Theses and Dissertations

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    Monitoring prey dynamics and diet flucuations of leopard (Panthera pardus) in Dachigam National Park, Srinagar, J&K
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2016) Zaffar, Rais Mir
    Leopard (Panthera pardus) is known for its ecological flexibility and wide distribution range. However, like other large carnivores, leopards are declining throughout their range due to habitat conversion, prey depletion, intense persecution and poaching for trade. In Kashmir valley leopard is at the top of the food chain and an apex predator that aids in regulating prey populations. Conservation and management planning of the leopards in Kashmir valley is impeded by the paucity of reliable empirical ecological information. There has been an increase in the human leopard conflict in the valley which, if left unnoticed, will worsen the conservation prospects of this threatened felid. Hence, this study was initiated to investigate the feeding ecology of leopard in Dachigam National Park and the human carnivore conflict around the park. The objectives of the study were estimating seasonal density and spatial distribution of prey species of leopard, studying the food habits and prey selectivity of leopard and quantifying the nature and extent of human-carnivore conflict around Dachigam National Park. The population of wild prey species was estimated in Dachigam National Park on seasonal basis using Distance sampling technique
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    Diversity and distribution of Moth Assemblages Along Altitudinal Gradient in Gangotri Landscape, India
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2015) Sanyal, Abesh Kumar; Uniyal, V.P.
    This study intends to document the extent of moth assemblages that exist amongst various habitats in a typical Western Himalayan altitudinal gradient in Gangotri Landscape Area (GLA). In this study, using the elevation gradient as natural experiment, the faunal structure and diversity of the moth assemblage featuring all the major macro and micromoth families as well as relationships between moths and their biotic and abiotic environments were explored. Specific objectives of the study were: (1) Documenting and prepare taxonomic inventory of rich moth fauna of Gangotri Landscape Area; (2) To assess diversity and distribution of moth assemblages among different elevations and vegetation types of Gangotri Landscape; (3) To analyze the influence of altitude, seasons, vegetation types and anthropogenic disturbance factors on moth assemblages; (4) To investigate morphometric changes (body size and proportional body parts) in moths along altitudinal gradient. The study was conducted in Gangotri Landscape Area (GLA), a vast conservation network in the North-Western part of Uttarakhand, in district Uttarkashi. A total of 670 morphospecies belonging to 22 families and 356 genera were collected during entire sampling period from 2008-2012. This study is an important step towards better understanding of a long-neglected but diverse and charismatic herbivorous insect assemblage in Himalayan temperate altitudinal gradient.
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    A Study on Breeding Behaviour of Oriental White-backed Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) in Anjarle and Deobag, Mahashtra
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2011) Kambale, Asish Atmaram; Sivakumar, S.; Mohan, D.
    This study was aimed to understand the current status, distribution pattern, habitat characteristics, nesting success and nesting behaviour of Oriental Whitebacked vulture in the Konkan coast during a breeding season between December 2010 and May 2011. A total of 24 sites either nesting or feeding were located all along the Konkan coasts of Maharashtra during the survey using area search method as well as interview based techniques. Study shows that there was no significant difference in the habitats of both active and inactive nesting sites in the Konkan coast which indicates that the decline of nesting population of vulatures in the region may not be exclusively due to habitat destruction
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    Assessment of tree diversity, successional changes and forest fragmentation in jhum influenced forest ecosystem of South Garo Hills, Meghalaya.
    (Wildlife Institute of India, 2005) Kumar, Ashish; Roy, P.S.; Sawarkar, V.B.
    The findings presented in this thesis are the outcome of a long term research project entitled ‘Management of Forests in India for Biological Diversity and Forest Productivity - A New Perspective (1996 — 2002)’. The intensive study area is a part of the Garo Hills situated in the western Meghalaya of the northeast India. The landscape (2459 km2) is a mosaic of protected areas (PAs), managed forests (MFs) and intervening private/community land. The major goal of present study is to provide knowledge, tools, and indicators for monitoring, and potential management guidelines for conserving native biological diversity of study area. The objectives of present study are (i) to assess diversity patterns and successional changes among tree communities, (ii) to analyse landscape characteristics in particular fragmentation, classify tropical forests and prioritise wildlife areas, (iii) to discuss the native wild fauna and develop information base for modelling wildlife habitat relationships, and (iv) to assess the socioeconomics of native tribes, and evaluate the impact on existing protected areas of the region.
