Theses and Dissertations
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Item Conserving Natural Heritage Through Genetic Assessment : The Case of Snow Leopards in Ladakh(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Vishnuvardhan; Jhala, Y.V.; Srinivas, YellapuNatural world heritage sites are landscapes that sustain rare ecological processes, provide crucial habitats for the survival of many iconic species of significance and provide a wealth of ecosystem services. A part of India’s natural heritage lies m its youngest landscape, the Himalayas. This natural heritage is an asset in itself due to its immense intrinsic values. Snow leopard, an elusive inhabitant of the cold desert represents an important cultural and ecological symbol of the Central and south Asian mountain systems and acts as a flagship as well as an umbrella species. This study has been designed to assess the genetic status of this vulnerable species distributed across the union territory of Ladakh using non-invasive genetic methods. The study site comprised of four distinct regions, Hemis-Leh, Kargil, Changthang and Nubra. Putative snow leopard scat samples (N=391) were collected from the study area. DNA was extracted from all the samples and a 148 bp Mt-DNA region was amplified with a carnivore specific primer. Successfully amplified samples were sequenced for species identification. From the 95 snow leopard positive samples 56 individuals were identified using a panel of 10 microsatellites. Sex identification was also done by using AMELY gene and results showed male biased sex ratio in Ladakh. PIDsib value was 3.8x1 O’4 was indicative of sufficient power of the microsatellite panel to discriminate between siblings in a population of 10,000 snow leopards. This study provides a baseline for future comparisons since increased anthropogenic development projects may fragment this contiguous population. Genetic integrity and large gene pools are essential for long term viability of species especially in the advent of climate change and anthropogenic modifications. This study using genetic markers on the snow leopard exemplifies the use of this important tool for natural heritage management and conservationItem A study on predation ecology of large carnivores with special reference to human-carnivore conflicts in Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, Central India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2022) Chatterjee, Anindita B.; Sankar, K.; Qureshi, Qamar; Jhala, Y.V.Seven years of data (2008 – 2015) resulted in phot-capture of 96 unique individual tigers in the study area. The estimated survival rate of individual tigers was high. Survival of female tigers were higher than that of the male tigers but the range was overlapping. Apparent survival and transitional probabilities were best explained by gender specific models. Survival constant was selected as the best model for estimating growth rate of tigers. Calculated annual growth rate was 13% with no observed sex bias.Item Population dynamics and resource selection by tigers (Panthera tigris) in Corbett Tiger Reserve.(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Bisht, Shikha; Qureshi, Qamar; Jhala, Y.V.Large carnivores are on the brink of extinction across most of their range and this is especially true for tigers, that are symbolic of the wilderness of the Asian forests. This study was carried out to understand the use of camera trap based capture mark recapture (CMR) technique to understand the population dynamics and space use by tigers in this high density tiger population. For this camera trapped technique used in 521 km2 of Corbett National Park (CNP) under open population capture–mark–recapture framework between 2010 and 2015 to estimate annual abundance, spatially explicit density, survival, recruitment, temporary movements, sex ratio and proportion of females breedingItem Resource partitioning among sympatric ungulates in Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India.(wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Awasthi, Neha; Jhala, Y.V.; Qureshi, QamarThis study explores the potential mechanisms of how the community of sympatric ungulates in Kanha might partition resources by evaluating i) habitat-specific seasonal densities and spatial co-occurrence of ungulates; ii) demographic parameters; iii) temporal activity and food habits of ungulates and; iv) factors affecting their group size. The study area was ~ 2074 km2 Kanha Tiger Reserve comprising inviolate Kanha National park (core zone; devoid of human settlements and use) and the multiple-use area (buffer zone; consisting of forest and xviii revenue land, used by rural communities for farming and livestock rearing). The study stresses the importance of human free core areas and the need for conservation investments for achieving high ungulate densities and biomass that are essential to sustain source populations of tigers and other endangered carnivores in this landscape.Item Spatial abundance of ungulates and role of predation on chital (Axis axis) demography and behaviour in Corbett Tiger Reserve, Uttarakhand, India.(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2022) Banerjee, Sudip; Jhala, Y.V.; Qureshi, QamarTo address the first objective which was to estimate the abundance of ungulates in different habitats of CTR, I have used line transect-based distance sampling approach to estimate the density of four major ungulate species (chital, sambar deer, barking deer, and wild pig) of CTR in ~520 sq. km of the Corbett National Park (CNP) region. Density was estimated using 156 spatial transects replicated 1 to 4 times over four sampling years. Both year-wise and pooled (weighted average of four years) density estimates were highest for chital followed by sambar. Barking deer had the lowest density. Chital density has remained stable over the years. Post-stratifying the densities of the four ungulates by three major habitat types of CNP (grassland, saldominated, and mixed deciduous) exhibited the highest density of chital in the grassland and lowest in the sal-dominated forest. Sambar density on the other hand was highest in the mixed deciduous and lowest in the grassland. Barking deer also exhibited a similar trend of habitat-wise density. A significant part of my thesis was focused on the objective of evaluating the precision and cost-effectiveness of three different density estimation techniques. The diverse ungulate assemblage and complex terrain of CNP provided an excellent environment to conduct this experiment.Item Role of top predators in shaping carnivore communities.