Theses and Dissertations

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Author: search.filters.author.Hussain, S.A.Subject: search.filters.subject.Human impact

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    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.
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    A study on water bird population and human use of Hokersar and Hygam wetlands of Kashmir valley for conservation planning
    (2009) Hamid, Fozia; Hussain, S.A.
    The primary focus of this study was to evaluate the landscape composition and describe the floristic communities; assess the waterbird abundance and its spatio-temporal variation. The study also examined the resource dependence of local communities and their conservation attitudes towards these wetlands. The objectives were set forth: Map the habitat types with respect to water depth and vegetation characteristics of Hokersar and Hygam wetlands of Jammu & Kashmir. Derive spatio-temporal variation in the density and diversity pattern of waterbirds in these wetlands. iv Examine the seasonal pattern of use of these two wetlands by migratory and resident waterbirds. Examine the extent of use of these wetlands by the local people and their perception and attitude towards these wetlands. The field work was done during July to October 2004; mid-winter (December - January, 2004-2005); post-winter/ spring (February - April, 2005); summer (July - August, 2005), from June to October, 2006 and from June to October 2007. A structured questionnaire was designed and employed to obtain information on socio-economic parameters and vi dependence on wetland resources. The findings of this study indicate a difference in landscape structure between two wetlands. The pattern of land use - land cover between two landscapes shows that the extent of marshy areas was more in Hokersar wetland landscape (35.65%) than Hygam landscape (22.26%).