Theses and Dissertations
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Item Ranging and Habitat Utilization by the Himalayan Ibex (Capra ibex sibirica) in Pin Valley National Park.(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1997) Bhatnagar, Yashveer; Rawat, G.S.The Himalayan ibex is an important prey species of the endangered apex predator of the alpine region, the snow leopard (Schaller 1977). There is an imminent threat to the trans-Himalayan areas in India due to increasing human activities. In this context the study is conducted to study ibex in a relatively safe population to learn about its habitat requirements and ranging behaviour. The study area is part of the Pin Valley National Park (PVNP; 31o 6' 40'' to 32o 2' 20'' N latitude and 77o 41' 21" to 78o 6' 19" E longitude), located in the South-East of the Lahul and Spiti district of Himachal PradeshItem 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 A study on habitat use and food habits of swamp deer (Cervus duvauceli duvauceli) in Jhilmil Tal, Haridwar Forest Division, Uttaranchal(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2009) Tiwari, Rachna; Rawat, G.S.Habitat use and food habits of the swamp deer (Cervus duvauceli duvauceli) were studied in and around Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserve (JJCR), Uttarakhand, during June 2006 and June 2008. This population of swamp deer was recently rediscovered in the state and warranted an ecological study and conservation initiative because the habitat around this study area is heavily fragmented due to expansion of agriculture, habitation and various other land use practices. Therefore, this study was initiated. The major objectives were: i. ii. iii. To study seasonal variation in habitat use pattern and food habits, Activity pattern, Population structure and habitat condition, and iv. Identify threats and suggest conservation measures. Habitat evaluation of various potential (but fragmented) habitat blocks in Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserve area and surrounding Banganga wetland revealed that they bear a close resemblance with the prime swamp deer habitat both in terms of structure and composition of key habitat variables.Item Systematics and ecology of Berberidaceae in Uttarakhand state.(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2012) Banerjee, Kausik; Rawat, G.S.; Adhikari, B.S.In the present study Population estimation, Habitat loss, Ranging pattern, Food habits and other parameters were discussed.Item Habitat ecology of Royl’s Pika (Ochotona royleiogilby) along altitudinal grandients with special reference to foraging behavior in Western Himalaya, Uttarakhand.(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2012) Bhattacharya, Sabuj; Adhikari, B.S.; Rawat, G.S.The relationship of a species with its environment has always been of primary interest among ecologists. The species living in highly seasonal environment and special habitats at high altitudes reflect peculiar evolutionary and adaptive behavior. The small mammals living at high altitudes such as pikas (Ochotona spp.) are of particular ecological interest as they exhibit high energy demands, limited dispersal capability and sensitivity towards climatic variation. Though seven species of pika are reported from the Himalayan region, none of the species have been studied in terms of their ecology and response to environmental variation. Keeping this in view, Royle's pika (Ochotona roylei), a small lagomorph and widely distributed in western Himalaya was selected to understand its habitat use pattern and behavioural ecology. The objective of the study were: (i) To characterize micro-habitat features associated with Royle's pika along a subalpine alpine ecotone and identify the factors which governs its occurrence (ii) To study the topographical and bioclimatic factors affecting its land scape level distribution (iii) To understand factor governs abundance of Royle's pika along altitudinal gradient, (iv) To document behavioural repertoire of Royle's pika in various season. (v) To study the influence of habitat micro climatic condition on activity of Royle's pika, (vi) To identify the tactors which governs the food selection decision of Royle's pika.Item The ecology and conservation of ungulates in Great Himalayan National Park, Western Himalaya.(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1999) Vinod, T.R.; Rawat, G.S.Ungulates form a major component of the mammalian fauna in the Himalaya. In total, 19 ungulate species belonging to four families viz., Moschidae, Cervidae, Bovidae and Equidae, inhabit the Himalaya, out of which eight species are reported from the state of Himachal Pradesh (HP). Apart from some surveys and short term ecological studies on a few ungulate species of Western Himalaya, there has been no detailed study on ungulates of HP except for Himalayan ibex (Capra ibex sibirica). The available literature highlights the difficulties of studying rare and/ or elusive ungulates in Himalayan condition. Long term study on the ecology of theses' species are needed for the conservation and