(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Solanki, Riddhima; Qureshi, Qamar; Jhala, Y.V.The aim of the study was to explore sympatric carnivore in higher trophic interaction with lower trophic carnivore within the guild. The selection of site was based on this requirement. The core of well managed tiger reserve where impact of anthropogenic effect (encroachment, livestock, domestic dogs), if not prevented, were limited. The sampling design oriented for tiger initially was updated for other carnivore sampling. The small grid size (1x1) proved suitable for photo capturing smaller carnivores. In this study an attempt was made to winnow the carnivore guild according to body size. The limitation was carnivore community composition differed within the same central Indian landscape. In Bor, major representation was by Jungle cat and limited photo capture of other meso-carnivores. Similarly, honey badger was detected largely in NSTR followed by Melghat. A uniform and grid based camera trap cannot necessarily account for capture of all small carnivores due to habitat and terrain preferences. Although the single season occupancy analysis did not show significant relation with any habitat characteristics like terrain, human disturbance and forest cover but avoidance between trophics was observed at patch level. The composition of a patch is mostly not used to understand the occurrence of animals. In a protected area dominated by deciduous forest type presents substantially uniform landcover type.Item Land, lion and locals: Understanding the distribution of lions and large carnivore human interactions in the Greater Gir Landscape of Saurashtra(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2025) Gogoi, Keshab; Jhala, Y.V.Apart from the Gir Protected Areas, Asiatic lions inhabit various coastal forest patches in Mangrol, Veraval, Kodinar, Mahua, and Rajula-Jafrabad areas. They also reside in Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) and within human-dominated landscapes across Amreli, Junagadh, and Bhavnagar districts (Mitiyala WLS), as well as along the Shetrunji river, Hipavadli, Palitana, and Shihor. However, the presence of extensive townships, linear infrastructure, and urban development has led to the fragmentation of lion populations. This fragmentation restricts the efficient exchange of individuals across the matrix of multi-use human-dominated landscapes. Historical corridors that once connected hills, forests, and lion habitats, including protected and un-classed forests, have largely succumbed to agriculture and human settlements. To address this pressing issue, it is crucial to identify and conserve existing habitat corridors that connect these lion patches. Failure to do so could exacerbate repropuctive isolation, leading to genetic bottlenecks and reduced genetic diversity within lion populations. To tackle this challenge effectively, I utilized Circuitscape theory to model connectivity among habitat patches in the Saurashtra landscape at a scale of 1km². Additionally, I employed least-cost pathway tools to determine the shortest pathways with the least total costs. My analysis revealed varying levels of permeability among different lion habitats. For instance, the permeability between the coastal forests of Veraval-Sutrapada and Rajula with Gir PA was found to be high. Similarly, coastal patches around Mahua taluka exhibited high permeability with forest patches around Palitana. However, the permeability between Girnar and Gir Forest was moderate, indicating the need for interventions to maintain suitable lion movement. In the eastern part of the Gir protected area, there is notable connectivity between Mitiyala Wildlife Sanctuary and Gir, as well as other habitat patches along the Shetrunjay river. By prioritizing the identification and conservation of these critical habitat corridors, we can enhance connectivity among lion populations, mitigate the risk of genetic isolation, and safeguard the long-term survival of Asiatic lions in the Saurashtra landscapeItem Resource partitioning of non-pantherine carnivore community in Kanha Tiger Reserve, M.P., India.(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2022) Pradhan, Anup Kumar; Jhala, Y.V.; Qureshi, QamarCarnivores of all groups have unequivocal role in structuring and functioning of their ecosystems. Hence their existence need to be secured to maintain functional ecosystems. In the current scenario of rapid industrial growth and economic development, pressure on natural resources is escalating, which in turn has jeopardized the survival of important species. Hence, to maintain harmony between economic growth and ecological balance, an effective wildlife conservation and management plan should be a priority. The Kanha Tiger Reserve (KTR), spreading over an area of around 2100 km2 located in the central Indian highlands, has immense ecological significance as it supports a wide variety of flora and fauna. The tiger reserve is home to carnivores, including tiger, leopard, dhole, sloth bear, and many small cats. However, there are several conservation challenges exists for the persistence of this ecosystem. A thorough understanding of the ecosystem and its inclusive components is a prerequisite for developing and implementing an effective wildlife conservation plan. And in the case of KTR, despite several pioneer studies, the existing research gap on the ecology of small and meso-carnivores undermines the understanding of the complete ecological functioning. To fill this research gap, I undertook this study