Theses and Dissertations
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Item Study on waterbird assemblages of the Middle Ganga river(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2025) Aftab; Mathur, V.B.; Hussain, S.A.The Ganga River, one of Asia's most biodiverse riverine systems, exemplifies this ecological significance, hosting a rich assemblage of aquatic species, including over 150 waterbird species, and threatened taxa such as the Gangetic River dolphin, gharial, and Indian skimmer. However, these ecosystems face severe threats from climate change, habitat degradation because of anthropogenic activities, including unsustainable development, and pollution, leading to an estimated 10,000– 20,000 freshwater species being extinct or at risk of extinction globally. In India, the Ganga River is significantly impacted by the over-extraction of water from dams and barrages, industrial and sewage effluents, sand mining and riverbed agriculture, resulting in significant biodiversity loss. Waterbirds are key indicators that reflect the health of wetland and riverine ecosystems, owing to their sensitivity to environmental changes. Their roles as pollinators, seed dispersers, predators, and nutrient cyclers emphasise their ecological importance. In the Gangetic plains, waterbirds rely on the dynamic hydrological processes of rivers and associated wetlands for feeding, breeding, and roosting. Yet, these habitats are under immense pressure from urbanisation, agriculture, and pollution, with up to 40% of India's wetlands lost over the past 50 years. The middle stretch of the Ganga River, supporting rich diversity of waterbirds and other aquatic fauna, remains understudied, with limited comprehensive data on waterbird assemblages and their responses to a range of environmental and anthropogenic factors. This PhD thesis investigates the spatio-temporal patterns of waterbird assemblages along the middle stretch of the Ganga River, aiming to address critical knowledge gaps in their status, distribution, and ecological dependencies. The study pursues four key objectives: (1) to determine the status, distribution, and assemblage patterns of waterbirds; (2) to identify habitat features governing waterbird assemblages; (3) to assess the impacts of anthropogenic pressures; and (4) to prioritise areas for waterbird conservation. Through systematic surveys and ecological assessments, this research seeks to generate comprehensive data on waterbird diversity and evaluate the influence of habitat characteristics, such as channel depth and width, bank features, and water quality, alongside anthropogenic stressors like sand mining, solid waste dumps, pollution, and habitat fragmentation.Item Ecology of major Invasive Alien plant species (IAPs) across various habitats in Pakke Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2026) Singh, Huidrom Bablin; Adhikari, B.S.Proliferation of invasive alien plant species poses a significant threat to the structure and function of ecosystems, making this a critical area of focus within the scientific communities. These species cause extensive damage to the biodiversity, as they are capable of altering the ecosystems and outcompete the native biodiversity. Globally, their abundance has increased dramatically in forested and other natural areas due to rapid economic growths and anthropogenic activities. To counter this alarming situation, understanding the distribution pattern, climatic influences on phenophases and ecological impact on soil by invasive alien plant species is a priority. In northeast India, studies on invasive alien plant species diversity and their impacts are very limited, especially in Arunachal Pradesh. Therefore, the present study aims to determine the patterns of distribution, phenophases and physiochemical impacts by the dominant invasive alien plant species in five forest types (Assam Alluvial Plain Semi Evergreen Forest-AAPSEF, East Himalayan Mixed Coniferous Forest-EHMCF, East Himalayan Subtropical Wet Hill Forest-EHSTWH, Non-Forest-NF and Riverine Forest-RF) of Pakke Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh. The altitudinal range of Pakke Tiger Reserve is 150- 2050 m above the sea level (490 to 6725 feet), with an average annual rainfall of 2500 mm. The current study reveals a total of 43 invasive alien plant species in the study area. However, their species richness in five forest types was in declined trend with the increase of elevation. Across the forest types, AAPSEF (30%) display the maximum level of invasion and least incursion in EHSTWHF (16%) in the current study. Among the nine species selected for the study, Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.King & H.Rob. was found dominant and distributed extensively in all forest types, with highest relative density (51%) in EHSTWHF and relative abundance (10%) in NF. The entire selected species shows contagious distribution pattern (<0.5) in all forest types except for Urena lobata in NF displaying random distribution (0.025 - 0.5) in study area. Ageratum