Theses and Dissertations
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Item Patterns and Determinants of mammalian assemblage in an Eastern Himalayan Landscape unit(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2025) Chackaravarthy, S. Deepan; Gopi, G.V.; Ramesh, K.This thesis presents a detailed investigation of the mammalian assemblage in a selected landscape unit in the Eastern Himalayan in the Far East region of Arunachal Pradesh. The selected landscape unit is located in a Himalayan biodiversity hotspot, with its mountain ranges are biogeographically well connected to the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. The study unit remains one of the least explored forests for mammalian species, except for a few prior expeditions. The unit is situated between two contiguous tiger reserves, The Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Namdhapa Tiger Reserve to the south, and the state’s largest wildlife sanctuary, the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary, to the north and the Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary to the west. The landscape units encomposses protected areas, including the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary, and forest divisions of Lohit, Anjaw, Anini, and Namsai forest divisions. The terrain is rugged and hilly, traversed by various rivers and streams, which are the contributors to the river Brahmaputra. We conducted a reconnaissance survey to fulfil the objective of creating an inventory, and the resulting information guided the deployment of camera traps in locations optimal for effective photo capture of mammals. The objective of the study also examines the perception of the indigenous people towards mammalian, species. A questionnaire survey was conducted in and around the study unit, to assess the perception, which also provides information about species that are not directly captured in the camera-trap monitoring programme. The study documented several mammalian species in the selected landscape unit, with species, like tigers (Panthera tigris) and leopards (Panthera pardus), were reported from secondary sources and direct sightings. Dhole (Cuon alpinus), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), and Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) are the top predators recorded using camera traps. Certain species of conservation interest are also reported, such as Alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster), Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens), and the recent past distribution of Wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee). This information adds additional credits for reintroduction programs in future. Both bear species, the Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus) and the Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus), are recorded in this study. The recently segregated species Gongshan Muntjac (Muntiacus gongshanensis) and data-deficient species like the Northern Tree Shrew (Tupaia belangeri) were also recorded during the study period. Though the study reported flying squirrels at taxa level the region is occupied by species that are listed as endangered and critically endangered. The Critically Endangered Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) was also recorded with one individual rescued during the study. The habitat suitability prediction for selected species, both at a regional scale and at the landscape unit level provided valuable insights for conservation and management. The analysis using time-stamped camera-trap images shows that the interaction of Dhole and Yellow-Throated Martens with prey is high, possibly due to the lower density of higher Felids. The activity pattern of the Mishmi Takin (Budorcas taxicolor taxicolor) offered valuable and additional information about the migratory species which moves across habitats and elevations seasonally. The questionnaire survey on the people’s perception revealed that the people’s cultural connectedness to the wilderness remains strong. A community-based participatory approach should be developed in this region to enhance conservation practices. The study also identified an increasing trend of negative interaction with species such as the dhole (Cuon alpinus) and crop damage caused by the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) recorded through indirect evidence. Additionally, there are also two least studied rodents: The Asiatic brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus macrourus) and the Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica), which was noted to requiring further studies on their ecological role in the region. There have been discoveries of new species very recently in this region, underscores the need for a deeper understanding of species distribution in this region. In a landscape where people are deeply connected to culture, tradition and beliefs, there needs to be an inclusive approach for further exploration. A significant proportion of respondents indicated that cultural beliefs and traditional rights interlink with species protection in the region. A successful transfer of knowledge either the stratified sampling of communities and citizens to ensure that only those most apt to conduct science are invited to participate (Fernandez-Gimenez, 2008). It deals with the General Introduction about the study and its objectives. It deals with the description of the study area. It describes the basic Inventory of mammals, which is one of the core findings of the study. It focuses on the suitable habitat modelling of select mammal species recorded in the study unit. It examines the Diel activity