dietary habits with the availability of resources in their environment. Results showed substantial overlap in activity patterns, with the Jaccard similarity index indicating less spatial overlap between the species. The generalized linear model and Non-metric dimensional analysis indicated segregation based on their habitat preferences. However, there were no significant differences in their diets, the two species differed in the use of habitat at finer scales. Ibex preferred interspersed rocky slopes and slabs because of high rocky areas (escape terrain) and sparse vegetation, trading food for security. Blue sheep preferred less rocky areas with high vegetation cover like smooth slopes. Ibex preferred areas with more escape routes available than blue sheep. Thus, I conclude that Blue sheep, being more abundant than ibex, occupy distinct regions within the study area, and have a competitive advantage. While ibex are present in smaller numbers and confined to a specific region. Understanding their ecological requirements, especially in harsh winters, is crucial for targeted conservation efforts to ensure the sustainability of these species in a rapidly changing environment. Future research should focus on climate change impacts on habitat use and resource availabilityItem Patterns of foraging in Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) Population on the East Coast of India and Habitat Characteristics of the Arribada Nesting Ground at Rushikulya(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2019) Mudliar, Mohit; Sivakumar, K.; Gopi, G.V.; Shankar, KarthikThis study was conducted and aimed to explore the patterns of spatial segregation of foraging olive ridley turtles which nest on two distinct nesting areas of the eastern coast of India; secondly, to examine the characteristics of mass nesting ground of Rushikulya; and lastly, to assess the status of microplastic presence in mass nesting ground. The study found that the moisture contents and sand particle size were homogenous across the beaches of Rushikulya. The sandbar had most extreme values for four of the five studied habitat characters which might be due to surrounding waters. Sea turtles those stranded during December to February at Chennai as well as Rushikulya seems to be from a similar type of foraging areas as their carbon isotope ratio were not differentItem Ecology of Leopard (Panthera pardus) in Sanjay Gandhi National Park Maharashtra with Special Reference to its Abundance Prey Selection and Food Habits(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2015) Surve, Nikit; Sathyakumar, S.; Sankar, K.Though information is available on the leopard's ecology from natural habitats, very less information is available on the ecology of leopards from human-dominated habitats in India. Hence the study was conducted at Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), Mumbai where leopard was found to be the apex predator. The total area of SGNP is 104 sq.km. It is covered , by human habitations on all the sides leaving just a narrow tip on the northern side. Camera traps were deployed in a systematic manner covering the entire study area to get leopard images. Leopard density of 21.55 ± 4.6 (SE) at 95% confidence interval was calculated in the study area using Spatially Explicit Capture Recapture models. The wild prey densities were estimated inside SGNP using 'Distance sampling with the help of line transects. The , maximum density amongst ungulates was shown by chital (14.49 ± 5.2[SE]) followed by sambar (7.52 ± 1.7[SE]). Among primates, maximum density was shown by common langur (48.04 ± 8[SE]) followed by bonnet macaque (30.78 ± 12[SE]). Density for other prey species encountered on line transects like wild pig and barking deer were not estimated as they were sighted only twice on the line transects. Dog density on the periphery of SGNP was ca1culated to be 17.26 ± 0.69 (SE) using mark-recapture technique. Food habits of leopards were studied by conducting dietary analysis using leopard scat. The high density of dogs in the periphery of the National Park also reflected in the leopard's diet. Dogs alone contributed 24.46 % of the total biomass consumed in leopard's diet. Domestic prey contributed to 43% whereas wild prey contributed to 57 % of leopard's diet in terms of relative biomass consumed. The study suggests that the leopards are dependent on both wild as well as domestic prey in the study area. Leopards can coexist with humans even amidst urban environs as long as prey population (both domestic and wild) remain sufficient and their habitat is protected.Item Activity Patterns and Food Habits of the Phayre's Leaf Monkey (Trachypithecus phayrei) in Free-Ranging and Captive Conditions in Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary, Tripura(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2015) Lama, Pragya Aishwarya; Tyagi, P.C.; Nigam, Parag; Sankar, K.Maintenance of ex-situ populations of species threatened with extinction is a potential tool for ensuring recovery. Ex-situ conservation efforts though ongoing in India have been minimally documented. The present study aimed to fill gaps in information on the activity patterns and food habits of the endangered Phayre's leaf monkey (Trachypitheclis phayrei), a specialist feeder primarily a foliovore. This aspect was studied both in free-ranging and captive conditions. The study site posed a unique feature wherein the captive study species was located only ill one zoo all. over India which also happened to be within its geographical area. Thus, the Sepahijala Zoological Park (SZP) situated within the Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary (SWLS), Tripura was chosen as a study site. It was hypothesized that the activity patterns obtained from both the settings would be similar and that the nutrient composition of the food items consumed in wild and offered in captivity would not be much different from each other. A reconnaissance survey was carried out in which the available population, troop size and composition of Phayre's leaf monkey was assessed in both, the SWLS arid SZP. A IS-minute 'scan sampling' was conducted from dawn to dusk for studying the activity patterns of the troop selected for observation in the wild (after habituation) and in captivity. The activity data was analysed keeping in mind different age and sex categories within the wild and captive troops and across the two different settings. Chi square test was used to test for significant differences inactivity patterns within and across the captive and wild troop. The food habits (plants, plant parts and frequency eaten) of the Phayre's leaf monkey were studied on the basis of scans obtained as well as casual observations of the other free-ranging counterparts. Eaten food plants were identified and nutrient analysis was done for positive and negative nutrients after collecting and drying the samples from the field. Subsequently, it was processed at the laboratory in Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. The nutrients analysed were compared using the independent samples t-test.Item Food habits of tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) in Sariska tiger reserve, Rajasthan(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2003) Avinandan, D.; Sankar, K.; Qureshi, QamarThe