conyzoides L., Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.King & H.Rob. and Urena lobata L. are the species with extensive distribution in all forest types in comparison to other selected species showing their dominance over the native vegetation. Moreover, maximum area cover percentage was exhibit by Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.King & H.Rob. followed by Ageratum conyzoides L., Mikania micrantha Kunth and Urena lobata L. across the forest types in Pakke Tiger Reserve. Forest types such as AAPSEF, NF and RF display high level of disturbances while the EHMCF and EHSTWHF have fewer incursions by invasive alien plant species in the study area. Phenological pattern on the selected species shows that Bidens pilosa L. has the longest flowering phenophases while Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.King & H.Rob. has the maximum fruiting duration in EHSTWHF. For leaf fall and initiation, Urena lobata L. display the longest duration in RF. Moreover, coefficient of variation shows that most of the species display asynchronous phenophases across the forest types of Pakke Tiger Reserve. Repeated measures of ANOVA also display that Ageratum conyzoides L. display difference in flowering in NF and EHSTWHF while Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.King & H.Rob. leaf initiation show difference in EHMCF. Correlation and linear regression display influences of climatic parameters i.e., precipitation, relative humidity, minimum and maximum temperature to the selected species in the study area. CCA also indicates that precipitation, minimum and maximum temperatures directly influence the phenophases of the selected species. However, relative humidity influences the phenophases of the selected species when in cohesion with other climatic parameters. Ecological impact on native species by invasive alien plant species was determined by collecting the soil sample of the most dominant species i.e., Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.King & H.Rob. across the forest types in Pakke Tiger Reserve. The result shows that clay and copper contents were high in all invaded sites while soil pH, sand, boron and water holding capacity were significantly lower in invaded plots. Out of 16 soil variables, T-test reveals that AAPSEF and NF have variation in 13 variables while EHMCF, EHSTWHF and RF have difference in 12 variables. ANOVA between the invaded and uninvaded sites also indicates significant differences in Boron, iron, copper, nitrogen, water holding capacity, clay, silt and sand. Moreover, correlation shows eight of the variables display relation between them. Furthermore, PCA indicates that INNF soil properties were different from the remaining sites. The results indicate that Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.King & H.Rob. alter the soil properties of invaded areas by improving the fertility, making it ideal for the proliferation process in future scenarios.Item Species diversity and molecular study of bees (Bombus and Xylocopa) in Dehradun District, Uttarakhand, India(wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2025) Abha PurohitPollinators are fundamental to the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems, as they facilitate the reproduction of a vast majority of flowering plants and thereby sustain biodiversity and ecological stability. Globally, an estimated 87.5% of flowering plants depend onanimal pollinators for successful reproduction (Ollerton et.al. 2011). In addition to their ecological role, pollinators, particularly bees, are indispensable for global agriculture. Approximately 75% of the world’s leading food crops rely on pollination to enhance both yield and quality (Klein et.al. 2007). Agricultural commodities such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, oilseeds, and spices are especially dependent on bee-mediated pollination. Beyond agricultural productivity, pollinators provide critical services that directly influence human nutrition. By increasing the diversity, availability, and quality of nutrient-rich foods, they indirectly contribute to balanced diets enriched with vitamins, antioxidants, and essential micronutrients (Eilers et.al.2011). Thus, pollinators not only underpin biodiversity but also strengthen food security and human well-being, highlighting their ecological, agricultural, and nutritional significance. 