Theses and Dissertations
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Item Ecological impacts of prescribed burning in Corbett Tiger Reserve, Uttar Pradesh(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1997) Ghosh, Sonali; Mathur, V.B.This study was aimed at studying the ecological impacts of prescribed burning by evaluating the current practices of burning being carried out in a typical grassland habitat in Corbett Tiger Reserve . The study extended from November 1996 to April 1997. Twenty four experimental plots were laid to study the differences in soil and vegetation characteristics, with respect to burnt and unburnt areas in short (Arundinella and Vetiveria type) grasslands and tall (Saccharum-Themeda type) grasslands. The main objectives were to determine the impacts of prescribed burning on soil and vegetation characteristics,, distribution of animal and birds and to evolve spatial strategies for the management of Hog deer( Cervus porcinus) populations using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information systems. —T-tests and AN OVA (analysis of variance) were applied on the various soil and vegetation parameters to test the differences between the burnt and unburnt areas. Short grasslands showed significant differences in soil available phosphorus, above ground biomass, crude protein, percentage fibre, ash, elemental potassium and sodium. The general increase in the soil available phosphorus, above ground biomass, crude protein and the decrease in the levels of percentage fibre, ash , elemental potassium and sodium in the short grassland burnt areas can be generally attributed to the removal of litter and the addition of ash which recycles the minerals back into the system. Tall grasslands showed significant differences in case of soil available potassium and grass percentage fibre. Both the parameters decreased in case of the burnt areas. I he tall grasslands are tussock- forming perennial species which do not get burnt completely. There is not much removal of litter which perhaps hampers the growth of the new sprouts. Samples collected from burnt and repeatedly clipped areas were tested for crude protein, percentage fibre, ash and lignin. They showed significant differences in case of percentage fibre. The fibre being the maximum in. case of these areas. Below ground biomass did not show any difference between the burnt and unburnt areas in short and tall grasslands . The area has had a long fire history and the below ground biomass has perhaps stabilised over the years and hence cannot be detected in such a short term study. Direct (road transects) and indirect (pellets) evidences were used to determine the animal and bird distribution with respect to the burning regime. Programme DISTANCE was used to estimate the animal densities while Menhinick's Index was used to calculate the bird species richness , before and after the date of prescribed burning. The animal densities and birds species richness increased after burning, but this could not be fully attributed to the burning regime. Other parameters such as change of seasons, also need to be taken into consideration . Finally, hog deer suitability map was generated using ground data for various ecological parameters and remote sensing data which were overlaid with the help of Geographic Information system . A burning regime separated on a temporal and spatial scale is required for sustaining hog deer populations in Corbett Tiger Reserve.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 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.Item 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 destructionItem 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.Item 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 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, TrevorPatterns 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.Item 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 IndiaItem 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 Pradesh