Theses and Dissertations

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    Levels of organic contaminates and select biomarkers in the birds of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, India
    (SACON, 2009) Dhananjayan, V.; Murlidharan, S.
    There has been an ongoing concern about the presence of different types of contaminants in the environment and their ill effects on wildlife, particularly birds. While substantial information is available on such in effects on birds elsewhere in the world , very limited data exist in India, A study was initiated to document the environmental residue levels of certain persistent organic contaminants, chemicals responsible for incidences of mortality of birds and, generate information on the levels of cholinesterase in brain and blood plasma of birds. The major objectives were to understand tissue specific accumulation of contaminants, namely organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic a romatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in birds, examine the variation in accumulation pattern between sexes and feeding habits, identify normal or reference levels of biomarkers, namely acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) to explain mortality of birds. Two representative cities, namely Ahmedabad, Gujarat in the west and Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu in the south were selected as study locations
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    Systematics, phylogeography and population genetics of the Golden Jackal, Canis aureus
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2013) Negi, Tripti; Jhala, Y.V.
    The goal of this study was to elucidate the systematics, phylogeny, population genetic structure, genetic variability and the relationship of golden jackal in relation to other canid species. The study outline the general characteristics of family Canidae and golden jackal as a typical member of the family, the theory of conservation genetics, molecular genetics, and the molecular markers, taxonomic affiliation of golden jackal to other jackal species and to resolve their global higher level phylogenetic status in the genus Canis and population genetic structure and genetic variability among golden jackal in Western India, Gujarat.
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    Habitat use, ranging patterns and food habits of striped hyaena (Hyaena hyaena) in Kutch, Gujarat
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2013) Bopanna, I.P.; Jhala, Y.V.
    Among the diverse carnivores found in Kutch, the striped hyaena is the one of the largest and the region is also a stronghold for the species. This study was developed for a better understanding of the ecology and behaviour of the species. It aims at providing a better understanding of density, food availability and sociability in hyaenas, at the interface of human land uses. The study was carried out mostly in Abdasa and parts of Lakhpat, Nakhatrana and Mandvi talukas in Kutch district of Gujarat state, for five years from January 2006 to January 2011. During the course of the study, the sudden influx of industrialization in the region changed the dynamics drastically, undermining traditional way of life and value system. This change in dynamics resulted in rapid change in land use patterns and illegal encroachment of prime wildlife areas, directly affecting the wildlife in the region. This study will directly contribute for the conservation of the species in the region and elsewhere and also determined the food habits and foraging patterns of the species in the region and its dependence on anthropogenic food sources.
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    Systematics and ecology of Berberidaceae in Uttarakhand state.
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2012) Banerjee, Kausik; Rawat, G.S.; Adhikari, B.S.
    In the present study Population estimation, Habitat loss, Ranging pattern, Food habits and other parameters were discussed.
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    Ecology of the Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) in Kachchh, Gujarat, with reference to resource selection in an agro-pastoral landscape.
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2013) Dutta, Sutirtha; Jhala, Y.V.; Rahmani, Asad R.
    The Great Indian Bustard is an obligate grassland bird endemic to this region with a global population of only about 300 birds. Present study is based on Species's status, resource selection, behavioual aspects and socio-ecological context to reformate viable bustard conservation strategies. The study was conducted during 2007-11 in SW Kachchh (Gujarat, India)
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    Feeding ecology and habitat needs of wolves (Canis lupus pallipes) in the Bhal area of Gujarat.
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2002) Jethva, Bharat D.; Jhala, Y.V.
    Present study was conducted in the Bhal region of Gujarat between 1996-2000 to study the feeding ecology and habitat needs of wolves. Food habits of wolves in the Bhal were studied by analyzing 1246 wolf scats from 5 packs. Standardization of scat analysis technique suggested that minimum of20 hair should be scanned per scat to get complete representation of mammalian prey species in that scat. Minimum number of scats that need to be analyzed per pack were different for different wolf packs (ranging from 165 scats needed for Velavadar National Park (VNP) pack to 40 scats from Mithapur pack and 180 scats for the wolves of entire Bhal) because of different diet diversity. Mammalian prey species dominated in the diet of wolves and 80.5% scats were found with only one prey species. Comparative account on feeding ecology provided in the present study by scat analysis and monitoring of radio-collared wolves suggests that wolves depends primarily on wild prey species (blackbuck being major prey) and predation on domestic livestock results in minimal economic loss to the local people. It emphasizes the importance of protected areas for the conservation of wolves. Use of radio-telemetry in the present study provided critical information on territorial behavior of wolves, their population density, size of home range and their relation with prey abundance, habitat use and the size and characteristics of core areas.
