Theses and Dissertations
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Item Patterns of grazing, natural resources use by local community and their influence on wild ungulate (Ibex) habitats in Pin Valley National Park, Himachal Pradesh(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2023) Targe, Kalzang; Adhikari, B.S.; Salvador, LyngdohThis study conducted for a comprehensive study in response to the imperative need for a deeper understanding of the impact of pastoralism on wildlife. The research is centered on the high-altitude rangelands of the Trans-Himalaya, which have a grazing history spanning millennia. The primary goal of this research is to analyse an agropastoral system and investigate its conflicts with wildlife, particularly in relation to the Himalayan ibex. The study is summarized into the following objectives. - To study the changing aspects of local and migratory herders in Pin Valley, - To study grazing patterns of livestock and wild ungulate (Ibex) in Pin Valley, and - To document the natural resource dependency of local agropastoral community in Pin Valley. The study on agropastoral practices and their influence on the wild ungulate ibex in the Trans-Himalaya area employed a variety of methodologies and data analysis techniques. The primary data collection took place between September, 2017 and December, 2019. The research conducted for social aspects in all thirteen villages but only villages dependent on National Park were considered for the analysis. Semi- structured interviews in thirteen villages ensuring representation from different strata, age groups, and genders. Additionally, two focused group discussions were organized in the villages that related with migratory herders with the aim of raising awareness about overstocking and over-grazing's impact on range land resources. To analyse changes in the traditional agropastoral system, data were collected for both the past (pre-2000, before green pea commercialization) and present (post-2017) periods. Informal discussions with local community members were held to understand trends in livestock numbers and composition. Data on agriculture practices were also recorded. The employed various methods to assess Ibex and livestock feeding habits, including direct and indirect observations, bite counts, and microhistological techniques. The findings of this thesis hold practical relevance for land use planning and conservation management strategies. The research findings contribute valuable insights into the interactions between agropastoral practices and wild ungulate Ibex in the Trans-Himalaya area, providing a foundation for guiding conservation and management implementations strategies in the regionItem Effect of Grazing on the Community Structure and Functional Diversity of Grazing Lawns in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Malagi, Aaroha; Adhikari, B.S.; Page, Navendu V.; Ramesh, K.Understanding the effects of grazing (by both livestock and wild ungulates) on grasslands is paramount to come up with more robust managerial actions to conserve, and increase the ecosystem function of these valuable ecosystems. In the current study, we investigate the effects of grazing on a highly productive, mesic grassland ecosystem, viz. grazing lawn in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu, India. We examined how species richness and composition of a grassland patch change across a grazing gradient by carrying out plot-based vegetation sampling in the grazing lawns of Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve. We also looked at how trait composition and functional diversity changed across the grazing gradient, to better understand the plant functional response and resilience of the grazing lawn complex. We used a Linear Mixed Effect Model (LMM) to investigate the impact of grazing intensity on species richness, and a Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) to look at the differences in species composition between different grazing treatments. Functional composition and diversity were measured using Lavorel and Villeger’s index in the ‘FD’ package of R (4.0.2). We found that grazing lawns were minimally affected by grazing intensity in terms of species richness and trait composition, but showed a significant change in species composition and functional diversity across the grazing gradient.Item Pastoral Practice and Herders Attitude Towards Wildlife in South Gobi Mongolia(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2011) Mijiddorj, Tserennadmid; Rawat, G.S.; Badola, RuchiThis study deals with analysis of traditional and current pastoral practices in south Gobi areas of Mongolia with emphasis on herders' attitude towards wildlife. The study was conducted during December 2010 to May 2011. The major objectives of the study were to study: (i) Nomadic herders' pastoral practices and drives of changes. (ii) Influence of pastoral practices on human-wildlife conflict and (iii) nomadic herders' attitude towards wildlife. I used questionnaire surveys in two villages in Gurvantes soum to find out the past and current patters of herding, herders' attitudes and major drivers of changes. The villages were selected based on the fact that in one village (Tost), Snow Leopard Conservation initiatives are going along with livestock insurance and research programs, while in another village (Baysah) no conservation initiatives have been undertaken. However the range use patterns by the local herders and the level of conflict with wild carnivores is the same in both areas. A total of 144 individuals from different age, gender and educational background were interviewed, 74 in 8 aysah (nonconservation) area and 70 from Tost area where snow leopard conservation activities are taking place. The data were analyzed using SPSS Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) PC version 16.0 for . Generalized linear model GLM linear and negative binomial with log linear model. The study reveals that the pastoral practices among the herders in the study area is largely influenced by land tenure, mining disorder, school kids' admissions and development factors. Assessment of pastoral practice changes revealed that 84.7% herders had highly altered their seasonal movement pattern which can affect pasture degradation and regeneration of grass growth. Owing to changes in pastoral practices, the herders have become more prone to lose more livestock to carnivores. Using GLM models it is proven (Wald chi-square =4.551 df=11 P=O.033) that recent faulty pastoral practice change (.e.g, nuclear family, vulnerable for natural disaster and herding techniques) explains livestock losses due to the carnivores. It requires implementing livestock husbandry management in better ways. Gurvantes soum's two different villages offered ideal condition to compare carnivore conservation efficiency and way to forward to mitigate such human-wildlife conflict. Study indicated that in generally herders positive perception towards ungulates whereas carnivores Tost (conservation area) area