2. Research objectives The study aims to conduct a systematic survey of Bombus (bumblebees) and Xylocopa (carpenter bees) in the Dehradun district, focusing on their taxonomy, ecology, and seasonal distribution in different habitat zones. It also seeks for identification and characterization of their habitats, with emphasis on the availability of food plants that sustain high species diversity. Molecular tools, including DNA barcoding, was applied for accurate identification of collected specimens. Additionally, the research evaluated the impact of anthropogenic pressures and other environmental threats on the survival and diversity of these pollinator groups in the study area.Item Assessment of altered land use pattern on the middle Ganga river hydrodynamics using Geospatial modelling(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2025) Ali, Zeeshan; Hussain, S.A.Item Molecular Phylogeny and Population genetic structure of Himalayan Blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) in Himalayan region(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2025) Saini, Deepesh; Vishnupriya, K.; Gupta, S.K.; Sathyakumar, S.The Himalayan blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur), commonly known as bharal, is a high-altitude caprine species endemic to the rugged terrains of the high Himalayas. Although classified as a species of "Least Concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (JUCN), significant ambiguities persist regarding its taxonomic delineation and population structure. These uncertainties are further compounded by the paucity of comprehensive genetic data, particularly concerning populations within the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), where geographical isolation and environmental heterogeneity may have promoted evolutionary divergence. The present study aims to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships, genetic diversity, and population structure of Pseudois nayaur across its Indian range, with a specific focus on populations inhabiting the eastern and western Himalayas. Employing a molecular phylogenetic approach, this investigation integrates mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers-principally the cytochrome b gene, control region and the complete mitogenome-with nuclear microsatellite markers to assess lineage differentiation, historical demography, and gene flow. Non-invasive and ethically compliant sampling strategies were utilized to obtain biological material, ensuring minimal disturbance to wildlife. Laboratory analyses, including DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, and sequencing, were followed by bioinformatic assessments using tools such as DnaSP, Arlequin, STRUCTURE, BEAST, and PopART. Phylogenetic reconstructions revealed distinct mitochondrial haplotypes between eastern and western Himalayan populations, suggesting limited gene flow and historical isolation likely driven by topographic and climatic barriers. The genetic differentiation observed was consistent with the theory of allopatric divergence facilitated by the orogenic and glacial history of the Himalayas. Furthermore, the study confirms the phylogenetic placement of Pseudois nayaur within the subfamily Caprinae, identifying close evolutionary affinities with Ovis and Hemitragus species while supporting its unique lineage status. These findings have important implications for conservation biology, as they suggest the existence of evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) that merit region-specific management interventions. The bharal's role as a herbivore and primary prey for apex predators such as the snow leopard (Panthera uncia) further underscores its ecological significance in alpine ecosystems.Item An ecological study on nesting patterns and Behavioural dynamics of vultures in Kangra valley, Himachal pradesh(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2025) Bhattacharya, MalyasriVultures are nature’s most efficient scavengers, playing a critical role in maintaining ecological balance. Their populations in India have suffered a drastic decline from 97-99% between 1993 and 2002, leading to the establishment of captive breeding programs aimed at species recovery. Threats of decline have now stabilized, but little is known about the ecology and survival of the vultures in the wild, necessitating this study for the conservation of vultures in their natural habitat. Kangra Valley, situated in the westernmost region of Himachal Pradesh state in India, is one of India's important vulture sites, supporting most of the nine vulture species recorded in the country. Among these, the White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis), Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), Himalayan Griffon (Gyps himalayensis), and Eurasian Griffon (Gyps fulvus) are the most observed, while the Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus), Red-headed Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus), Slender-billed Vulture (Gyps tenuirostris), and Indian Vulture (Gyps indicus) are recorded occasionally. Kangra is also one of the most densely populated districts of Himachal Pradesh, with an extensive road network, contributing to anthropogenic pressures on vulture populations. While the region has a long history of vulture census efforts, aspects of their breeding ecology remain poorly understood. Why do they select a particular tree for nesting? What are the variables that affect nest site selection? What is the nest success rate? Where do they move, and what is their home range? What are the threats? This study, conducted between 2019 to 2024, focuses on the breeding ecology of White-rumped Vultures in