Theses and Dissertations
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Item The effect of Forestry Practices on Bird species diversity in Satpura Hill Ranges(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1998) Mehta, Prachi; Johnsingh, A.J.T.The largest zone of dry deciduous teak forests in the country is located along the Satpura Hill ranges in Central India. Apart from being one of the oldest hill ranges in the country, Satpura Mountain houses 4 important Protected Areas (PA) in contiguity. In Madhya Pradesh, a cluster of three PAs namely Bori Wildlife Sanctuary, Pachmari Wildlife Sanctuary and Satpura National Park forms a compact unit of 1400 km2 . A large tract of 2000 km2 of reserved forests connects these three PAs to another 'one in Maharashtra, known as Melghat Tiger Reserve. The forests of Satpuras were logged under different silvicultural regimes for over a century. Timber logging in the Protected Areas was discontinued in 1991 following the Forest Conservation Act (1980), while ' it is still operational in the reserved forests. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of past and present silvicultural practices on bird communities in Satpura Hills. Two study sites were chosen for this purpose. During November 1992 to June 1994, the effect of different silvicultural practices on bird community was studied in Sori Wildlife Sanctuary. From 11 October 1994 to June 1996, the study was conducted in reserved forests adjacent to Melghat Tiger Reserve where selective logging was going on. The assemblage of bird community was governed by vegetation structure and floristic in Bori Wildlife Sanctuary. The decline in specialist species was primarily due to disturbance caused during felling and not 'as much due to the felling process. The availability of unlogged forests within and near the logged sites proved to be vital as they , provided the necessary refuge for ' the bird communities. The management commendation from this study suggests enumeration of all trees, shrubs and climbers in the site prior to logging that could help in obtaining a vegetation profile for the area. A complete inventory of flora and fauna of the site prior to and after logging would help in understanding the response of various species' to logging and these features could be incorporated in the felling rules. Felling of smaller trees should be avoided as it depletes the growing stockItem Habitat use by sympatric small carnivore in Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, India.(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1998) Mukherjee, Shomita; Johnsingh, A.J.T.The present study on three sympatric carnivores, two felids: jungle cat (Felis chaus), and caracal (Caracal caracal) and one canid, the golden jackal (Canis aureus) aimed at studying their spatio - temporal use of food resources. The hypothesis are as follows : 1) Jungle cat is relatively more eclectic in the kind of habitat it inhabits than the jackal. 2) The felids are mostly nocturnal whereas the jackal is both diurnal and nocturnal ( cathemeral). 3) Diet of the three carnivores differs between seasons. 4) Small mammals «1 kg. body weight) form the major diet of the felids and are taken in proportion to their abundance. 5) Jungle cat and caracal are dietary specialists relative to the jackal. The study was conducted in Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR) which is located between 74° 17' to 76° 34'N and 25° 5' to 27° 33' E. STR encompassing an area of BOO km2 has three core areas of which core 1, with an area of 273.B km2 forms. the proposed National Park. This area functioned as the study site and the intensive study area was approximately 30 km2.Item Feeding Ecology of Ibex (Capra ibex sibirica) in Pin Valley National Park, Himachal Pradesh.(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1997) Manjrekar, Neema; Johnsingh, A.J.T.The foraging ecology of the Asiatic ibex was studied in Pin Valley National Park Lahul and Spiti District, Himachal Pradesh, between October 1991 and October 1994. The National Park encompasses 675 km2, and has a buffer of 1150 km2. The study area constituted part of the Parahio catchment of the pin Valley. Thango was the base camp for this study. It was a summer settlement of five families from Sagnam, the largest village of Pin Valley. The local people are Buddhists, of Tibetan origin. Apart from cultivating the land adjacent to the villages, in the buffer zone, they use the Park area for cultivation of barley, wheat, peas, mustard, and potatoes. They also graze sheep, goats, yaks, horses and donkeys in the area. Fuel wood, and fodder for stall-feeding, is collected from the Park before winter. Two potential conservation threats to ibex were identified. Firstly, migratory livestock from the neighbouring areas use the area between June and August every year. ' There is no control on the numbers of animals entering the area, and the effects of grazing and trampling need to be quantified.Item Ecology of the Asiatic Lion Panthera leo persica.