present study aims at understanding relationship between tiger and its prey in a semi arid tract. The study was conducted in Sariska tiger reserve, Rajasthan over a period of six months from November 2002 to April 2003. Density estimation of major wild and domestic prey species was done to assess availability to tigers in terms of density and biomass. The line transect method was used to estimation prey densityItem Space Use Patterns of the Indian Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica centralis Erxleben) in Relation to Food Availability in Bori Wildlife Sanctuary, M.P. India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1993) Datta, Aparajita; Goyal, S.P.The spatio-temporal heterogeneity of food supply and the consequent effects on food resource use and space-use patterns of the Indian giant squirrel (Ratufa indica centralis) in Bori Wildlife Sanctuary, was the focus of study. Territoriality, which may affect space-use patterns of individuals was of special interest. Climatic factors which may influence activity budgets and consequently the variability in seasonal space-use patterns are also discussed. Based on individual variation in physical characteristics, Z identified three focal animals (one male, one female and a subadult male) in the disturbed habitat (Bhainsa nala ) , and a male and female in the undisturbed habitat (Churnagundi nala) for whom dana could only be gathered in winter. Therefore seasonal changes in space-use patterns is discussed for focal squirrels in the disturbed habitat. I kept a continuous record of behaviours during focal animal sampling. Home areas were calculated based on hourly locations taken from focal data. I gridded the area used by focal squirrels and recorded the vegetation parameters. The seasonal change in resource availability was monitored by phonological observations on all trees in the grids twice a month. Squirrels in Bhainsa nala selectively utilised certain individuals of flowering and fruiting crees which was related to crop size. Squirrels included bark and leaves in their diet even when fruit resources were available. The resource use by squirrels in Churnagundi nala showed a marked difference from squirrels in Bhainsa nala in winter which was due to the poor availability of food. Individual squirrels in Bhainsa nala showed variation in food species, food items used and the percent time spent feeding on each food item indicating that resource availability was not the same for all squirrels. No significant correlation was found between resource abundance and percent use of the item. Squirrels had overlapping ranges but were otherwise solitary. Many preferred resources were rare in the habitat, and the spatio-temporal heterogeneity in food resources resulted in overlap between individuals at locally abundant food resources. Because of this heterogeneity, the defence of an exclusive area guaranteed of resources throughout the seasons is not possible. Therefore squirrel ranges overlapped, but encounters were avoided by spatial time sharing but when encounters occurred, overt aggression was seen. But at certain locally abundant resources which were located at the periphery of the home areas, squirrels tolerated each other by maintaining inter-individual distances (5-10m). The tolerance of conspecifics at these resources could also be related to the existence of dominance hierarchies which result in decreased over aggression. The intensity of use (time spent) decreased as the distance from nest increased for all squirrels. Squirrels made forays in search of food and in many cases foraging was in the peripheral areas of the range. The male’s range showed overlap with the female’s in winter which could be related to sexual activity. Squirrels had a bimodal activity pattern in both seasons but bimodality was less pronounced in the winter since activity was distributed throughout the day when temperatures were more equable Shift in onset and cessation of activity was observed with changing daylength. Time spent feeding in April was much less than in other months. Time budgets showed that in all months a higher proportion of time is spent resting which could be due to heat or cold stress in or time needed to digest food items eaten. in Activity pattern of the squirrels in winter in Churnagundir nala were influenced by the low resource availability which resulted in long basking and resting periods and negligible time spent in feeding. Though occasional forays of short duration were made, no food was located by these forays. Thus squirrels adopted a strategy of conserving energy by minimizing their requirements by resting.Item Food Habits of Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) in Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1999) Biswas, Sayentan; Sankar, K.; Chundawat, R.S.Food habits of tiger was studied in a dry deciduous forest area in Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh over a period of 6 months from November 1986 to April 1999. Density estimation of major prey species was done to assess availability to tigers. Line transect method was used for estimation of prey density. Scat analysis revealed that chital constituted the major part of is tiger prey followed by sambar and wild pig.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 Utilisation of Major Fodder Tree Species with Respect to the Food Habits of Domestic Buffaloes in Rajaji National Park, India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1995) Edgaonkar, Advait; Goyal, S.P.The fodder tree utilisation patterns of the domestic buffaloes of the Guijars. a transhumant pastoralist community in Rajaji National Park were studied from November 1994 to April 1995. The study was conducted in three forest .blocks in Dholkhand range with different levels of lopping. Thirty three tree species were used as fodder, of which 11 were important. Milletia extensa, Miliusa velutina. Anogeissus lotifolia, and Grewia elastica were some of them. I calculated a preference index for these II major fodder trees using utilisation and availability data with a confidence interval. Ten out of II species were neither significantly preferred nor avoided in winter, Shoreo robusta being significantly less preferred. In spring. Milletia extensa was 'less preferred out of the five utilised; the others were neither preferred nor avoided. A feeding trial was conducted for seven species in which Stereospermum suaveolens was significantly preferred and Terminalia beleriea was significantly avoided. Neither utilisation nor preference correlated significantly with percentage N. Ca., Ash and Crude Fibre. Lopping of most trees was done regardless of the phenophase as long as the species had foliage. The Guijars faced a seasonal scarcity of fodder in spring. [t is argued that preferences break down in a situation of scarcity and any species edible to the buffaloes is lopped. Even a clearly less preferred species like sal is used. A comparison between occurrences of seedlings of buffalo fodder and nonfodder species between a lopped and a negligibly lopped block showed significant differences. The lopped block had more seedlings. An index of dietary similarity between domestic buffaloes and elephants gave an overlap of 39 percent.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.