Kangra, examining their nesting preferences, reproductive success, threats to nesting colonies and spatial movements. Additionally, the research explores the climatic niche availability for all nine vulture species found in the region, assessing current and future climatic scenarios to predict potential habitat suitability. The Chir Pine forests of Kangra serve as the breeding habitat for White-rumped Vultures in the region. The breeding season of the White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) in the area extends from November to April, encompassing mating, incubation, hatching, and fledgling development, lasting approximately 25-28 weeks (October—April). Over three consecutive breeding seasons (2021-2024), the study recorded 17 active nesting colonies with a total of 617 active nests, primarily in Chir Pine (Pinus roxburghii) trees. Nest site selection was influenced by tree characteristics, with vultures preferring trees with a larger girth at breast height (GBH) (average GBH of 254.8 cm + 49.3 SD), lower canopy cover (5-10%), greater shrub density (77-100%), and proximity to other nesting trees and water sources. Conversely, areas with high fire activity, dense canopy cover, and limited nearby trees were found to be less suitable. In addition to breeding ecology, the study identified 36 carcass dumping sites in the region. These sites, managed by local communities, serve as designated areas for livestock carcass disposal, primarily for cattle and buffalo. The carcasses are transported from households to the dumping sites by local cobblers, locally known as "Harijans." The decline of open carcass disposal areas has posed further challenges for vulture populations. To understand movement patterns, five wild White-rumped Vultures were satellite-tagged in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, in 2021. The tagged individuals exhibited extensive movements, ranging across Jammu & Kashmir, the Pakistan border near Punjab, and Uttarakhand. Three of these vultures have consistently nested in Dolba and Lapiana within Kangra between 2021 and 2024. The study recorded an average home range of 1367.6 km? for non-breeding individuals and 1719.8 km? for breeding individuals across seasons. The future distribution for the nine vulture species shows a significant decline in the modeled climatic niche for seven vultures by 2041-2060 and 2061-2080. The study identified electrocution, forest fires and poisoning as major threats, with notable vulture fatalities recorded. Major forest fire-prone areas include Gopalpur, Pathiar Range, Lunj, and Baranj Sirmani. This study offered insights into India's largest documented aggregation of 617 White-rumped Vulture nests. The study recommends targeted conservation interventions to ensure the long-term survival of White-rumped Vultures. These include the protection of nesting sites, preservation of old-growth forests, and support for cobbler communities engaged in carcass disposal. Additionally, designated vulture feeding stations within forested areas should be established. Given these findings, the study proposes designating the region as a Vulture Safe Zone, suitable areas for releasing captive-bred vultures with continuous monitoring. Himachal Pradesh Forest Department (HPFD) and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoEFCC) have to come up with guidelines to declare a vulture safe zone as well as a strategic conservation plan to safeguard this critically endangered species.Item Management of habitat, its connectivity and human-large carnivore conflict in Western Terai Arc Landscape (TAL)(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2025) Verma, Nishant; Pandav, Bivash; Mondol, SamratA wildlife corridor is an area of habitat that connects wildlife populations otherwise separated by human pressures such as roads, development or logging. Functionally corridors allows for the exchange of individuals between populations, reducing the negative effects of inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity that often occur in isolated populations. The Western Part of the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) a region listed among the 200 globally important ecoregions for its rich assemblage of large mammals. Over time land modifications for agriculture and anthropogenic disturbances disrupted these connections. Despite this the TAK retains immense conservation value, sustaining two level I Tiger Conservation Units - Rajaji Corbett and Chitwan-Parsa-Valmiki- alongside several level II Units. Recent assessment estimate that about 20,800 sq km of tiger habitat remains on the Indian side of the TAL. The study area of this doctoral research spans the Western Terai Arc landscape and centres around Rajaji National Park encompassing connected forest divisions in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh where it aims at (i) Evaluating corridor use by wildlife in Rajaji National Park and adjoining divisions (2) evaluating the extent and severity of human - large carnivores conflict in the Western TAL