herders' tolerance level was higher than those of baysah area (non-conservation area) (t=5.23, df=89. PItem Interaction of Kiang (Equus kiang) with Livestok in Hanley Valley of Chanthang Wildlife Sanctuary, Ladakh(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2009) Hussain, Asif; Qureshi, Qamar; Rawat, G.S.Hanley Valley «320 41' 27" N 790 04' 3.5") in Eastern Ladakh forms the western most extension of Tibetan plateau and has been recognized as an important biogeographic province in India (Indian Trans-Himalaya). This region harbors a rich array of wild and domestic ungulates. The area is also home to nomadic Changpa and Tibetan refugee herders. The political, social and ecological transformations have altered previous, well-established links between the pastoral population and their rangeland environment. Over the years, with growing integration of the local economy of Ladakh and with better development of cash markets, the pastoral community is fast losing its tolerance towards the kiang and it is increasingly seen as a competitor to livestock. The purpose of this study was to document this intensifying conflict between pastoralism and Kiang conservation, using resource selection functions. Data on habitat variables were collected on 4 fixed trails of varying length (3- 7 km) for kiang (with and without livestock presence) and livestock for use availability analysis. For food habits, micro-histological method in case of kiang and bite count method in case of livestock was used. Data on activity pattern of kiang was collected to examine change in response to livestock presence. Density and encounter rates were estimated using vehicle transects (n=5) of varying lengths (5-56 km). Livestock were followed (focal animal sampling) from dawn to dusk to estimate amount of forage removed. Availability of different habitat variables was estimated using ArcGIS 9.2. Total of 104 kiang groups before arrival of livestock and 187 kiang groups after livestock arrival to the area were recorded. Habitat use by kiang and livestock was significantly different (8 = 0.00016, P < 0.05). Habitat use by kiang before and after livestock arrival was found to be significantly different (8 = 0.013, P <0.05). Groups of kiang were observed (n=14) for time budget evaluation, 7 prior (640 min) and 7 (820 min) after livestock had come to the area. Activity pattern of kiang before and after livestock arrival was found to be significantly different (8 = 0.04, P <0.05). Food preference for kiang before and after livestock arrival was not found to be significantly different. Food preference for kiang and livestock was significantly different (6= 0.0000007, P < 0.05). Use-availability analysis suggested differential selection for food plants. Schoener's niche overlap for food items found moderate overlap between kiang, sheep and goat «60%) and high overlap between kiang and horse (>80%). Forage removed (kg) by sheep, goat and horse were 2.33 kg, 2.25 and 8.19 kg respectively. Total density and encounter rate for Hanley valley was 0.07 kiang/km2 and 0.45 kiang per km respectively. The difference in habitat use translated into Kiang using higher elevations while livestock used middle elevations more than available. Kiang used steep slopes whereas livestock used steep as well as gentle slopes more than available. Kiang used North-West aspect more than available. Kiang used vegetation communities dominated by graminoides while sheep-goat used communities dominated by shrub and forbs. Density and encounter estimates did not show considerable increase in kiang population compared to previous studies. Hence, the perception of people of kiang overstocking in the study area appears to be misplaced. Detailed perception studies should be carried out in the whole of Changthang and herder-centered participatory programmes need to be carried out on a large scale to ensure long term conservation of kiang in eastern Ladakh.Item Interactions Between Livestock and Ladakh Urial (Ovis vignei vigei)(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2003) Raghavan, Bindu; Bhatnagar, Yashveer; Qureshi, QamarThe Ladakh urial is a highly endangered and endemic subspecies of wild sheep. Past hunting pressures had decimated the population to extremely low levels. Recent estimates (1,000-1,500 individuals) suggest a marginal increase in numbers. The Ladakh urial occupies plateaus and gentle slopes along the lowermost elevations in the Indus and Shyok Valleys, areas that are easily accessible and heavily used by humans. This is also the most heavily populated area and due to geopolitical reasons, receives the highest developmental benefits. Due to such changes the Ladakh urial may be highly vulnerable to population decimation. Pastoralism is a way of life in bulk of the Ladakh Trans-Himalaya; a region Where wildlife including endangered species such as the urial and snow leopard are not restricted inside wildlife Protected Areas alone. Such species thus share their habitat with the over 3,00,000 livestock that occurs in the region. Recent studies from the Trans Himalaya have indicated competition with livestock as an important reason for the decimation of wild herbivore populations. This study thus aimed to investigate the interactions between the endangered Ladakh urial and livestock during the winter of 2002-03, a season of resource scarcity. We investigated the habitat selection of the Ladakh urial and its separation with livestock at the level of space, habitat variables and diet, to gather evidence for competition. Four trails were walked 10 times each to obtain information on the habitat usage by the urial and livestock. Further information on livestock use was gathered from the herders using semi-structured interviews and resource maps. Diet of both urial and livestock was investigated by examining recently foraged sites using 10, 1 mX1 m quadrats at each such site. All sightings from the trails were plotted on a 1 :50,000 501 Toposheet. A 500mX500m grid was overlaid on these locations to obtain the grids used exclusively by the urial and livestock and by both together to calculate spatial separation. Both, Ladakh urial and livestock primarily used the mid elevation zones (4,121- 4,400m) with gentle to moderate inclination (<30°). However, along the elevation gradient there was some separation in that the urial used the uppermost elevations to a substantial degree (44%) even during the cold winter season, which livestock avoided.The findings of this study thus show that the habitat and diet requirements of Ladakh urial and livestock sharing the range were similar during the winter season. The relatively high use of the sparsely vegetated uppermost elevations of the range by urial, where the cost of foraging is likely to be higher than the mid-elevations suggests that the urial were excluded from these areas by the livestock. We also reason that the relatively poor young:100 adult female ratio (31:100) may be a manifestation of the stress provided by such competition with livestock and survival in sub-optimal habitats.