pattern, temporal activity overlap, and spatial co-occurrence of mammal species in the study unit, serving as a representation of the species activity patterns in Eastern Arunachal Pradesh. It explores the perception of people on mammalian conservation in the landscape unit, based on a questionnaire survey.Item Ungulates mediated effects on Vegetation Structure and Biomass in Panna Tiger Reserve, Central India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2023) Gupta, Deepti; Ramesh, K.; Rawat, G.S.Ungulates play an important role in shaping the plant community structure, species richness and distribution through herbivory, seed dispersal, trampling and adding nutrient to the soil.They also act as important component of food chain, and hence their abundance and distribution are directly related to the large carnivore survival. Distribution of ungulates is strongly influenced by plant phenology, spatial heterogeneity of the forage plants and seasonal rhythm. Ungulates having different body sizes, habitat preferences, and anti-predator strategies might show a range of responses to the vegetation structure and composition (tree density, basal area and species richness), habitat parameters (terrain complexity, water availability and slope) and anthropogenic pressure (cattle abundance and human proximity). Ungulates in tropical dry deciduous forests have been majorly studied as primary prey to large carnivores. Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR), situated in the Vindhyan mountain ranges in Madhya Pradesh, central India, between 24°27¢N to 24°46¢N latitude and 79°45′E to 80°09′E longitude. PTR is uniquely characterized by its 'terraced topography' and presents two tabletop mountains and a valley formed by the Ken River. For this study, I chose four ungulates species having different habitat preferences, dietary requirements and body size viz., sambar (primarily a browser), chital (primarily a grazer), Nilgai (mixed feeder) and wild pig (omnivorous). Research objectives are as follows:1. To determine the vegetation structure and composition and quantify the above-ground biomass 2. To estimate the density of ungulates across space and seasons. 3. To model the ungulates-habitat relationships and related functional responses.Item Understanding the influence of tourism on behaviour and habitat use of Nilgiri tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius Ogilby, 1838) in Eravikulam National Park, Kerala(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2024) Mohammed, Aslam; Chinnasamy, Ramesh; Ramesh, K.; Karunakaran, P.V.Eravikulam National Park is the home for the largest number of Endangered Nilgiri tahr in the world (Predit et al, 2015; Saju,2012) and the park is also having an ecotourism programme dedicated for observing tahr at closer distance (Saju,2012). This population in the tourism area have high human interaction and have become habituated to the presence of humans. Habituation is known to influence the wild behaviour and instincts of animals (Shackley,1996; Knight,2009; Mazur, 2006; Marler & Hamilton,1966; Hingham & Shelton,2011) and this study was intended to understand the influence of tourism on the behaviour and habitat use of Nilgiri tahr in the Eravikulam National Park.The field work was carried for four months from January 2024 to April 2024, of which tourism was closed during the months of February and March, creating three sampling seasons: preclosing, closing and reopening season with varying human presence. Scan sampling and focal sampling (Altman, 1974) were carried out and observations of the population in tourism area were compared to the populations in Varattukulam region of core area which have minimum human interaction. The result showed a significant difference in the behaviour and habitat use between tourism and core area and also across tourism season. The activity pattern in the tourism zone is different from that of the core. Habitat use was also different as most of the behaviour in tourism area were not showing any significant relationship with a particular habitat unlike the population in core area. The flight distance in tourism area was also found to be very much shorter (1.8m) in compared to core area(118m) which is evidence for the extend of habituation tahr has gone through. Interestingly, the tourism adjacent hills which belonged to the same landscape as that of the tourism zone showed higher flight distance. The tourism zone also had high density of predators (Tiger and leopard) and there was spatial overlap between tahr and predators. Study was not able to prove the existence of human shield hypothesis (HSH) (Berger, 2007) as large carnivores were still present in the tourism area and even when tourism was closed, which reduced the number of people on the road, tahr were still coming to tourism area. However, tahrs were observed to be avoiding the carnivore by temporal separation as all camera trapping of predators happened during night time but no tahr was active at that time in tourism road.Item Playing it Safe Tiger Movement and Livestock Depredation Patterns in Panna Tiger Reserve, Central India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Mohan, Manu K.; Ramesh, K.; Sathyakumar, S.The movement of large carnivores in human-dominated landscapes is not uncommon anymore. While their presence is superficially tolerated or ignored, it is a consistent cause of concern to the people living in its proximity, due to competing interests in sharing of resources and direct threat to human lives. Carnivores incur energetic costs in the form of restricted activity and having to make spatial and temporal activity adjustments. Humans, on the other