Theses and Dissertations

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    Sociality of Asiatic lion
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2018) Chakraborty, Stotra; Jhala, Y.V.
    In the current study investigate (i) how resources are shared between male partners of Asiatic lion coalition (ii) the cost benefits for male lions in forming alliances (iii) female mating strategies and mate selection in lions. The study area is Gir Protected Area and the adjoining agro-pastoral landscape lying to the south-Western fringes of the PA.
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    Modelling plant invasions in tropical India
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2019) Mungi, Ninad Avinash; Qureshi, Qamar; Jhala, Y.V.
    Human modifications are simplifying global ecosystems, and one agent catalysing this process is biological invasion. Species transferred by human means to areas beyond their evolutionary range, where they impact the native ecosystem and its services, are known as invasive species. Invasive species have affected native ecosystem functioning to an extent where native species went locally extinct, or where the native economy and human health has been adversely affected. While invasive species are spreading at an alarming rate, our knowledge on their large-scale status remains disjunct, disparate, and often outdated. The resultant loss in global ecosystem services is believed to be catastrophic for the global human-welfare; with developing societies being the most vulnerable. One such megadiverse developing country is India
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    Evaluation of population structure of tigers (Panthera tigris) in Central India using genetic markers.
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2015) Yumnam, Bibek; Jhala, Y.V.
    The findings presented in this thesis are the outcome of a long term research project entitled ‘Management of Forests in India for Biological Diversity and Forest Productivity - A New Perspective (1996 — 2002)’. The intensive study area is a part of the Garo Hills situated in the western Meghalaya of the northeast India. The landscape (2459 km2) is a mosaic of protected areas (PAs), managed forests (MFs) and intervening private/community land. The major goal of present study is to provide knowledge, tools, and indicators for monitoring, and potential management guidelines for conserving native biological diversity of study area. The objectives of present study are (i) to assess diversity patterns and successional changes among tree communities, (ii) to analyse landscape characteristics in particular fragmentation, classify tropical forests and prioritise wildlife areas, (iii) to discuss the native wild fauna and develop information base for modelling wildlife habitat relationships, and (iv) to assess the socioeconomics of native tribes, and evaluate the impact on existing protected areas of the region.
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    Systematics, phylogeography and population genetics of the Golden Jackal, Canis aureus
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2013) Negi, Tripti; Jhala, Y.V.
    The goal of this study was to elucidate the systematics, phylogeny, population genetic structure, genetic variability and the relationship of golden jackal in relation to other canid species. The study outline the general characteristics of family Canidae and golden jackal as a typical member of the family, the theory of conservation genetics, molecular genetics, and the molecular markers, taxonomic affiliation of golden jackal to other jackal species and to resolve their global higher level phylogenetic status in the genus Canis and population genetic structure and genetic variability among golden jackal in Western India, Gujarat.
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    Habitat use, ranging patterns and food habits of striped hyaena (Hyaena hyaena) in Kutch, Gujarat
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2013) Bopanna, I.P.; Jhala, Y.V.
    Among the diverse carnivores found in Kutch, the striped hyaena is the one of the largest and the region is also a stronghold for the species. This study was developed for a better understanding of the ecology and behaviour of the species. It aims at providing a better understanding of density, food availability and sociability in hyaenas, at the interface of human land uses. The study was carried out mostly in Abdasa and parts of Lakhpat, Nakhatrana and Mandvi talukas in Kutch district of Gujarat state, for five years from January 2006 to January 2011. During the course of the study, the sudden influx of industrialization in the region changed the dynamics drastically, undermining traditional way of life and value system. This change in dynamics resulted in rapid change in land use patterns and illegal encroachment of prime wildlife areas, directly affecting the wildlife in the region. This study will directly contribute for the conservation of the species in the region and elsewhere and also determined the food habits and foraging patterns of the species in the region and its dependence on anthropogenic food sources.
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    Ecology of the Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) in Kachchh, Gujarat, with reference to resource selection in an agro-pastoral landscape.
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2013) Dutta, Sutirtha; Jhala, Y.V.; Rahmani, Asad R.
    The Great Indian Bustard is an obligate grassland bird endemic to this region with a global population of only about 300 birds. Present study is based on Species's status, resource selection, behavioual aspects and socio-ecological context to reformate viable bustard conservation strategies. The study was conducted during 2007-11 in SW Kachchh (Gujarat, India)
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    Assessment of landscape patterns for modeling habitat suitability for lions and prey species in Gir Protected Area, Gujarat.