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    Sociality of Asiatic lion
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2018) Chakraborty, Stotra; Jhala, Y.V.
    In the current study investigate (i) how resources are shared between male partners of Asiatic lion coalition (ii) the cost benefits for male lions in forming alliances (iii) female mating strategies and mate selection in lions. The study area is Gir Protected Area and the adjoining agro-pastoral landscape lying to the south-Western fringes of the PA.
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    Plant diversity gradients along the Himalaya: A comparison between the east and the west
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2018) Kumar, Suresh; Rawat, G.S.; Price, Trevor
    Patterns and causes of latitudinal and elevational diversity gradients have gained increasing attention in the field of macroecology. A monotonic decline in species richness from low to high latitudes and elevations was widely accepted as the common pattern for a long time. However, reviews of the available literature on patterns of species diversity along elevational radients show that species richness often does not monotonically decline with elevation. In this thesis, I analyse the elevational and latitudinal patterns of plant species richness across the Himalaya.
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    Modelling plant invasions in tropical India
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2019) Mungi, Ninad Avinash; Qureshi, Qamar; Jhala, Y.V.
    Human modifications are simplifying global ecosystems, and one agent catalysing this process is biological invasion. Species transferred by human means to areas beyond their evolutionary range, where they impact the native ecosystem and its services, are known as invasive species. Invasive species have affected native ecosystem functioning to an extent where native species went locally extinct, or where the native economy and human health has been adversely affected. While invasive species are spreading at an alarming rate, our knowledge on their large-scale status remains disjunct, disparate, and often outdated. The resultant loss in global ecosystem services is believed to be catastrophic for the global human-welfare; with developing societies being the most vulnerable. One such megadiverse developing country is India
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    Evaluation of population structure of tigers (Panthera tigris) in Central India using genetic markers.
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2015) Yumnam, Bibek; Jhala, Y.V.
    The findings presented in this thesis are the outcome of a long term research project entitled ‘Management of Forests in India for Biological Diversity and Forest Productivity - A New Perspective (1996 — 2002)’. The intensive study area is a part of the Garo Hills situated in the western Meghalaya of the northeast India. The landscape (2459 km2) is a mosaic of protected areas (PAs), managed forests (MFs) and intervening private/community land. The major goal of present study is to provide knowledge, tools, and indicators for monitoring, and potential management guidelines for conserving native biological diversity of study area. The objectives of present study are (i) to assess diversity patterns and successional changes among tree communities, (ii) to analyse landscape characteristics in particular fragmentation, classify tropical forests and prioritise wildlife areas, (iii) to discuss the native wild fauna and develop information base for modelling wildlife habitat relationships, and (iv) to assess the socioeconomics of native tribes, and evaluate the impact on existing protected areas of the region.
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    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 Pradesh
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    Diversity assessment and molecular characterization of the geometridae moths (Lepidoptera: Heterocera) in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Uttarakhand.
    (wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2018) Dey, Pritha; Chandra, Kailash; Uniyal, V.P.
    The study aims to combine traditional morphological and modern molecular tools to answer the questions on diversity, the patterns and the factors governing the patterns. The study was conducted in Nanda Devi National Park area which is a part of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (NDBR), Uttarakhand, India. The study area (Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve) was stratified on the basis of elevation & vegetation and sampled at every 200m along the elevation between 2000-3800m. Two mountain gradients 1) Joshimath and 2) Data were chosen for a comparative study. DNA extraction and sequencing were performed at the CCDB, University of Guelph. Sequences of further specimens from the Zoologische Staatssammlung München from western Himalaya (Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir) and eastern Himalaya (Sikkim) were included into the analysis. Our results revealed one new species (Prometopidia sp. nov.), one new distribution record for India (Alcis paghmana) and considerable distribution extensions of 15 other species within India. Four species from Sikkim show deep genetic divergences (K2P distance) from conspecifics, indicating potential crypsis