and (3) Evaluating existing management practices for large carnivore conservation. Towards evaluating the activity of wildlife and for assessing corridor functionality, systematic sign surveys were carried out in 2022–2023 to identify suitable sampling sites across all corridors, prior to camera-trapping. Transects were walked to record signs such as dung, pugmarks, hoof marks, and scrapes of large mammals. Further, a total of 87 camera traps were deployed in 2022 and 2025, yielding a total of 9,670 trap nights. Sign surveys revealed that leopards and elephants were the most frequently encountered species across both eastern and western corridors. Chillawali–Shiwalik showed extensive elephant signs, confirming its role as an elephant movement pathway. Camera traps recorded 17 species in the forest areas and nine in the corridors, with the highest species richness being recorded in Chillawali-Shiwalik, followed by Chilla-Motichur and Laltappar, and Teenpani. Chillawali-Shiwalik had the highest Relative Abundance Index (RAI) for chital (269.53), followed by Teenpani for wild pig (227.2) and sambar (123.31), whereas Chilla-Motichur and Laltappar exhibited lower RAIs for most species. In contrast, adjacent forest areas exhibited higher RAIs across all species, indicating a preference for less-disturbed habitats. Species exhibited distinct activity patterns between corridors and forest areas. Leopards were uniformly active throughout the day in the forest but showed slightly reduced daytime activity in corridors (Δ = 0.71). Elephants exhibited contrasting activity patterns, with a daytime activity peak in forest ranges and a nighttime peak in corridors (Δ = 0.48). These results highlight both the functionality and challenges of four key wildlife corridors in RNP in maintaining connectivity for species within fragmented habitats. Details of human-wildlife conflict incidents were collected from each of the Forest Divisions of the study area for 12 years (2012-2024). Of this, incident details of attacks on humans were available from 2018 to 2024, while livestock depredation incidents were available from 2003 to 2024. Of the collected data, large carnivore conflict incidents were compiled on the basis of the species of carnivore involved, and the incidents were categorised into attacks on humans and livestock depredation. Species-wise conflict points were extracted, and for each of the species, 5000 random points were then generated in QGIS to act as absence points in the study area. 65 incidents of attacks on humans were due to large carnivores – including tigers (n=29), leopards (n=19), and bears (n=17) (2018 to 2024), and 3,258 incidents of livestock depredation were attributed to large carnivores – including tigers (n=615) and leopards (n=2,635) (2003 to 2024). Human population densities were significantly different for locations of bear and tiger attacks on people and random points, whereas livestock population density was significantly different at locations of human-leopard conflict as compared to random locations. Similarly human population densities significantly varied between locations of livestock depredation by tigers & random non-conflict locations, while both human & livestock population densities were significantly different at locations of livestock depredation by leopards and random locations. Elevation gradient (p<0.01) in the study area was one of the major drivers of human conflict with bears and leopards on humans. Distance to linear infrastructure (p<0.01) and Human Footprint Index (p<0.05) majorly drive leopard attacks on people. Additionally, livestock and human population densities (p<0.05) influence bear and tiger attacks on people. Tiger attacks on humans were also driven by distances to linear infrastructure & Protected Area (p<0.01), and nightlight (p<0.01). Annual precipitation, terrain ruggedness & elevation, distances to linear infrastructure & water, human population density, and Human Footprint Index (p<0.001) are some of the factors that drive livestock depredation by leopards & tigers. The results of this study highlight the variations in trends and drivers of conflict with each large carnivore in the study area, with severe socio-economic and ecological consequences. The evaluation of management practices in the Western Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) was carried out using the Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) framework developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), that have been adapted for the Indian tiger reserves. This framework assesses management performance across six broad elements: context, planning, inputs, processes, outputs, and outcomes, and provides a structured mechanism to identify strengths and gaps in conservation practice. Data was collected from (a) working plans and Tiger Conservation Plans, (b) field records and secondary data, and (c) primary evaluation and scoring. The site-specific scores were aggregated to generate comparative rankings across divisions, and grouped under five major