Theses and Dissertations

Permanent URI for this communityhttp://192.168.202.180:4000/handle/123456789/1

Browse

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 74
  • Item
    Distribution of major alien invasive plants and impact assessment of Ageratina adenophora (Spreng.) K & R. in Kailash Sacred Landscape, Uttarakhand
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2022) Chaudhary, Alka; Adhikari, B.S.; Rawat, G.S.
    The study was conducted to assess the spread, distribution, impact of invasion in Indian part of Kailash Sacred Landscape (KSL) characterized by interspersion of human habitations, extensive forest managed by the State Forest Department and local community institutions (Van Panchayat). The objectives of the study were (i) To model spatial distribution of selected plant invasive species using distribution modeling technique. (2) To assess the impacts of IAPs on native flora and relationship with habitat parameters (3) To analyze people's perception towards the spread of IAPs in KSL India landscape (4) Experimental trials on Eco restoration of habitats and prediction of future spread for better management
  • Item
    Genetic assessment of the Non-descript pig breeds across selected regions of Uttarakhand
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2023) Sahoo, Khushboo; Gupta, S.K.; Gopi, G.V.
    India, which has ancient history of pig rearing, is home to several indigenous pig breeds that reflect the adaptation of Sus scrofa to different environmental and cultural conditions. However, only 13 of these breeds are currently recognized and documented by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources. The present research was undertaken to identify the spatial distribution, socio-economic status, pig husbandry methods of pig rearers, and the impact of Exotic pig breed on the indigenous breed and ecology of the region. As molecular characterization is a valuable tool that provides insights into the evolutionary history and genetic diversity of the current pig breed raise in a region. Hence by incorporating molecular techniques in understanding of the domestic pig breed and their interactions with ecosystems, promote more precise and science-based management that contributes to biodiversity conservation and sustainable husbandry practices. The present study will also aim to evaluate the maternal lineage, genetic diversity and population structure of the domestic pig breeds at the regional scale, using microsatellite markers and mitochondrial DNA sequences. The survey and sampling was done in the planar (Dehradun, Haridwar and Nainital) districts of Uttarakhand, a mountainous state of India that lies in the foothills of Himalayas, where rapid urbanisation and continuous migration make us reconsider the necessity of an organise promotion of the piggery sector due to its multiple ecological implications.
  • Item
    A study on predation ecology of large carnivores with special reference to human-carnivore conflicts in Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, Central India
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2022) Chatterjee, Anindita B.; Sankar, K.; Qureshi, Qamar; Jhala, Y.V.
    Seven years of data (2008 – 2015) resulted in phot-capture of 96 unique individual tigers in the study area. The estimated survival rate of individual tigers was high. Survival of female tigers were higher than that of the male tigers but the range was overlapping. Apparent survival and transitional probabilities were best explained by gender specific models. Survival constant was selected as the best model for estimating growth rate of tigers. Calculated annual growth rate was 13% with no observed sex bias.
  • Item
    Ecology and ranging behaviour of Elephants, Elephas maximus, and its implications for managing human-elephant conflict in Chhattisgarh, India
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2022) Lakshminarayanan, N.; Pandav, Bivash
    In the East-central region of India that supports the smallest regional elephant (Elephas maximus) population, the elephant ranges have expanded in northern Chhattisgarh (erstwhile eastern Madhya Pradesh) since late 1980s. Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh during the year 2000, and thence, the State has been witnessing elephant range expansion and concomitant population growth resulting in acute human–elephant conflict. Over 60 human lives are lost every year due to human–elephant conflict, and the trend is only increasing. Chhattisgarh scenario represents challenges facing management of elephant populations undergoing environmental dispersals that typically result from saturated habitat conditions in the elephant home ranges. In response to the prevailing conflict situation, the study aimed to understand facets of elephant ecology and aspects of human–elephant conflict to generate management perspectives. Historic information available as fragments in literature indicates that elephant distribution in the whole of East-central region was marked by both range expansions and local extinctions during the last one century. In particular, the contemporary phenomenon of elephant range redistribution in the East-central region peaked after 1980s, and coincides with large-scale human-induced disturbances to the formerly intact elephant habitats in the region. There were also pull factors like creation of pseudo-habitats (providing only cover for elephants) through forestry operations that possibly attracted elephants to human–dominated areas perpetuating human-elephant conflict. In Chhattisgarh, the elephant distribution during the period 2012 to 2017 was reported from 16 Forest Divisions and four Protected Areas in the north and north-central regions of the state. The elephant population, as enumerated by Chhattisgarh Forest Department during 2021, ranged from 250 to 300.
  • Item
    The conservation of musk deer: integrating ecology and genetics in North-Western Himalaya