(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1993) Chellam, Ravi; Johnsingh, A.J.T.The major objectives of my study were to assess the predation ecology, habitat use and the ranging patterns of the lions in the Gir forest. The ultimate and long term goal of this research effort was to examine the feasibility of a translocation effort in an attempt to establish a free ranging population of lions away from the Gir forest. The ecological data generated a free ranging population of lions away from the Gir forest. The ecological data generated would enable the assessment of prospective translocation sites and insights gained about lion behavoiur. This study was designed to have an extensive scope to generate base line data for planning and management of gir forest and the lions.Item Habitat Ecology of major ungulates in Kedarnath musk deer sanctuary, Western Himalaya.(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1994) Sathyakumar, S.; Johnsingh, A.J.T.Present study on the habitat ecology of major ungulates in Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary "(WS) was conducted from March 1989 to November 1991. The objectives of this study were to de,!elop suitable techniques for estimating ungulate abundance and density; to study their habitat utilization pattems; and to assess the status of ungulates and their habitats in different parts of the Kedarnath WS.Item Ecology and Management of Lion and ungulate habitats in Gir.(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1995) Sharma, Diwakar; Johnsingh, A.J.T.The Gir is the only refuge of the Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) in its range. This implies that long term conservation of the Asiatic lion will remain an overirding management objective. A study on the impacts of management practices on lion and ungulate habitat was conducted in Gir Protected Area (PA) from June 1991 to July 1994. The Gir . PA includes Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park. It is situated between 200 55' to 21 0 20 'N and 700 25' to 71 0 15' E in the Southern part of Kathiawar peninsula in western Gujarat. Gir PA (hereafter Gir) is located about 60km South of Junagadh. The area which was .3,107 sq km iIi 1877 (Joshi 1976) has been presently reduced to 1,412 sq km, o~ which about 259 sq Ian is national nark. Gir is the last refuge of the wild Asiatic lions (Panthera leo persica) and long term conservation of the Asiatic lion is an overriding management objective of Gir. In order to improve habitat conditions in Gir, the park authorities, over the last 20-25 years have made some management interventions such as relocation of some maldharis (local graziers), reduction in livestock grazing (specially migrant livestock during the rainy season) and fire control. These measures have led to vegetational recovery and increase in wild ungulate and lion populations. Understanding this vegetational recovery was thought to be crucial to determine the extent of management intervention required. It also needed to be determined if the trend (especially in the western Gir) was toward a higher woody proportion both at shrub and tree levels, and whether this in long term would adversely affect ' the distribution and abundance of ungulates, and therefore, group hunting by the lions, their pride size and territoriality.Item Habitat Selection by Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus linn) in Gir forest, India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1993) Trivedi, Pranav; Johnsingh, A.J.T.A study on habitat selection by Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) was carried out in Gir National Park and Sanctuary over a period of five months. Open width line transects were laid at three study sites in West, Central and East Gir respectively to obtained information on availabili ty and use of habitats. Three hundred and thirty sightings were obtained in 90 transect walks (totalling to ca 113 km), of which two hundred and fifty occurred in West, and forty each in Central and East Gir. As sampling intensity was the highest in Sasan (West Gir), much of the analyses is based on the data collected here. Peafowl distribution was found to be clumped, with the degree and site of clumping being affected by water and food availabilityItem Habitat Use by Goral (Nemorhaedus goral bedfordi) in Majhatal Harsang Wildlife Sanctuary Himachal Pradesh, India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1993) Mishra, Charudutt; Johnsingh, A.J.T.Studied the habitat use pattern of goral (Nemorhaedus goral bedfordi} in Majhatal Harsang Wildlife Sanctuary in the Himalaya to determine its habitat requirements. Of special interest were the roles of forage availability and quality and the antipredator strategy of goral in determining its habitat selection. These factors are of paramount importance in influencing the habitat selection by mountain ungulates. Diet composition of goral in terms of the proportions of graminoids versus browse was determined through pellet analysis. Its escape strategy was determined by direct observation. These results were then related to the actual habitat use patterns, which were determined by obtaining and quantifying locations of goral (n=334) over two seasons, along five monitoring trails. Use of each habitat category was interpreted with respect to its availability. A non-mapping technique was used for determining the availability of each habitat component. I identified nine vegetation types based on physiognomy and floristics. These were: Open Pine Community (OPC), Dense Pine Forest (DPF), Open Oak-Pine Community (OOPC), Dense Oak-Pine Forest (DOPF), Nullah Oak Forest with Low undergrowth (NOFL), Nullah Oak Forest with High undergrowth (NOFH), Euphorbia-Woodfordia-Dodoenia Scrub (EWDS), Open Euphorbia Scrub (OES) and Low Altitude Nullah Forest (LANF). Both