Theses and Dissertations
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Item Conservation ecology of the endangered diurnal primates and gaur in Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary, Tripura.(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2006) Dasgupta, Sabyasachi; Gupta, A.K.; Sankar, K.The aim of the study was to prepare land cover & vegetation maps, quantify vegetation structure and composition in different vegetation types, and assess the status, distribution and habitat use and feeding ecology of capped langur (Trachypithecus pileatus), hoolock gibbon (Bunopithecus hoolock), pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina) and gaur (Bos gaums gaums) in Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary (TWS) (23° 12' - 23° 32' N to 91° 15' - 91° 30' E), Tripura. Attempt was made to discuss single species vs. multi species approach in conservation and suggest conservation recommendations for the study species and the vegetation resources of the study area.Fieldwork was carried out between January 2002 and June 2004.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 Aspects of Foraging, Activity, Habitat Use and Demography of Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis Linn.) in Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2003) Kandel, Ram Chandra; Jhala, Y.V.The study was conducted between November 2002 to June 2003 in the Royal Chitwan National Park, in Central Terai which arbors the largest population of the Great One-honed Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis Linn) in Nepal. I studied time Activity budget, Habitat use, preference, food habits and ranging pattern of free ranging rhinos by continuously monitoring them from elephant back for 130.5 hrs (10 sessions of 7-24 hr each)Item Habitat use by the Great Indian Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) and the other sympatric large herbivores in Kaziranga National Park(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2001) Banerjee, Gitanjali; Rawat, G.S.; Choudhury, B.C.A study on the habitat use by the Great One horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) and three other sympatric ungulates was carried out in Kaziranga National Park (KNP), Assam during December 2000 to April 2001. KNP supports more than half the world's population of the Indian Rhinoceros, a highly endangered species. Since this park also supports a high diversity and density of herbivores coexisting in a typical floodplain habitat, it was an ideal place to conduct the following study. The study aimed to determine how 4 large herbivore species rhino, wild buffalo, swamp deer and hog deer achieve spatial and temporal separation across two seasons. The study also investigated how nutritive content of the forage determines habitat selection by these species. KNP was an ideal place to study habitat use patterns by these four sympatric species due to the seasonal variation of forage quality caused by the practice of annual burning. Sampling for animal abundance within each habitat type over two seasons was done by monitoring transects. Feeding observations were obtained by scan sampling. Laboratory analysis was done to determine the nutritive content of the available forage during winter and summer. Seasonal and spatial differences observed in habitat occupancy patterns by the ungulate species within KNP seem to be a way of partitioning resources in order to minimize competition. During the winter season all ungulates selected the short grasslands for feeding. The wild buffalo and the swamp deer showed no variation in the habitat occupancy patterns showing a positive selection for the short grasslands. However, rhinos and hog deer were observed to prefer the tall, burnt and sprouting grasslands in summer for feeding during summer. When habitat occupancy patterns were correlated with the nutritive value of the forage it was found that all ungulates tracked high crude protein levels in available forage. Rhinos and hog deer formed an association that exploited areas that have high crude protein and low silica content. Wild buffaloes and swamp deer show less flexibility in habitat occupancy patterns and were observed to feed in short grasslands where there was a relatively high amount of crude protein available during both the seasons. The study revealed that crude protein played an important role in determining habitat use by hog deer, which shows a linear relationship with crude protein. Forage volume, an indicator of available food played a significant role in determining habitat use patterns for the large bodied ungulates, namely the rhino and the wild buffalo which is in keeping with their physiology and body requirements. There seems to be partitioning of space by the ungulates on the basis of body size and dietary separation. Rhino and hog deer were observed to formed one guild whereas wild buffalo and swamp deer formed another one. These two groups differed in the pattern of habitat occupancy suggesting that ecological separation in Kaziranga National Park, perhaps occurs on the basis of differential use of the habitat by ungulates that have a similar body size. There was an observed complementation of body sizes within each association. A large bodied ungulate associated with another ungulate that was much smaller in size. and therefore, had different ecological needs.Item Seasonal Change in Social Structure, Behaviour and Habitat Use by Sarus Crane in the Semi Arid Region of North-Western India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2001) Latt, Tin Nwe; Choudhury, B.C.The seasonal change in social structure and habitat use by sarus cranes was examined in the semi arid region of North- western India. The study was conducted in Keoladeo Ghana National Park and in the surrounding areas in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan. The methods involved censusing of cranes in the park and in surrounding areas by moving on motorcycle in preidentified routes. The detailed methodology included quantification of habitat availability and focal and scan sampling for studying the behaviour of sarus crane. Eight sarus groups were intensively monitored