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2023) Sharief, Amira; Chinnasamy, Ramesh; Sharma, Lalit Kumar; Thakur, Mukesh
    This study highlights the combined use of ecological models and genetics of musk deer in the North-Western Himalayas. By employing both ecological models and genetics, this research aims to identify populations and regions that require high conservation priority to ensure the species' survival.
  • Item
    Genetic diversity, gene flow and mating system in sympatric crocodylian species in National Chambal Sanctuary, India
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2023) Sharma, Surya Prasad
    The present research was, thus, undertaken to provide information on the genetic status of two freshwater crocodylian species through assessment of the (a) genetic diversity, (b) population genetic structure, genetic differentiation, and gene-flow and (c) mating system using nuclear microsatellite and mitochondrial markers. The biological samples for genetic assessment were collected from two of the largest breeding gharial population in Chambal River (within the National Chambal Sanctuary) and Girwa River (within) Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary) for both the study species.
  • Item
    Population dynamics of the Edible-Nest Swiftlet Aerodramus Fuciphagus Inexpectatus in the Andaman Islands
    (SACON, 2024) Prathamesh, H.G.; Manchi, Shirish S.
    Population dynamics play a fundamental role in ecological research and have important implications. It refers to the study of how the size and composition of populations of organisms change over time and in response to various factors such as birth and death rates, immigration and emigration, environmental conditions, resource availability, and interactions with other species. Many researchers have long studied terrestrial avian population dynamics; however, birds in hypogean environments, such as the Edible-nest Swiftlet, did not receive much attention. The Edible-nest Swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus inexpectatus) is a cave-dwelling bird studied primarily in ex-situ habitats due to its economic importance. The studies in wild or urban areas majorly focus on breeding biology, ecology, habitat, and population trends. However, many aspects of population dynamics are never attempted due to a lack of resources and practical difficulties, such as in the Andaman Islands. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the population dynamics of the Edible-nest Swiftlet in the Andaman Islands. The study aims to investigate the various aspects of population dynamics: site fidelity, colonial sex ratio, and inter-colonial dispersal patterns, considering the biotic and abiotic factors influencing these traits. The study overall intends to provide valuable insights into the swiftlet’s research and conservation.
  • Item
    Study on distribution and relative abundance of large mammals and impact of human disturbance in and arond Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2023) Ahmed, Arif; Gopi, G.V.
    The current study was started to gather baseline data on a few ecological factors (Diversity, distribution, relative abundance, Activity pattern and habitat preference) of selected large animals in Mehao WS. Northeast India. The study period was November 2017 to 2020. The objectives of the study are 1. To estimate the relative abundance and occupancy of selected large mammals in and around Mehao wildlife sanctuary. 2. To develop Habitat suitability model for selected large mammals in and around Mehao WS 3. To analyse the land use/land cover change pattern and to identify the main driving factors.
  • Item
    Molecular Phylogeny and Population genetic structure of Northern Red Muntjac (Muntiacus vaginalis) in India
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2022) Singh, Bhim
    Present study is based on the genetic diversity, phylogenetics, and the population genetic structure of Indian red muntjac in India and also compared with other existing muntjac. The objectives of the study are: 1. To assess the genetic diversity of the Indian red muntjacs among different populations using mtDNA and microsatellites markers. 2. To investigate the phylogenetic relationships of Indian red muntjac with respect to other species. 3. To investigate the population genetic structure, gene flow and demographic history of Indian red muntjac.
  • Item
    Spatial abundance of ungulates and role of predation on chital (Axis axis) demography and behaviour in Corbett Tiger Reserve, Uttarakhand, India.
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2022) Banerjee, Sudip; Jhala, Y.V.; Qureshi, Qamar
    To address the first objective which was to estimate the abundance of ungulates in different habitats of CTR, I have used line transect-based distance sampling approach to estimate the density of four major ungulate species (chital, sambar deer, barking deer, and wild pig) of CTR in ~520 sq. km of the Corbett National Park (CNP) region. Density was estimated using 156 spatial transects replicated 1 to 4 times over four sampling years. Both year-wise and pooled (weighted average of four years) density estimates were highest for chital followed by sambar. Barking deer had the lowest density. Chital density has remained stable over the years. Post-stratifying the densities of the four ungulates by three major habitat types of CNP (grassland, saldominated, and mixed deciduous) exhibited the highest density of chital in the grassland and lowest in the sal-dominated forest. Sambar density on the other hand was highest in the mixed deciduous and lowest in the grassland. Barking deer also exhibited a similar trend of habitat-wise density. A significant part of my thesis was focused on the objective of evaluating the precision and cost-effectiveness of three different density estimation techniques. The diverse ungulate assemblage and complex terrain of CNP provided an excellent environment to conduct this experiment.