Theses and Dissertations

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3

Abundance, distribution & pattern of human impact on river Dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica).
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2018) Deori, Sunny; Qureshi, Qamar
This study took place in a tributary of river Brahmaputra named Kulsi which originates from the Meghalaya enters Assam at Umkiam where it is known as Kulsi and finally discharges at Brahmaputra at Nagarbera, Assam. It is a highly populated riverscape. According to 2011 census data, the riverscape has 55972.88 hectares of cultivable land which is solely dependent for irrigation on natural sources (Rainfall and Rivers). Also, the river is divided into 7 River fishery under Revenue department of Assam. About 2500 commercial fishermen are registered under the fisheries of Kulsi River and 1,29,095 cultivators. Apart from this fine quality sand is a boon to the people of Kulsi floodplain. More than 5000 families were dependent on this business. The recent increase in construction business in Guwahati metropolitan and the nearby blooming towns is raising the earning bar of the people of Kulsi River. My study aimed at the following objectives: 1. Estimating the abundance & patterns of dolphin distribution across Kulsi River. 2. Estimating the effects of different human activities which can possibly affect the habitat and distribution pattern of dolphins in Kulsi River (special preferences to existing commercial fisheries, sand mining, & irrigation). 3. Socio- economic status of fishermen community, sand mining community and farmers and their attitudes towards dolphin and wider ecosystem conservation. 4. Examine suitable measures to minimize/prevent the harmfulness of these fishing gears and practices in the commercial fisheries of Kulsi.
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.
Habitat Occupancy by tiger Prey Species Across Anthropogenic Disturbance Regimes in Panna National Park, M.P.
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1999) Mathai, Manu Verghese; Chundawat, R.S; Qureshi, Qamar
Effect of anthropogenic disturbance on habitat occupancy by tiger prey species was studied in Panna National Park, Madhya Pradesh. The study was conducted between November 1998 and April 1999. Line transect method and Pellet count technique were used to estimate abundance for all ungulates. Abundance estimates were used as a measure for intensity of habitat use by all species. The density estimates from line transects are associated with high coefficient of variation, which is largely a function of the small sample size resulting form extremely low densities. Ordination of habitat parameters grouped the transects based on habitat quality and structure, disturbance and topography. Anthropogenic disturbance was found to be an important factor, influencing habitat quality and differential use of habitats by animals. Sambar associated strongly with low disturbance hill habitats and poorly with relocated village sites and disturbed plateau transects. Indications from line transects and pellet count method concur in the case of sambar. Chital were very localised in their distribution being strongly restricted to secondary successional stages and ecotones between relocated village sites and woodland. Nilgai was a generalist in terms of habitat occupancy. In case of nilgai the two methods complement each other with the information they provide. The information from pellet-group counts was found to reflecting patterns that are not detected by direct sampling methods like line transects. Chinkara was strongly associated with the disturbed areas, largely because of its openness, but also found in the undisturbed areas. Wild pig, like nilgai, was a generalist, but showed preference for fringe areas of forest adjoining agricultural fields. Langur showed a marked preference for hill habitats and did not differentiate between disturbed and undisturbed hill habitats. Langur also showed the strongest association with water. The distribution of preferred prey, sambar and chital is localized. Nilgai, which is distributed throughout the study area, is found in habitats not favorable for tigers. Such a distribution would probably only support dispersing and transient animals. Therefore habitat management should be aimed at maintaining and expanding habitats suitable for cervids. Disturbance in the form of livestock grazing and woodcutting are largely responsible for maintaining poor habitat quality. The cause for these disturbances cannot be disconnected from the socio-economic and cultural reality of the people, both near and far, and therefore the conservation of the tiger has to address these aspects rather than restricting only to the biology of the animal.

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