elements (context, planning, input, process, and output). Selected critical indicators were examined individually to highlight specific areas of weakness. Additional parameters relating to habitat degradation, encroachment, invasive species status, and habitat recovery were also scored qualitatively. Scores ranged narrowly from 66.41 (Kalsi) to 68.97 (Dehradun), with Lansdowne (68.75), Rajaji (67.19), and Shivalik (67.17) occupying intermediate positions, indicating moderate but consistent levels of management. Disaggregated analysis revealed variation across the five evaluation elements. Planning (68.52) and Inputs (68.75) received relatively higher scores, reflecting the availability of documented management plans, budget allocations, and staffing provisions (Figure 4.2). By contrast, Processes (65.17) and Outputs (62.92) scored lower, indicating weaknesses in implementation and outcome delivery. Indicator-level analysis pointed to specific areas of weakness, specifically indicators related to control of biotic pressures, stakeholder participation, and conflict mitigation consistently received low scores. These findings reveal that management effectiveness in the western TAL is functional but fragile, characterized by strong planning frameworks but weaker implementation and ecological outcomes. The Western Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) represents one of India’s most critical conservation frontiers where ecological connectivity, large mammal persistence, and human livelihoods intersect. This thesis generates crucial understanding of the interdependence between habitat connectivity, conflict mitigation, and management effectiveness. Fragmentation of corridors intensifies edge effects and human intrusion, which in turn elevates conflict frequency, further complicating management efforts. This study provides several actionable insights for strengthening conservation outcomes in the western TAL, including landscape integration, corridor restoration, conflict mitigation, participatory management, monitoring, and policy mainstreaming.Item Patterns and Determinants of mammalian assemblage in an Eastern Himalayan Landscape unit(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2025) Chackaravarthy, S. Deepan; Gopi, G.V.; Ramesh, K.This thesis presents a detailed investigation of the mammalian assemblage in a selected landscape unit in the Eastern Himalayan in the Far East region of Arunachal Pradesh. The selected landscape unit is located in a Himalayan biodiversity hotspot, with its mountain ranges are biogeographically well connected to the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. The study unit remains one of the least explored forests for mammalian species, except for a few prior expeditions. The unit is situated between two contiguous tiger reserves, The Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Namdhapa Tiger Reserve to the south, and the state’s largest wildlife sanctuary, the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary, to the north and the Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary to the west. The landscape units encomposses protected areas, including the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary, and forest divisions of Lohit, Anjaw, Anini, and Namsai forest divisions. The terrain is rugged and hilly, traversed by various rivers and streams, which are the contributors to the river Brahmaputra. We conducted a reconnaissance survey to fulfil the objective of creating an inventory, and the resulting information guided the deployment of camera traps in locations optimal for effective photo capture of mammals. The objective of the study also examines the perception of the indigenous people towards mammalian, species. A questionnaire survey was conducted in and around the study unit, to assess the perception, which also provides information about species that are not directly captured in the camera-trap monitoring programme. The study documented several mammalian species in the selected landscape unit, with species, like tigers (Panthera tigris) and leopards (Panthera pardus), were reported from secondary sources and direct sightings. Dhole (Cuon alpinus), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), and Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) are the top predators recorded using camera traps. Certain species of conservation interest are also reported, such as Alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster), Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens), and the recent past distribution of Wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee). This information adds additional credits for reintroduction programs in future. Both bear species, the Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus) and the Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus), are recorded in this study. The recently segregated species Gongshan Muntjac (Muntiacus gongshanensis) and data-deficient species like the Northern Tree Shrew (Tupaia belangeri) were also recorded