Theses and Dissertations
Permanent URI for this communityhttp://192.168.202.180:4000/handle/123456789/1
Browse
5 results
Search Results
Item Movement Ecology of Swamp Deer (Rucervus Duvaucelii) along the upper Gangetic Plains of North India.(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Paul, Shrutarshi; Mondol, SamratThe study area for this work covers the upper Gangetic plains of north India, mainly along river Ganga, between Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserve and Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary. However, for comprehensive assessment of distribution in the states of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, surveys were also conducted along river Sharda.Item Assessment of Swamp Deer Habitat in Pilibhit Habitat Block Uttar Pradesh(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Singh, Lovepreet; Mondol, Samrat; Pandav, BivashThe study was carried out in terai region of Uttar Pradesh covering the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) and those areas of North Kheri Forest Division (NKFD) which fall between Pilibhit TR and Kishanpur Wildlife SanctuaryItem Evaluation of Population Estimation Sampling Techniques and Assessment of Genetic Diversity of Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) Population in Dudhwa National Pa: Population in dudhwa national park, uttar pradesh, India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2013) Srivastava, Vibhav; Goyal, S.P.; Qureshi, QamarThe ideology of wildlife conservation emerged with the realization that the wildlife numbers are on a decline in the natural habitats. Since, due to humane limitations we cannot ascertain the exact numbers of a individuals very accurately, therefore, the basic requirement for population estimation arises. Greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) , already being declared a globally threatened species, demands much attention towards their surviving numbers in wild. Moreover, with the constant rise in the unethical and illegal human activities, the need to regularly monitor their population is realized. To suffice this requirement, population estimation is largely done in a crude way i.e. by labor intensive block count method in which the probability of missing individuals in dense vegetation is high. Advanced population estimation techniques such as capture-recapture using photographic or DNA fingerprint based individual identification, show promising results within the framework of resources in comparison to use of footprint and dung count methods.The current study was conducted in Rhino Reintroduction Area (RRA) of 27 km2 located in Dudhwa National Park. The first objective was to evaluate four population estimation techniques - non-invasive faecal DNA based capture mark recapture (CMR), photographic CMR, dung count and footprint analysis, for their validity in estimation of rhinoceros population with respect to accuracy and precision. The following techniques have been selected out of the others because of their reasonable accuracy and precision obtained when applied to other megaherbivore (including other species of rhinoceros or elephant) population estimation. I selected Dudhwa National Park (DNP) where the reintroduced rhinoceros population is surviving since 1984-85, with a known population size (32 individuals) so as to compare our estimates. For non-invasive faecal DNA CMR technique 140 fresh dung samples were collected and out of them 27 unique genotypes were identified by microsatellite analysis. The capture history of these unique genotypes was then analyzed in MARK to arrive at a population estimate. In photographic CMR, 4 remotely triggered camera trap units were deployed in 6 sessions having 7 occasions in each session. For dung count, random elephant transects of length varying from 1 km to 3.2 km were run and dung piles were counted on either sides. The data on dung density was analyzed in DISTANCE. For dung decay rate estimation 20 fresh dung piles were marked in each of the four habitat types and monitored for decay. The defecation rate was estimated by observing captive rhinoceros. In case of footprint technique, a foot ruler was kept besides each rhinoceros footprint before capturing its photograph. Twenty four (length, angle and area) parameters were extracted from the images using Sigma SCANPRO. The resulting variables were subjected to principle component analysis (PCA) to check for the corresponding variance values in differentiating individual footprints. It was found that the· non-invasive faecal DNA based population estimation and photographic capture mark recapture were the better ones as compared to the other two. However, the data analysis for the dung count and footprint analysis techniques is still under consideration and does not form part of this thesis. These two techniques require further logical modification in study design and statistical analysis to achieve at a reliable estimate. Between the former two, non-invasive faecal DNA based population estimation technique estimated population size (35.10 ± 5.01) close to the known population size of 32. Photographic capture recapture estimated the population size as (25.98 ± 4.91) which was comparatively less accurate than non-invasive faecal DNA CMR. Knowledge of the genetic status of a confined and isolated population is always beneficial to evaluate their well-being and to avoid any future threat such as that of inbreeding depression. Therefore, second objective of the study> was to describe genetic structure of this isolated and reintroduced population. With 27 identified unique genotypes and 10 rhinoceros specific micro satellite markers the genetic variability in this population was examined. It was found that the mean observed heterozygosity level was 0.353 while mean expected heterozygosity level was 0.483. The effective number of alleles per loci was 2.069. When compared to the genetic diversity of the ancestral population in India and Nepal, evaluated in previously published studies, the following results indicated that this population carries lower genetic variability than ancestral populations. The inbreeding test revealed that the population shows signs of inbreeding (Fls = 0.39) and which are likely to exaggerate in future as it is more or less closed and non-randomly interbreeding. Focusing on the conservation needs from management viewpoint we suggest that it is necessary to 'bring variability in the genetic structure to avoid future dire consequences of inbreeding depression. This can be achieved either by translocating new individuals, preferably males, from other Indian sub-populations of Assam or West Bengal since they have better genetic diversity than the-rhinoceros in Nepal.Item Seasonal Habitat use of and Resource Partitioning between Two Sympatric Crocodilian Populations (Gavialis gangeticus and Crocodylus palustris) in Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, I(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2011) Choudhary, Shikha; Choudhury, B.C.; Gopi, G.V.Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) and Mugger (Crocodylus palustris) are sympatric in their distribution range in some of the Northern River system of Indian sub-continent. Katerniaghat Wildlife sanctuary along Indo-Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh harbours the second largest breeding population of critically endangered Gharial, after National Chambal Sanctuary. Several studies have been carried out on the ecological aspects of Gharial and Mugger separately but very few studies exist on the sympatric populations and the mechanisms favouring the coexistence of the species. This study has tried to fill this gap by investigating how the resources are shared (Basking sites and Nesting sites) and what are the key requirements that lead to the selection of a particular basking and nesting site. Temporal separation across species and size classes and preference for nearest neighbor has been established. Relative abundance in terms of encounter rate across season, river segments and a gradient of disturbances were studied. Other aspects that have been looked into detail in this study are the impact of tourism and illegal fishing on the flight distance of Gharial and Mugger. Data were collected from December 2010 to May 2011, covering two seasons (late winter and early summer). Entire study was carried out using a non-mechanised boat. Habitat parameters for every sighted basking crocodile were recorded for habitat use and for determining the habitat availability variables at every 100 meters on both banks and on islands were recorded. Nests were located by following the spoor marks of crocodiles. Gharial and Mugger were divided into three size classes (SCI - 3m). Once in a month day survey was carried out to estimate the relative abundance and on every alternate Monday temperature and number of basking individual were recorded at every hour from 0600 to 1800 hrs from a watch tower. Flight distance of crocodiles was recorded from a non-mechanised boat and a mechanised boat by accompanying the tourists. Relative abundance as mean encounter rate (#/20km) was maximum for Gharial juveniles followed by Gharial adult. Mugger juvenile had lowest mean encounter rate (#/20km). Encounter rate was not uniform for the river and it varies across season also. Maximum sightings took place in river segments with sand bars irrespective of moderate to high disturbance. With increase in mean ambient temperature encounter rate declined. Basking sites were selected during summer by Gharial based on depth gradient, current land usage, island, distance to water, slope, platform height and soil moisture while selection of basking site by mugger was based on current land usage, distance to water and depth gradient. In winter, Gharial selected sites based on slope, platform height, soil moisture, current land usage, distance to water and place while Mugger looked for current land usage, distance to water, islands and banks. In winter, there was no temporal segregation between different size classes of Gharial and Mugger while in summer there was a temporal segregation between and within size classes 0f Gharial and Mugger. Choice of slope, height, soil moisture, places and substrata for basking sites were different for Gharial and Mugger. Gharial preferred very gentle slope while Mugger preferred a slight slope. Gharials do not prefer elevated basking platforms whereas Mugger was found basking on elevated platform. GhariaI preferred moist areas for basking and Mugger basked even on little dry substrate. Gharial was seen mostly on Islands and Muggers on banks. Among basking substrate Gharial preferred sand & sand+silt, whereas Mugger was found on a variety of substrata. Mugger moved to side streams (Nalla) in summer while Gharial kept on preferring island for basking. For nest sites there is a significant difference in the use of slope, height, distance to water, places and substrate by Gharial and Mugger. Flight distance for crocodiles was more when there was a disturbance from non-mechanised boat than from a mechanised boat. Mechanised boat is mainly used for tourism purpose while non-mechanised boat for illegal fishing by local people. Between species Mugger was more tolerant to human presence than Gharial. Among hatchlings and adults of Gharial, hatchling showed a late response to disturbance while adults used to be the first one to slide in to water. Girwa river of Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the very few rivers of India where Gharials re breeding in wild. Though the river stretch is about 20 - 21 km only a small stretch of 5-8 km harbours the maximum number of Gharial and Mugger. This small section is used for both basking and nesting and it is very crucial to protect this small stretch in order to save a critically endangered species from the brink of extinction.Item Proximate Determinants of Ungulate Distribution and Abundance in Pilibhit Forest Division, Utter Pradesh, India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2011) Bista, Ashish; Ramesh, K.; Pandav, BivashThis study was conducted in Pilibhit Forest Division, Uttar Pradesh from December 2010-April 2011 to quantify the current status of ungulates, as a measure of tiger conservation efforts. The study focused on understanding the distribution and population size of ungulates in PiIibhit, and assessed the contribution of these species in tiger's diet. The study also looked into species-habitat association, at the level of proportion of habitat availability and grassland over space. Sampling framework followed Stratified Random Design, with spatially balanced approach. Estimates of distribution and population density were obtained following Single Season Occupancy Model and Distance sampling method. A total of 41 grids (5.20 sq km each) were sampled following the above framework. These grids were sampled based on 41 line transects ranging from 1 to 3 km long, which accounted for 288 km sampling efforts, including 3-5 temporal replicates for each transects. This study was carried out in four ranges (Mahof, Mala, Barahi & Haripur) of Pilibhit Forest Division with spatial coverage of ca. 420 sq km. Occupancy pattern of ungulates were in the order of chital (100%), hogdeer (17%), wild pig (93%), nilgai (81 %), swamp deer (11 %) and sambar (3%). Global density estimate of ungulates for Pilibhit Forest Division was 40.5 animals/sq km. The most abundant ungulate was chital (22.4/sq km), followed by nilgai (12/sq km) and hog deer (7.2/sq km). It was found that there were higher densities in edge habitats and that there was a particular association for grassland, signifying the importance grassland patches in the ungulate densities in terai habitats. Scat analysis (n= 24) revealed that hogdeer and wildpig, though occur in low densities, appeared to be the preferred prey, while chital contributed in tigers diet substantially in proportion to availability in the area. With given prey availability, forests of Pilibhit has the potential to support tiger population of 8.1 animal 100 sq km. The study highlights the significance of managed forests in terms of supporting considerable population of ungulates relevant for tiger conservation efforts. The study also supports the previous claim that grasslands support higher abundance of ungulate prey, and that in the absence of large sized prey, tiger switches to medium sized prey. The available information generated for the first time in Pilibhit Forest Division at large spatial scale provides a useful baseline for managers.