hand, face losses from livestock depredation and/or loss of lives. Depredation patterns of livestock by carnivores are associated with a variety of factors including habitat structure as well as movement patterns of carnivores in relation to anthropogenic and livestock activity. Hence, deducing movement patterns of the groups in conflict is an important step in understanding the dynamics of conflict patterns at fine scales. Supplemented by models to predict the probability of conflicts spatially which delineates conflict hotspots, site-specific mitigation measures could be devised. To understand such patterns of carnivore movement and relation to livestock depredation events, I conducted this study in a human-dominated region adjacent to the Critical Tiger Habitat of Panna Tiger Reserve in central India from December 2020 to April 2021, within an area of 200 km2. The broad objective was to model the conflict probability based on the proportion of the human-dominated area used by tigers, its intensity of use and spatio-temporal activity within the area, in response to human disturbances. For this, I used intensive camera trap sampling at fine-scale within grids (1 km x 1 km) across the entire study area. Movement parameters of tigers such as displacement and distance to villages in day and night were also analysed by monitoring two GPS-collared tigers in the study area. Occupancy estimates showed 74% of the sampled area being used by tigers, with the relative abundance of a large bodied wild prey (sambar) as the strongest predictor. In addition, a clear positive trend in the relative abundance index of tigers with distance to villages was observed. The temporal activities of the tigers also showed a significant difference in median activity time, shifting towards the night along with moderate diurnal activity at higher distances from villages. The tigers exhibited both crepuscular and nocturnal activity at close distances to villages. The movement range analyses of the tigers using camera traps showed the study area being used by 17 tigers, with 9 of them being adults (>3 years of age). Fixed Kernel Density home-range estimates of the two GPS-collared tigers showed a considerable proportion of their home range areas falling within village boundaries (10%) and an average of 16% of all GPS locations of the tigers fell within 0-100 metres from villages. Despite such high exploratory use of areas within and close distances to villages by sub-adults, there were relatively low incidences of conflict between the tigers and villagers in the study area. Finally, to assess the extent of risk and predict the probability of livestock depredation in the area, Generalized Linear Models were used. The best-fit model indicated a significant negative effect of distance to villages and highway to the probability of livestock depredation. Linear intrusions through highway and forest trails from villages allow easy access to livestock and herders for the utilization of the multi-use buffer areas of the Reserve as well as the tigers to come in proximity to settlements. Corralling of livestock in the night, avoiding free-ranging and grazing of livestock in the identified conflict hotspots, incentivization of alternate source of livelihood by strengthening the institutions such as Eco-Development Committees, along with continuous monitoring of tigers which range close to human settlements are discussed as some of the important measures which can be adopted to decrease the interfaces leading to tiger-human conflict in Panna Tiger Reserve.Item Response of wild mammalian species to human-mediated resource base in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2017) Shrivastava, Nimisha; Sathyakumar, S.; Ramesh, K.This study focuses on the wild animals that occur in human-modified landscapes, in line with the proposed national strategy to manage wildlife in such landscapes. With the aim of focusing on the factors that drive or facilitate species to thrive in human modified areas, I carried out an investigation on the ‘response of wild animals to human modified landscape in Mandal Sub-basin (ca 140 km2), Chamoli district, Uttarakhand’ from December 2016 to April 2017. 2. For the study, I assessed distribution and use of various land use types (human inhabitations, crop fields, secondary scrub around villages, moist and dry natural forest/habitats) by wild mammals using camera traps deployed within grids (1 km2) for a period 10-15 days. Local peoples’ perception surveys were also carried out. Major findings of the study includes a) there are species that are largely dependent on modified landscapes while others that are dependent mostly on natural habitats, b) there appears to be an adaptive strategy to avoid human interaction by adjusting activities in different time scale between natural forests and human dominated areas, c) factors that are responsible for occurrence of these species in various land use types, and hence getting an idea of what future holds for these animals and d) positive perception of local people that shows a light of hope on the conservation of animals in their lands. However, it cannot be done if locals do not get direct benefits by the presence of wild animals.Item Assessment of Livestock Diseases as an Indicator of Risk to Greater One Horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) in Manas National Park Assam(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2013) Phukon, Debabrata; Nigam, Parag; Ramesh, K.Disease ecology is a fast emerging discipline in wildlife conservation. There is particular interest for mega herbivore-livestock interface issues. Diseases also play a role in structuring the