Theses and Dissertations
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Item 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 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 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 use by Chital (Cervus axis) in Dhaulkhand, Rajaji National Park, India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1993) Bhat, Sridhar D.; Rawat, G.S.A study on the habitat use by chital or spotted deer (Cervus axis) was conducted in Dhaulkhand Rajaji National Park, from November 1992 to May 1993. The objectives of the study were to understand the spatio-temporal use of habitats by chital and to identify the factors that govern the patterns of habitat use. Foot transects were used to estimate the densities of chital and quantify the availability and utilization of resources.Item Habitat Use, Group Size and Activity Pattern of Goral (Nemorhaedus goral) in Simbalbara Sanctury (Himachal Pradesh) and Darpur Reserved Forest (Haryana) India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1993) Pendharkar, Anand; Goyal, S.P.A study on the habitat use, group size and activity patterns of goral (Nemorhaedus goral) was undertaken from November 1922 to May 1993 in Simbalbara Sanctuary (Himachal Pradesh) and Darpur Reserved Forest (Haryana). Data on availability of habitat types, vegetation types, slope, aspect and cover and their corresponding use (N=230 sightings), were collected along six search paths. Group size and activity pattern data were collected by walking along search paths and using instantaneous scan sampling. The broad habitat types identified were: Valley slope, Grassy slope, Ridge top flat, Nala slope, Valley bottom flat, Ridge top slope and Valley ridge slope. The vegetation types identified in the study area were: Sal forest (SF), mixed forest (MF), mixed forest grassy slope (MFGS), mixed forest riverine (MFR), sal forest riverine (SFR), pine-mixed woodland (PMW) and mixed forests with khai plantation (MFKP).The characteristic features of habitat and vegetation types and seasonal variations in them are discussed.The major findings of availability-utilization analysis were : Goral shewed preferential use of grassy slopes in summer. Valley bottom flat was used less in both the seasons. Mixed Forest was preferred in both seasons, whereas Mixed Forest Grassy Slopes were preferred only in summer. Sal Forest, Sal Forest Riverine and Mixed Forest with Khair Plantations were used less in both the seasons. A preferential use of the steep slopes was observed in winter. In summer there seemed to be no selection for terrain type. South facing slopes were preferred in both the seasons. Extremely low shrub cover and medium grass cover were selectively used by goral. Major features of goral group size and activity pattern were: Goral was predominantly a solitary species forming loose aggregations of upto eleven individuals. Average group size of goral did not vary significantly (N=230, d. f.=3, p=0.05, X" - 0.98) between seasons, but during late evening hours, comparatively larger groups were observed in winter (N=127, d.f.=4, p=<0.02, X2 - 12.42). Group sizes were comparatively larger in disturbed areas (N=230, d. f.=3, i i i p<0.01, = 12.75). A significant difference in proportion of time spent in different activities was observed (N=416, c/.f. = 8, p<0.001, X2 = 37.59), between winter and summer. Nevertheless, activities and proportions of active and inactive individuals varied significantly over different hours of the day (N=192, d.f.=2, p<0.01 , 10.43).Item 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 Habitat Use by Rodents in a Sandy Habitat Around Sam, Western Rajasthan(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1999) Mukherjee, Shomen; Goyal, S.P.Earlier studies on rodents in the Thar have recorded only the broad habitat types in which the different species occur. Except Rogovin el al. (1994), no other study has looked into microhabitat use by rodents. The present study aims to look at habitat use by three species of gerbils in a sandy habitat: The macro and microhabitat use by three species of rodents viz. Gerbillus gleadowi, G.nanus and Meriones hurrianae, in a sandy habitat, receiving rainfall of around 100-200 mm, was studied in Thar desert. Three distinct sandy habitats (Stabilized dunes Barren dune and Interdune), within 4 sq. km. area around Sam, Jaisalmer. was selected for the study. Due to zero captures after 500 trap nights, the use of Sherman traps was discontinued. Instead, circular track plots made out of chalk powder were used for looking at microhabitat use within each of the habitats. Track identification, up to species