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    Interactions between forage, recruitment and activity patterns of Blackbuck (Antelope cervicapra)
    (Wildlife Institute of India, 2005) Priyadarshini, K.V.R.; Jhala, Y.V.
    In this study based on the seasonality of blackbuck calving in VNP and examined whether birth synchrony exists in this population. I assessed the seasonal patterns in forage vailability, quality, and body condition of blackbuck females, and examined if changes in forage availability, quality and body condition of females influenced calving seasonality. · Forage variables that were measured are, aboveground grass biomass, moisture, crude protein, ADF, lignins, and silica content in grasses. Some of the forage variables showed considerable seasonal changes, while some did not. Biomass was the highest in the cold and late wet seasons and lowest in the dry season. Crude protein content was the highest in wet season and the lowest in dry season. Blackbuck in VNP appear to have a cyclical calving pattern. The dry season calving peak was probably timed to the impending peak in forage quality, which would have benefited the calves when they weaned. The wet season calving peak occurred after a gap that corresponded to inter-calving interval in blackbuck. The females that calved in the wet season perhaps provided greater maternal nutritional investment into the young, which might have compensated for the lower quality forage that was available to the calves when they weaned. In this study based on the seasonality of blackbuck calving in VNP and examined whether birth synchrony exists in this population. I assessed the seasonal patterns in forage availability, quality, and body condition of blackbuck females, and examined if changes in forage availability, quality and body condition of females influenced calving seasonality.· Forage variables that were measured are, aboveground grass biomass, moisture, crude protein, ADF, lignins, and silica content in grasses. Some of the forage variables showed considerable seasonal changes, while some did not. Biomass was the highest in the cold and late wet seasons and lowest in the dry season. Crude protein content was the highest in wet season and the lowest in dry season. Blackbuck in VNP appear to have a cyclical calving pattern. The dry season calving peak was probably timed to the impending peak in forage quality, which would have benefited the calves when they weaned. The wet season calving peak occurred after a gap that corresponded to inter-calving interval in blackbuck. The females that calved in the wet season perhaps provided greater maternal nutritional investment into the young, which might have compensated for the lower quality forage that was available to the calves when they weaned.
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    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.
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    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.
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    Land, lion and locals: Understanding the distribution of lions and large carnivore human interactions in the Greater Gir Landscape of Saurashtra
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2025) Gogoi, Keshab; Jhala, Y.V.
    Apart from the Gir Protected Areas, Asiatic lions inhabit various coastal forest patches in Mangrol, Veraval, Kodinar, Mahua, and Rajula-Jafrabad areas. They also reside in Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) and within human-dominated landscapes across Amreli, Junagadh, and Bhavnagar districts (Mitiyala WLS), as well as along the Shetrunji river, Hipavadli, Palitana, and Shihor. However, the presence of extensive townships, linear infrastructure, and urban development has led to the fragmentation of lion populations. This fragmentation restricts the efficient exchange of individuals across the matrix of multi-use human-dominated landscapes. Historical corridors that once connected hills, forests, and lion habitats, including protected and un-classed forests, have largely succumbed to agriculture and human settlements. To address this pressing issue, it is crucial to identify and conserve existing habitat corridors that connect these lion patches. Failure to do so could exacerbate repropuctive isolation, leading to genetic bottlenecks and reduced genetic diversity within lion populations. To tackle this challenge effectively, I utilized Circuitscape theory to model connectivity among habitat patches in the Saurashtra landscape at a scale of 1km². Additionally, I employed least-cost pathway tools to determine the shortest pathways with the least total costs. My analysis revealed varying levels of permeability among different lion habitats. For instance, the permeability between the coastal forests of Veraval-Sutrapada and Rajula with Gir PA was found to be high. Similarly, coastal patches around Mahua taluka exhibited high permeability with forest patches around Palitana. However, the permeability between Girnar and Gir Forest was moderate, indicating the need for interventions to maintain suitable lion movement. In the eastern part of the Gir protected area, there is notable connectivity between Mitiyala Wildlife Sanctuary and Gir, as well as other habitat patches along the Shetrunjay river. By prioritizing the identification and conservation of these critical habitat corridors, we can enhance connectivity among lion populations, mitigate the risk of genetic isolation, and safeguard the long-term survival of Asiatic lions in the Saurashtra landscape