demography and viability of the wild population, and this could be addressed by quantitative knowledge on the emergence, spread, persistence and evolution of infectious diseases. Re-introduced wild populations mimic the small population which are vulnerable to stochastic events and disease impacts. The present study focuses on reintroduced population of Greater One-homed Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) and their sharing of habitat with livestock in Bansbari Range of Manas National Park (MNP), Assam. It was hypothesised that the interaction of rhinos with livestock has potential to contract diseases from the livestock population, and therefore the diversity and magnitude of disease prevalence in livestock is likely to pose serious threat to the rhinos. The study quantified disease distribution pattern and commonality between livestock and rhino population and map disease gradient in MNP during the period (Jan-April, 2013). The study design involved, (a) sampling of livestock for disease prevalence in the fringe villages, (b) mapping of zone of influence (ZO I) of livestock in the park by tracking livestock movement and sampling on systematic plots, and (c) analysis of livestock husbandry practices in the context of disease prevalence. A total of 110 dung and serum samples collected from 11 villages were Subjected to parasitological examination, disease diagnosis and screening for blood parasites. 10 transects were walked from the periphery to interior of the park and 46 plots were laid to quantify dung density distribution as a surrogate for disease risk. Rhino dung sample was collected from 9 fresh dung sites inside the park for screening of parasitic load and to understand the commonality between livestock and rhinos. The threat to rhino population was measured as an index, given by disease prevalence x livestock use intensity. Of the 110 biological samples collected from 110 livestock in 11 villages, 91 % of animals showed antibodies against one or other infectious agents. Serodiagnosis report confirmed the presence of antibodies against infectious diseases viz. Blue tongue, Tuberculosis, Brucellosis and Chlamydiosis, however were negative for Leptospirosis in livestock sampled. ZOI as measured from the fringe villages to forest interior ranged from 500m to 3.5kms (avg. dist. 2kms), and accounted for I9sq.kms. area. Interpolation results of dung density indicated significant variation of livestock use within ZOI, with high usage contributed by Gyatigaon followed by Katajhar and Rajabeel. Based on the dung analysis of rhinos, parasitic ova of Paramphistomum sp. and significant load of protozoan Balantidium coli was observed. The study established wide prevalence of disease in the livestock. Given that the ZOI of livestock in MNP includes home range of rhinos, the rhino population is likely to be under disease risk and conservation efforts needs to incorporate disease perspective for recovery efforts and long-term viability of rhinos in MNP.Item Proximate Determinants of Ungulate Distribution and Abundance in Pilibhit Forest Division, Utter Pradesh, India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2011) Bista, Ashish; Ramesh, K.; Pandav, BivashThis study was conducted in Pilibhit Forest Division, Uttar Pradesh from December 2010-April 2011 to quantify the current status of ungulates, as a measure of tiger conservation efforts. The study focused on understanding the distribution and population size of ungulates in PiIibhit, and assessed the contribution of these species in tiger's diet. The study also looked into species-habitat association, at the level of proportion of habitat availability and grassland over space. Sampling framework followed Stratified Random Design, with spatially balanced approach. Estimates of distribution and population density were obtained following Single Season Occupancy Model and Distance sampling method. A total of 41 grids (5.20 sq km each) were sampled following the above framework. These grids were sampled based on 41 line transects ranging from 1 to 3 km long, which accounted for 288 km sampling efforts, including 3-5 temporal replicates for each transects. This study was carried out in four ranges (Mahof, Mala, Barahi & Haripur) of Pilibhit Forest Division with spatial coverage of ca. 420 sq km. Occupancy pattern of ungulates were in the order of chital (100%), hogdeer (17%), wild pig (93%), nilgai (81 %), swamp deer (11 %) and sambar (3%). Global density estimate of ungulates for Pilibhit Forest Division was 40.5 animals/sq km. The most abundant ungulate was chital (22.4/sq km), followed by nilgai (12/sq km) and hog deer (7.2/sq km). It was found that there were higher densities in edge habitats and that there was a particular association for grassland, signifying the importance grassland patches in the ungulate densities in terai habitats. Scat analysis (n= 24) revealed that hogdeer and wildpig, though occur in low densities, appeared to be the preferred prey, while chital contributed in tigers diet substantially in proportion to availability in the area. With given prey availability, forests of Pilibhit has the potential to support tiger population of 8.1 animal 100 sq km. The study highlights the significance of managed forests in terms of supporting considerable population of ungulates relevant for tiger conservation efforts. The study also supports the previous claim that grasslands support higher abundance of ungulate prey, and that in the absence of large sized prey, tiger switches to medium sized prey. The available information generated for the first time in Pilibhit Forest Division at large spatial scale provides a useful baseline for managers.