Theses and Dissertations
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Item 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 MirLeopard (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 techniqueItem 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.Item 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.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 Ecology of Golden jackal (Canis aureus) in Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2015) Chourasia, PoojaThis study aimed to examine the abundance and occupancy of jackal with the application of photographic captures using camera traps and diet composition through scat analysis, investigate species-habitat relationships from habitat features (non-spatial) and remotely sensed features (spatial) to understand how these variables govern occurrence pattern and predict the distribution of jackal in Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan. In India, jackal populations achieve high densities in pastoral areas such as Kutch, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Haryana. This study will vitally improve our state of knowledge to protect jackal and assist the development of theory on their social structure, behavior and habitat preferences in forested ecosystem. The study will help in suggesting localized monitoring mechanisms wherever necessary as this is important in minimizing surprise cases of extinction. The objectives of this study are as follows:-1. To determine the abundance of golden jackal. 2. To estimate the food availability, food habits and dietary niche overlap between golden jackal and other meso-carnivores.3. To evaluate the den site selection by golden jackal and, 4. To evaluate the habitat use by golden jackal. The study was conducted from 2010-2013 in Sariska Tiger Reserve (79° 17’ to 76°34’N and Latitude: 27° 5’ to 27° 33’ E), Rajasthan. Selected 160 km2 of intensive study area which was divided into four blocks. A total of 160 locations were selected for the placement of camera traps where, each block having 21 camera trap stations. Peafowl was observed to be the most abundant prey species throughout the study period. Amongst the wild prey species, nilgai was observed to be the most abundant wild ungulate prey species followed by, chital, wild pig and sambar in the study area..The Species distribution data was collected from camera trapping, direct sighting records, scat locations and track locations and was pooled for the entire study period 2010-2013, collectively making 413 observed point locations in the intensive study area.Item Abundance, distribution & pattern of human impact on river Dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica).(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2018) Deori, Sunny; Qureshi, QamarThis study took place in a tributary of river Brahmaputra named Kulsi which originates from the Meghalaya enters Assam at Umkiam where it is known as Kulsi and finally discharges at Brahmaputra at Nagarbera, Assam. It is a highly populated riverscape. According to 2011 census data, the riverscape has 55972.88 hectares of cultivable land which is solely dependent for irrigation on natural sources (Rainfall and Rivers). Also, the river is divided into 7 River fishery under Revenue department of Assam. About 2500 commercial fishermen are registered under the fisheries of Kulsi River and 1,29,095 cultivators. Apart from this fine quality sand is a boon to the people of Kulsi floodplain. More than 5000 families were dependent on this business. The recent increase in construction business in Guwahati metropolitan and the nearby blooming towns is raising the earning bar of the people of Kulsi River. My study aimed at the following objectives: 1. Estimating the abundance & patterns of dolphin distribution across Kulsi River. 2. Estimating the effects of different human activities which can possibly affect the habitat and distribution pattern of dolphins in Kulsi River (special preferences to existing commercial fisheries, sand mining, & irrigation). 3. Socio- economic status of fishermen community, sand mining community and farmers and their attitudes towards dolphin and wider ecosystem conservation. 4. Examine suitable measures to minimize/prevent the harmfulness of these fishing gears and practices in the commercial fisheries of Kulsi.Item Aggression and Conflict Resolution in Nicobar Long-Tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis umbrosus.(SACON, 2019) Partha Sarathi, M.; Kumara, H.N.; ThayumanavanA strong dominance hierarchy with high linearity and steepness in females indicates high competition among the females for food. This pattern was absent in the study with a moderately wrong hierarchy, possibly due to the avoidance of competition for food. This, in term, suggests that food distribution is uniform and abundant for each individual of a small group, which is the foundation of the socio-ecological theory. Furthermore, low competition in the group allows females to form close bonds and exchange affiliative behaviors as recorded in the study. Low monopolization is depicted by low steepness values and under such a regime. subordinate females do not use grooming as currency to gain access 10 food from dominant females.Item Ecological, Morphological and Demographical Variations of Hanuman Langur (Semnopithecus spp.) Species complex in Peninsular India and their Implications to Taxonomy(SACON, 2011) Chetan Nak, K.S.; Pramod, P.To bring greater resolution in Hanuman langur taxonomy, current thesis attempted to map the congruence between some of the ecological, morphological, and demographical characters of Hanuman langurs of peninsular India. In doing so the thesis, ultimately aimed to correlate which of the existing classification scheme best explained the taxonomic position of these taxonomically challenged langurs. With this objective the study was conducted in peninsular India (8–21°N, 73–78°E), covering the states of Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamilnadu in India, as well as some parts of northern Sri Lanka opportunistically. The study also included some Northern type Hanuman langurs as controls from parts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Orissa. As far as possible study included the type localities mentioned in various classification schemesItem Communities of small mammals and small carnivores in the Teesta River Basin, Sikkim Himalaya, India(SACON, 2008) Thapa, Jaya; Bhupathy, S.Differences in communities of plants and animals along environmental gradients have been the basis for many ecological theories. Among the first geographical patterns to be recognized in ecology was the climatic gradient in body size of animals, later formalized as the Bergmann 's rule. Latitudinal and altitudinal gradients in species richness are other geographical patterns that have long since been recognized. The different nature of gradients and the ecological factors that cause such gradients have both been subjects of considerable debate in recent decades. Community structure in animals can also be influenced by various factors such as vegetation, biological constraints and historical factors, which may not form gradients. In this dissertation I have examined the in fluence of altitude and vegetation on communities of small mammals and small carnivores in the 11 Himalayan mountain ranges in the Indian State of Sikkim. The sharp altitudinal gradient from 230 m to 8586 m and the variety of vegetation types in this small state,. The overall goal of this study was to examine the influence of altitude and vegetation on the organizalion of the small mammal community in Sikkim Himalaya, with respect to its species richness, composition. distribution, and abundance. The specific objectives of this study were: a. To test the hypothesis that the body weight of murid rodents and shrews should respond to the sharp altitudinal gradient; b. To identify the pattern of variation in the community structure of the murid rodents and shrews along an altitudinal gradient and among different vegetation types; c. To test the hypothesis that murids and shrews differ in microhabitat use in a manner that is consistent between vegetation types; and d. To examine the influence of altitude and vegetation types on the composition and relative abundance of the small carnivore community, as well as their diet. This study was carried out in the North and South Districts of Sikkim in the Teesta River Basin, between 230 m to 3700 m altitude, from June 2003 to April 2004 and from May 2005 to December 2005Item Evaluating methods to monitor tiger abundance and its prey in Indian Sunderbans(wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2019) Roy, Manjari; Sankar, K.; Qureshi, QamarThis study conducted to test and evaluate different methods for estimating tiger and its prey population in Sundarban that can be adopted as part of a monitoring programme. For this study techniques were applied for the standard spatially explicit capture-recapture, tailored according to the local conditions to estimate tiger density in Sundarban for three years. Tiger densities were estimated at 4.08 (SE 1.51) in 2010, 5.81 (SE 1.24) in 2012 and 3.15 (SE 0.88) tigers/100 km2 in 2014. The tiger abundance for my camera trapped study area generated through conventional mark-recapture was 11 (SE 2), 24 (SE 3) and 16 (SE 3) tigers for 2010, 2012, 2014 respectively. Ungulates occupy a primary position in the diet of tigers and a monitoring protocol for tiger should inherently include a component of prey base estimation. Boat transect based distance sampling to generate density estimates for four years.