focusing on distribution, habitat use and preference of small and meso-carnivores in KTR. I aimed to study the distribution pattern and abundance of non-pantherine carnivores (Sloth Bear, Wild Dog, Jackal and jungle cat) and their niche separation by developing a species distribution and habitat suitability map. I performed camera trapping exercises during three successive seasons in 2014, 2015, and 2016 successively in all the available habitat types to obtain information on the abundance and distribution pattern of the targeted species. The camera traps were placed in a two sq km grid-based manner. I used data from transect surveys, remote sensing techniques and published literature to obtain other ecological variables. I used presence software to run the occupancy model for each focal species separately, considering relevant environmental variables. Similarly, I used the Maxent software to prepare the habitat suitability map for each species individually. I used the kernel density approach in R software to analyze the activity overlaps between these studied species. As a result of occupancy analysis, tiger, leopard, sloth bear, and jungle cats were observed to be inhabited in the cores area of the tiger reserve and associated with dense forest cover, grasslands, and prey abundance. However, dholes preferred the fringe area of the forest, associated negatively with densities of tigers, leopard, and their preferred area, i.e., the core of the forest and positively with the grasslands. In addition, variables such as distance from human settlements, terrain ruggedness, and NDVI also affected the occupancy of these study species in the KTR. Jackal did not follow any particular pattern rather it observed throughout the forest area. Aligning with the occupancy result, the habitat suitability maps prepared by the Maxent model strengthened the observation of the spatial ecology of these carnivore groups in the KTR. The Maxent model showed that the large carnivores at the ecosystem's apex position preferred to live in the core area of the forest with abundant prey and least human interference. However, second and third order carnivores such as dholes, preferred to live outside the core to avoid possible strife with the dominant tiger and leopard. The habitat selection by these meso carnivores also indicates the dominancy iii of the large carnivores in occupying the central position and their influence in the placement of the subordinate group of carnivores in a common ecosystem. We did not observe any effect of tiger and leopard on the habitat preference of sloth bear and jungle cat which indicated the difference in the dietary pattern also play significant role in occurrence of these sympatric carnivores in a multi-predator ecosystem. Tigers and leopards were primarily crepuscular and nocturnal. Despite high activity overlap, their activity peaks were different from each other. Dholes and jackals were active during the day, whereas Sloth bears and jungle cats were nocturnal. The results of temporal interaction among these carnivores were not completely diverged from the pattern of spatial interactions observed earlier. Instead, these results strengthen the findings of the spatial interaction among these carnivores in the KTR. As observed earlier, dholes and jackals shift their activity to avoid possible conflict and become diurnal. In contrast, the activity pattern of tigers and leopards did not influence the activity pattern of sloth bears and jungle cats. The study provides information on the spatiotemporal interactions of a carnivore community in a multi-predator ecosystem in central India. The findings strengthen the earlier understanding of the ecology of large-bodied carnivores such as tigers and leopards. At the same time, it enhances the knowledge of their counterpart i.e. the lesser studies small and meso- carnivores of KTR. Large-bodied carnivores occupied the central and apex position of the ecosystem and regulated the distribution pattern of the meso-carnivores present in their ecosystem. However, species with a different ecological niche were less influenced by these apex predators.Item Understanding aspects of demography and resource partitioning mechanisms of large felids among with abundance and spatial distribution of prey in Similipal Tiger Reserve, Odisha(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2024) Rathore, Harshvardhan Singh; Pandav, Bivash; Jhala, Y.V.This study investigates the crucial aspect of coexistence for large predators like tigers and leopards sharing the same landscape and delves into the population dynamics of these animals by identifying the mechanisms of resource partitioning. By acting as a window into the inner workings of the ecosystem, the study reveals how tiger and leopard populations function alongside each other. Identifying the factors that influence their ability to share the resources successfully is vital for developing more effective conservation strategies. This knowledge ultimately contributes to ensuring the long-term survival of both tigers and leopards in this landscape. A precise assessment of several demographic parameters is necessary to make informed management decisions for their conservation within this unique habitat. These parameters include population density, sex structure, recruitment, and survival rates. With this background, the study comes with the following objectives. (1) To assess the abundance and spatial distribution of prey in STR.(2) To assess the various demographic parameters of large felids (tiger and leopard) in STR. (3) To determine the mechanisms of resource partitioning of the tiger and the leopard in STR. Similipal Tiger Reserve is located in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, between86˚06' and 86˚36' East longitude and 21˚31' and 22˚02' North latitude. The study was carried out over three years (2019–2021) across eight ranges in the core area of STR: Chahala, Nawana North, Nawana South, and Pithabata South Wildlife in the northern core, and UBK, Jenabil, Bhanjabasa, and National Park in the southern core.