monitoring. Present study on the ecology and conservation of ungulates namely goral (Nemorhaedus qoral), Himalayan musk deer (Moschus chrvsogaster), Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus), in Great Himalayan National Park, Kullu district, HP, was conducted from January 1996 to November 1998. An intensive study area of ca. 90 km2 was selected in the South-western region of. the Park, which represents various ecological zones of the Park. The objectives of the study were (i) to estimate the abundance and density of goral, Himalayan musk deer & Himalayan tahr in relation to human use, (ii) to determine the group size. composition & sex ratio of these animals. (iii) to study the habitat use pattern and (iv) to identify and discuss conservation issues. mitigation measures and to develop a long term' monitoring programme. In this study an attemp has been made to estimate the abundance and density of major ungulates viz, goral, Himalayan musk deer and Himalayan tahrItem Population Structure and Microhabitat Preference of the Himalayan Yew (Taxus wallichiana. Zucc) in Uttarkashi(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2011) Ganguly, Rhea; Rawat, G.S.; Talukdar, GautamUnderstanding choices made by any species at a micro level is intrinsic to detecting patterns in ecological space. On the other hand, understanding how variations in micro site in turn affect the populations of any species is important in terms of ecological time. This study compares population structure of Taxus wallichiana. Zucc, a threatened medicinal tree endemic to Himalaya, across different habitat types and to studies micro site preferences (over space) exhibited by the species. The study maps the distribution of Taxus encountered and based on it, predicts areas which are likely to have Taxus. It also studies how differences in habitats affect the population structure of the species. Using generalized linear models, the microhabitat preferences of the species was modeled. This study is merely the preliminary to further insights to the species choices for a habitat and responses to habitat changes. The findings of the study are as below: 1. Population structure revealed significant differences between age class structure across habitat types (pItem Social Behaviour and Duetting in Hoolock Gibbons in Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2009) Sankaran, Sumithra; Rawat, G.S.; Kumar, R.S.The hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock), only anthropoid primate found in India, is a pair-living, territorial species, which duets extensively. Various hypotheses regarding the function of this behaviour in monogamous primates include territory advertisement, pair-bonding, mate defense, resource defence and group cohesion. This study aimed to understand the nature of social behaviour of this species, and how duetting fits into the repertoire of social behaviour seen in this animal. Three groups of Hoolock gibbons were habituated and studied intensively over a three month period. Relationships between the different group members were explored, alongside time budgets of various activities of the adult pair, the synchrony in their behaviour and frequency and nature of all affiliative and agonistic behaviours. Relationships between territory sizes, group sizes, frequency of duetting and nature of other social interactions have been examined in detail. A considerable amount of individual difference were found between the different study animals in their interactions with other group members. These animals display complex affiliative interactions with rare displays of aggression. It was found that although the proportion of time spent in social interactions was comparable between the three groups, the proportioning of this total time among different social interactions may vary considerably. The primary difference was found to be in allogrooming interactions with the proportion of time time spent increasing with increase in group size. The study also found considerable evidence for the possible existance of male-care in this species.Item Interaction of Kiang (Equus kiang) with Livestok in Hanley Valley of Chanthang Wildlife Sanctuary, Ladakh(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2009) Hussain, Asif; Qureshi, Qamar; Rawat, G.S.Hanley Valley «320 41' 27" N 790 04' 3.5") in Eastern Ladakh forms the western most extension of Tibetan plateau and has been recognized as an important biogeographic province in India (Indian Trans-Himalaya). This region harbors a rich array of wild and domestic ungulates. The area is also home to nomadic Changpa and Tibetan refugee herders. The political, social and ecological transformations have altered previous, well-established links between the pastoral population and their rangeland environment. Over the years, with growing integration of the local economy of Ladakh and with better development of cash markets, the pastoral community is fast losing its tolerance towards the kiang and it is increasingly seen as a competitor to livestock. The purpose of this study was to document this intensifying conflict