during the study period. Though the study reported flying squirrels at taxa level the region is occupied by species that are listed as endangered and critically endangered. The Critically Endangered Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) was also recorded with one individual rescued during the study. The habitat suitability prediction for selected species, both at a regional scale and at the landscape unit level provided valuable insights for conservation and management. The analysis using time-stamped camera-trap images shows that the interaction of Dhole and Yellow-Throated Martens with prey is high, possibly due to the lower density of higher Felids. The activity pattern of the Mishmi Takin (Budorcas taxicolor taxicolor) offered valuable and additional information about the migratory species which moves across habitats and elevations seasonally. The questionnaire survey on the people’s perception revealed that the people’s cultural connectedness to the wilderness remains strong. A community-based participatory approach should be developed in this region to enhance conservation practices. The study also identified an increasing trend of negative interaction with species such as the dhole (Cuon alpinus) and crop damage caused by the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) recorded through indirect evidence. Additionally, there are also two least studied rodents: The Asiatic brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus macrourus) and the Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica), which was noted to requiring further studies on their ecological role in the region. There have been discoveries of new species very recently in this region, underscores the need for a deeper understanding of species distribution in this region. In a landscape where people are deeply connected to culture, tradition and beliefs, there needs to be an inclusive approach for further exploration. A significant proportion of respondents indicated that cultural beliefs and traditional rights interlink with species protection in the region. A successful transfer of knowledge either the stratified sampling of communities and citizens to ensure that only those most apt to conduct science are invited to participate (Fernandez-Gimenez, 2008). It deals with the General Introduction about the study and its objectives. It deals with the description of the study area. It describes the basic Inventory of mammals, which is one of the core findings of the study. It focuses on the suitable habitat modelling of select mammal species recorded in the study unit. It examines the Diel activity pattern, temporal activity overlap, and spatial co-occurrence of mammal species in the study unit, serving as a representation of the species activity patterns in Eastern Arunachal Pradesh. It explores the perception of people on mammalian conservation in the landscape unit, based on a questionnaire survey.Item Influence of Canopy Gaps on Mangrove vegetation and Crab communities in the Andaman Islands(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2025) Sengannan, Perarivalan; Prabhakar, N.Small-scale, infrequent disturbances enhance habitat heterogeneity in the landscape and promote diversity. Canopy disturbances caused by lightning strikes in mature mangrove stands modify environmental factors such as canopy cover and light intensity. Response of mangrove vegetation and crab communities to such canopy gap formation remains the least investigated aspect among ecologists. The canopy gaps were stratified based on the recent and recovering status of vegetation recruitment along with gap age, and an intact forest plot was sampled as a control treatment. The result shows that canopy opening has a significant effect on water temperature, and it has a profound influence on structuring vegetation and the crab communities in mangroves. Seedling and sapling density was 2-fold higher in canopy gaps than intact forest, and higher sapling survival was witnessed in canopy gaps. 28 species of crabs were recorded collectively from all treatments. Crabs of the family Ocypodidae were found in large proportion in canopy gaps, as the organic matter from microalgae and bacteria is their primary food base. Overall, canopy gaps in contiguous mangrove habitats are a hot spot for crab diversity and serve as a regeneration niche for seedlings and saplings by creating structural heterogeneity in the landscape. It suggests that small-scale natural disturbances, such as canopy gaps, promote habitat complexity and crab diversity.Item Foraging Guild Structure and Niche Characteristics of Waterbirds in Pong Wetland, Himachal Pradesh(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2025) Abhishek; Talukdar, Gautam; Gopi, G.V.; Kaur, AmarjeetWetlands are one of the important habitats for waterbirds, yet the mechanism of niche segregation among the waterbird communities is understudied. This study focused on the foraging guild structure and niche characteristics of waterbirds in Pong wetland during the wintering season. The