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2013) Basu, Parabita; Qureshi, Qamar; Jhala, Y.V.
    Conservation of ‘source’ alone may not be a sufficient strategy to ensure long term persistence of lions; rather it is enhanced by maintaining connectivity among different populations so as to permit lion movement across human-dominated areas. However, the traditional land-use patterns within Gir landscape is changing at an alarming rate mainly as a result of agricultural expansion, urbanization and industrialization. In this scenario, I attempt to (1) Examine the distribution of suitable lion habitat in Saurashtra, especially in areas outside of protected area to assess the potential of the landscape for supporting an increasing lion population, (2) Identify functional corridors joining Gir and Girnar protected area with suggested management interventions, necessary for safeguarding the corridor, (3) Evaluate the current landscape architecture of Gir PA and its surroundings (4) Assess the rate of change in land use and vegetation patterns within Gir PA, (5) Develop habitat suitability models at different spatial scales for lions and its principal prey species.
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    Occupancy and abundance of tigers and their prey in Terai Arc Landscape, Nepal.
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2012) Karki, Jhamak Badur; Jhala, Y.V.; Pandav, Bivash
    The occupancy, distribution and tiger density are important information for management and conservation policy formulation. Realizing this need, this study was undertaken. The major wild prey species of tiger are spotted deer (Axis axis), wild pig (Sus scrofa), sambar (Rucervus unicolor), swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelli duvaucelli), barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak), hog deer (Heylaphus porcinus) and gaur (Bos gaurus) in Nepal. To evaluate the occupancy of tiger in Nepal's Terai Arc landscape (TAL), sign survey was conducted in 96 grids (area 225 Km2 ) in 14 districts, including PAs. To assess correlation of the tiger occupancy with the availability of wild prey, and the human disturbance with the habitat use by the tiger, the sign of human disturbances (fire, timber cut, fuel wood collection, sign of poaching) and prey presence were recorded during the winter season. To estimate the density of tigers wild prey in PAs of Nepal's TAL, distance sampling was conducted along the predefined line transects during the summer season
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    Reproductive strategy and behaviour of male Asiatic Lions.
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2008) Meena, V.; Jhala, Y.V.; Chellam, Ravi
    The field study was carried out from April 2002 to February 2007 and the intensive study area covered 1075 km2 area of the Gir PA including Sanctuary West and National Park. i) Demographic changes in the Gir lion population were monitored using individual identification profiles for a period of four years. Lion population was estimated using mark-recapture models. Movement patterns, spacing mechanisms and land tenure system of four females (one radio-collared female), five adult males (two radio-collared males) and one subadult male (radio-collared) were obtained. Of these, seven individuals were monitored from 2002–2007. Lion diet was assessed both by intensive search across the study area and record of lion kills as well as analysis of scat. A questionnaire survey was conducted in twenty nesses that included seven nesses in central Gir and thirteen nesses in Gir-west to assess the livestock holding and causes of livestock mortality. Inter-kill intervals were obtained from direct observation of radio-collared lions.
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    Feeding ecology and habitat needs of wolves (Canis lupus pallipes) in the Bhal area of Gujarat.
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2002) Jethva, Bharat D.; Jhala, Y.V.
    Present study was conducted in the Bhal region of Gujarat between 1996-2000 to study the feeding ecology and habitat needs of wolves. Food habits of wolves in the Bhal were studied by analyzing 1246 wolf scats from 5 packs. Standardization of scat analysis technique suggested that minimum of20 hair should be scanned per scat to get complete representation of mammalian prey species in that scat. Minimum number of scats that need to be analyzed per pack were different for different wolf packs (ranging from 165 scats needed for Velavadar National Park (VNP) pack to 40 scats from Mithapur pack and 180 scats for the wolves of entire Bhal) because of different diet diversity. Mammalian prey species dominated in the diet of wolves and 80.5% scats were found with only one prey species. Comparative account on feeding ecology provided in the present study by scat analysis and monitoring of radio-collared wolves suggests that wolves depends primarily on wild prey species (blackbuck being major prey) and predation on domestic livestock results in minimal economic loss to the local people. It emphasizes the importance of protected areas for the conservation of wolves. Use of radio-telemetry in the present study provided critical information on territorial behavior of wolves, their population density, size of home range and their relation with prey abundance, habitat use and the size and characteristics of core areas.