forage quality and the antipredator strategy had a profound influence on habitat selection by goral. Goral was a grazer. It was partial to the younger, more nutritive grass phenophases - a prediction that can be made on the basis of its small body size. It preferred open areas with extensive grass cover. Forest cover, along with cliffs, was an important escape area for goral. But it avoided areas with extensive shrub cover. Such areas have little grass. Besides, the shrub cover obstructs visibility and quick movement, and makes the animal vulnerable to predation.Item Avian Communities in the Riparian Areas of Bori Wildlife Sanctuary, India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1993) Pai, Ashwini; Johnsingh, A.J.T.Riparian areas are important as special habitats and corridors for wildlife. However, in India, riparian areas have not been studied to any detail. Also, not much is known about the avifauna of riparian habitats. The vegetation near a riparian area tends to be dense and hence distinct owing to constant availability of water. Riparian areas come under heavy use, both by livestock as well as wild animals because of the presence of water and forage. The avifauna of riparian areas is rich due to its floral complexity and structure and resources like fish and insects. This study quantified bird species diversity, avian guilds and avian community structure found in four riparian areas ( a flood plain, a riparian scrub, a disturbed nulla and an undisturbed nulla) of Bori sanctuary in Central India. The riparian areas were compared with the adjoining deciduous forest for avifaunal differences. Vegetation was studies along the riparian areas and the deciduous forests, using circular plots. Tree and shrub densities, vertical stratification of foliage and species richness were quantified. Line transects were used to estimate bird ,species richness and abundance. Bird species richness was correlated to negative variables for the two seasons. In summer the BSR was highly correlated with CC and in winters with CC. Stepwise multiple regression was used to create a habitat model for BSR in summer and in winter. Community patterns show seasonal change and also respond to structural changes of habitat.Item Health and Sexual Signals of Male Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) in Nagarahole National Park, Southern India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1999) Nath, Cheryl; Johnsingh, A.J.T.Male Asian elephants (Elephas maxim us) were studied at Nagarahole National Park, southern India from November 1998 to May 1999. Information was collected on at least 30 identified individuals for investigation of the possible use of musth and tusk length by males as signals of health and genetic fitness to female elephants. This study followed an earlier study by Watve and Sukumar (1997) which showed a significant negative correlation between tusk lengths and parasite loads in male elephants of the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, southern India. In this project, musth was studied in . addition to tusk length as a possible indicator of good health. It was hypothesised that musth and tusk length in male elephants would be related to better health and body condition and hence could potentially be considered as signals of better genetic quality, within the framework of Zahavi's theory of honest signaling (1975, 1977) and Hamilton and Zuk's theory of heritable true fitness (1982), respectively. The indicators of better health and body condition used were a subjectively scored body condition index (SCI) and a quantitative assessment of intestinal helminth parasite density (parasite load). Individuals were identified by a combination of several physical features, photographic records were obtained for height and tusk length measurement and information was collected on body condition, parasite loads, musth intensity and social interactions. The following interesting results were obtained: 1. Individuals exhibiting signs of early musth had significantly better body conditions and lower parasite loads than individuals exhibiting no signs of musth. 2. Longer tusks were not significantly correlated with better body condition, lower parasite loads or musth in this study.3. Dominance behaviours recorded in dyadic interactions among male elephants indicated that dominance was associated with musth, height of the animal and tusk length in a high percentage of interactions (100%, 89% and 78%, respectively).The significant association between early musth and better body condition as well as between early musth and reduced parasite loads indicates that male elephants may require better health in order to attain musth. Hence musth appears to be a potential honest signal of better than average health, in males which are able to attain this condition. This information may be used by female elephants in choosing mates. Social interactions among males corroborated this speculation by showing that musth and height in male elephants may be important determinants of dominance, which in tum may influence female choice and reproductive success. Limited samples of male-female interactions suggested that females discriminate between different males, and that male-male dominance interactions may influence female choice. However, small sample sizes limited the extent to which these findings could be extrapolated in this and other elephant populations.