level, was first standardized from live specimens in captivity and then used in field. A total of sixteen variables representing habitat complexity (vertical), heterogeneity (horizontal) and phenology were enumerated around each plots. G. gleadowi was found to be the most abundant species, occupying all the three habitats. G. nanus was found to inhabit the Stabilised and Interdunal areas, while M. hurrianae was present only in the Interdune. Factor analysis using principle component extraction was used to determine the microhabitat characteristics. G. gleadowi was the sole occupant of Barren dune, where it did not show preference for any particular microhabitat. ' During winter, in Stabilised and Interdune, G. gleadowi was found using areas with relatively less compact soil, lower mean vegetation height and fewer number of hummocks compared to G. nanus. In summer, the species still continued using areas with relatively lower soil compactness, mean vegetation height and fewer hummocks compared to G. nanus, but showed higher use of areas with more ground cover (vegetation) compared to winter. G. nanus was found using areas with relatively more compact soil, higher mean vegetation height and greater number of hummocks. Overall, G. gleadowi was found to use the maximum range of microhabitats compared to the other two species. The summer niche space of G. gleadowi was found to be greater than its winter niche. During summer it was found using areas with more ground cover, higher percentage mature leaves, young leaves and fruits. M hurrianae was found to have a strict association with Capparis decidua tree, under which it burrows. The species is probably facing microhabitat loss due to collection of C. decidua poles by villagers.Item Winter Habitat Use by Monal Pheasant (Lophophorus impejanus)in Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Himalaya(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1997) Kumar, R. Suresh; Rawat, G.S.; Sathyakumar, S.I studied the winter habitat use by Monal "pheasant (Lophophorus impejanus), in Kedanath Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Himalaya, from November 1996 to April 1997. The study period included three seasons: autumn (November-December), winter (January-February-March), and spring (April). The objectives of the study were to quantify availability and utilization of the different habitats, which were named after prominent vegetation types in the three seasons, identify habitat variables influencing monal habitat use, and determine the sex ratio, group size and group composition of mona!. Existing trails and transects (eight in number) were used to quantify the above mentioned parameters. Eight different vegetation types were identified in the study area. They are : Oak-Rhododendron Forest (ORF), Oak-Rhododendron Degraded forest (ORD), Oak-Rhododendron-Lyonia (ORL), Maple-Oak- Rhododendron forest (MOR), Fir forest (FIR), Scattered Tree and Scrub (STS), Alpine Scrub (AS), Alpine Meadows and Rocks (AMR), and a separate category 'cliffs'. During the entire study period monal Showed preference for ORF. Within this vegetation type, they were seen mostly close to the streams. Most of the monal sightings (66.7%) during autumn were between 2900 m and 3200 m altitudes. Monal showed movement to slightly lower altitudes (to 2800 m) during peak winter. During late March, the snow had started to melt and a gradual movement of monal to higher altitudes was noticed. Monal showed strong preference for dense ORF with high litter cover during autumn and winter. At the onset of spring, there was a shift in the habitat use and they showed preference for cliffs. The males used such areas for displaying to the females. Other habitat variables such as bamboo cover, canopy cover, and presence of snow played an important role in the choice of habitat by monal. The mean group size did not vary significantly across the seasons. During autumn, male and female monal were in loose groups i.e., females had tendency to form small groups, whereas males remained more or less solitary. After the fust snow, distinct group formations were seen. The groups were categorised into an all-male group of seven or eight individuals, all-female groups of 10 to 12 individuals, mixed groups, and solitary males. The females remained in groups throughout the study period, while the males remained in groups only for a short span and only during peak winter. Monal started to move to the higher reaches during late March, and from then on, solitary males were quite often encountered.Item Habitat Use by Radio Instrumented Chital, Sambar and Nilgai in Sariska Tiger Reserve(1991) Chakraborty, Bipul; Goyal, S.P.