to examine parent and juvenile relationships and juvenile weaning process. The mean encounter rate of sarus crane outside the park was greater than that of inside. Though the data was not tested for the lack of uniform effort in these two areas, the difference is likely to be statistically significant. The overall group composition during the study period differed inside and outside of the park. The agricultural areas outside had greater number of social family group sighted during the study period than within the park. The mean encounter rates had greater standard errors associated with them outside the park than inside the park. During the present study most of the social family, pair, congregation, and solitary crane were seen outside of the park except that of pair with juvenile. The seasons (winter and summer) had an influence on the sarus crane group composition apart from the fact that the groups were either seen within the protected area or outside. With the data from the present study it is not possible to test the effects of these two variables on the sarus group composition. However, in winter sarus cranes were seen in social family and pair with juvenile more often inside the park than outside the park. The other forms of groups of sarus such as social group, pair and solitary members were not very different inside and outside the park. In winter season, juveniles were not able to fly more than 0.61 m height and 45m distances restricting their movements within the park. During summer the juveniles could fly outside of the park in the 1st week of February onwards and were seen frequently outside of the park. Sarus cranes spent more time outside the park than inside, except pairs with juveniles. Inside the park the safety, food and space supported small groups and pairs all through the year. The group composition showed a dramatic change in summer where greater number of social family and pair with juveniles were observed outside the park than inside, while other forms of groups did not vary much in the two areas. During the study period a maximum of 67 sarus cranes were recorded inside the park in roosting areas. During the study period, wetlands were the most used habitat by sarus cranes than any other habitat types. Grasslands and dry wetlands were used distinctly by sarus next to the wetlands, and the agricultural fields have the least utilization. The later could be because of bias in sampling more inside the park than in the agricultural fields outside the park. During summer, the sarus cranes occurred more often in wetland and grasslands than in dry wetland or agricultural fields. During winter and summer sarus cranes mostly used wetland habitat (winter 20.5 % & summer 35%). In late summer, as all agriculture field were harvested and there was no water patches outside the park. The Forest Department pumped in water throughout the late winter and summer in the areas where group no (Block L), group no.4 (Block D) and group no.5 (Block E) spent more of their time. During summer, sarus cranes used this shallow water. The area where group no.3 (Block K) sarus stayed much of the time had very large grasslands. Within this area the wetland was closer to road and sarus crane appeared to be stressed while foraging in this wetland. The large expanse of grasslands used by group no. 3 (Block K) area, it prevented people to approach closer to the cranes and hence they used this grassland extensively during summer. Among the pair, the female was more the wary and cautious while using these water patches. Solitary sarus cranes preferred foraging in grasslands. In summer, water spread became small and narrow and sarus cranes spent more time in grasslands (winter 5% & summer 12%). Sarus crane did not use dry wetlands in summer due to lack of moisture in this area which, hinders growth of grasses and other aquatic flora and also insects in such dry wetlands were less. Generally, sarus crane used agriculture land more for foraging at the time of sowing and harvesting of cereal and pulses. The encounter rates (sightings/ hour) of sarus crane correlated with water level. During large water spread times, more cranes were encountered. Water depth was correlated with mean encounter rates (r= 0.77, N= 1 Z) , similarly water spread also had a significant positive correlation (r=0.64, N= 12). As expected water depth and water spread had a strong positive correlation (r=0.95, N= 12). At the beginning of the study in November the juveniles were estimated to be three months old, and when the study was concluded in May, the juveniles were nine months old and they continued to remain in the vicinity of the parents. Although the distance increased with time it is speculated that the quantum of time spent by the adults parenting the juvenile would diminish with time and also the distance between parents and juveniles. The major interaction between parent and juvenile during the observation period was "nursing" behaviour, where the parent fed the juvenile directly into its mouth. Subsequently, the parent "induced the juvenile to forage" by leading the juvenile to some areas in the wetland where food was abundant and the disturbance from tourists was low. From the last week of February juvenile started to move farther away from the parents and maintained an average distance of about 65 m. During this time the parents started courtship behaviour and paid less attention to the juveniles, even though the juveniles showed interest on their parents. In reciprocation of the lack of attention from the parents the juveniles continued to forage away from the parents. Till the end of the study period in May the juvenile still continued to tag along with the parents. To summarize, seasonal shift in sarus crane social structure was observed in the study area. Following factors appear to affect the sarus crane group structure and behaviour: (a) Availability and limitation of food.(b) Changes and availability of water in wetland. (c) Age of juveniles appears to be a factor for their attachment to parents.(d) The diurnal weather appears to be relative to sarus crane behaviour and social structure,which change on cloudy, sunny and rainy days .