study takes into account foraging habitat (water depth, secchi depth and vegetation type) and foraging technique used by the waterbird species to understand resource partition and coexistence. The study was carried out from December 2024 to March 2025 using the point count method in two different sites of the Pong wetland i.e., Meenu khad and Gaj khad each having five replicates. The total sampling effort was 56 days with 26 days in Meenu khad and 30 days in Gaj khad. The species richness analysis of both the sites revealed Meenu khad to be more species rich than Gaj khad likely due to variation in water depth in the region, resulting in different habitat conditions. The monthly abundance of waterbirds in Pong wetland was found to be at its peak in the month of January. Generalist species such as the Eurasian Coot and Tufted Duck occupied the broadest habitat and combined niche breadth than that of specialists such as the River Tern. Furthermore, in terms of extensive foraging strategy, species such as the Northern Shoveler and Intermediate Egret occupied broader niche breadth, demonstrating behavioral flexibility in resource acquisition. The clustering of waterbird communities resulted in four functional guilds that are responsible for reducing competition and allowing species coexistence. It was found that the intraguild overlap was significantly higher than the interguild overlap (F = 54.34, p < 0.001). The null models further showed the mechanism that could be responsible for structuring the communities. It resulted in higher observed niche overlap than expected, signifying that community structure of waterbirds is largely influenced by morphological variations leading to different foraging habits, variable abundance of waterbird species and presence of abundant resources at Pong Dam. This study is the first in providing deeper understanding on seasonal waterbird abundance, niche requirements and community structure at Pong Lake. This study serves as a baseline to continue future studies in the region and assess the impacts of changing land use practices as well as changing climate on species occurrence and abundance and community structure. Furthermore, the study also showed the region to be an important staging ground for many migratory species, therefore, focusing on targeted habitat management will be crucial to support the diversity of waterbird species.are one of the important habitats for waterbirds, yet the mechanism of niche segregation among the waterbird communities is understudied. This study focused on the foraging guild structure and niche characteristics of waterbirds in Pong wetland during the wintering season. The study takes into account foraging habitat (water depth, secchi depth and vegetation type) and foraging technique used by the waterbird species to understand resource partition and coexistence. The study was carried out from December 2024 to March 2025 using the point count method in two different sites of the Pong wetland i.e., Meenu khad and Gaj khad each having five replicates. The total sampling effort was 56 days with 26 days in Meenu khad and 30 days in Gaj khad. The species richness analysis of both the sites revealed Meenu khad to be more species rich than Gaj khad likely due to variation in water depth in the region, resulting in different habitat conditions. The monthly abundance of waterbirds in Pong wetland was found to be at its peak in the month of January. Generalist species such as the Eurasian Coot and Tufted Duck occupied the broadest habitat and combined niche breadth than that of specialists such as the River Tern. Furthermore, in terms of extensive foraging strategy, species such as the Northern Shoveler and Intermediate Egret occupied broader niche breadth, demonstrating behavioral flexibility in resource acquisition. The clustering of waterbird communities resulted in four functional guilds that are responsible for reducing competition and allowing species coexistence. It was found that the intraguild overlap was significantly higher than the interguild overlap (F = 54.34, p < 0.001). The null models further showed the mechanism that could be responsible for structuring the communities. It resulted in higher observed niche overlap than expected, signifying that community structure of waterbirds is largely influenced by morphological variations leading to different foraging habits, variable abundance of waterbird species and presence of abundant resources at Pong Dam. This study is the first in providing deeper understanding on seasonal waterbird abundance, niche requirements and community structure at Pong Lake. This study serves as a baseline to continue future studies in the region and assess the impacts of changing land use practices as well as changing climate on species occurrence and abundance and community structure. Furthermore, the study also showed the region to be an important staging ground for many migratory species, therefore, focusing on targeted habitat management will be crucial to support the diversity of waterbird species.