between pastoralism and Kiang conservation, using resource selection functions. Data on habitat variables were collected on 4 fixed trails of varying length (3- 7 km) for kiang (with and without livestock presence) and livestock for use availability analysis. For food habits, micro-histological method in case of kiang and bite count method in case of livestock was used. Data on activity pattern of kiang was collected to examine change in response to livestock presence. Density and encounter rates were estimated using vehicle transects (n=5) of varying lengths (5-56 km). Livestock were followed (focal animal sampling) from dawn to dusk to estimate amount of forage removed. Availability of different habitat variables was estimated using ArcGIS 9.2. Total of 104 kiang groups before arrival of livestock and 187 kiang groups after livestock arrival to the area were recorded. Habitat use by kiang and livestock was significantly different (8 = 0.00016, P < 0.05). Habitat use by kiang before and after livestock arrival was found to be significantly different (8 = 0.013, P <0.05). Groups of kiang were observed (n=14) for time budget evaluation, 7 prior (640 min) and 7 (820 min) after livestock had come to the area. Activity pattern of kiang before and after livestock arrival was found to be significantly different (8 = 0.04, P <0.05). Food preference for kiang before and after livestock arrival was not found to be significantly different. Food preference for kiang and livestock was significantly different (6= 0.0000007, P < 0.05). Use-availability analysis suggested differential selection for food plants. Schoener's niche overlap for food items found moderate overlap between kiang, sheep and goat «60%) and high overlap between kiang and horse (>80%). Forage removed (kg) by sheep, goat and horse were 2.33 kg, 2.25 and 8.19 kg respectively. Total density and encounter rate for Hanley valley was 0.07 kiang/km2 and 0.45 kiang per km respectively. The difference in habitat use translated into Kiang using higher elevations while livestock used middle elevations more than available. Kiang used steep slopes whereas livestock used steep as well as gentle slopes more than available. Kiang used North-West aspect more than available. Kiang used vegetation communities dominated by graminoides while sheep-goat used communities dominated by shrub and forbs. Density and encounter estimates did not show considerable increase in kiang population compared to previous studies. Hence, the perception of people of kiang overstocking in the study area appears to be misplaced. Detailed perception studies should be carried out in the whole of Changthang and herder-centered participatory programmes need to be carried out on a large scale to ensure long term conservation of kiang in eastern Ladakh.Item Habitat use and food selection by wild and domestic ungulates in the Sikkim Transhimalaya.(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2007) Chanchani, Pranav; Rawat, G.S.By defining a resource, determining the resources available to animals and sampling the array of resources actually used by an animal (Krebs 1999), it becomes possible to gauge the nature of interactions between species. This study explored aspects of resource use by diverse assemblage of wild and domestic herbivores including The Tibetan argali (Ovis ammon hodgsoni), Tibetan Gazelle (Procapra picticaudata), kiang (Equus kiang), blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur), domestic yak and sheep in a Trans-Himalayan environment during the lean winter period. Sampling was carried out in a systematic manner using trails, as well as by sampling opportunistically. To quantify vegetation, a 3.52 Ian grid was overlaid on an image of the study area, and grids were randomly picked from these for random sampling. A number of habitat and vegetation variables were measured or noted for all ungulate sightings or within vegetation sampling stations and these were used in analysis to ascertain patterns of habitat use and food selection. U sing a hierarchy of spatial scales, the study modeled animal distributions, and investigated the use of habitats and food habits of ungulates in relation to the availability of these resources in their environment. The study's major findings were that all ungulates were found to occur in the true Trans-Himalaya except for the blue sheep which selected more mountainous terrain in the transition zone between the greater and Trans-Himalaya .. Statistical tests of significance revealed that ungulates differed from one another or from random in their use of resources. Further, terrain features appeared to influence habitat selection to a greater-extent than vegetation. Finally, the findings of this research indicate that although the wild and domestic ungulates of this region all exist in relatively large numbers, they tend to vary in their use of habitats and food either by differences in their distribution, or in the selection of finer environmental (habitat and food) variables. The study therefore concludes that competitive inter-specific interactions are not very apparent in this region.