Showing 34 results for Subject: Ecological Diversity
Anirudh Vasava, Raju Vyas, Vishal Mistry, Pradhyuman Sindha,
Volume 3, Issue 4 (12-2021)
Abstract
The freshwater ecosystems in Gujarat State, in the western part of India, are important habitats for various freshwater turtles. Due to the lack of information on survival and the morality of the freshwater turtles, we present new information on threats to the the Indian Flap-shelled turtle Lissemys punctata (Bonnaterre) and species mass mortalities observed in some water bodies of the Gujarat State. Approximately 1071 specimens of L. punctata and three specimens of the Ganges Soft-shelled turtle Nilssonia gangetica (Cuvier), along with large numbers of many other species of reptiles and fishes were recorded dead within a span of five years from January 2016 to December 2020. In some of the cases, the circumstantial evidence suggests that entanglement and trapping in fish nets could have been the reason, but large number of the deaths remained mysterious. This mysterious sudden death of aquatic reptiles in various water bodies of the state is of serious concern. We also discuss the possible explanation for these mysterious deaths.
Shailendra Kumar Yadav, Babu Ram Lamichhane, Naresh Subedi, Hari Bhadra Acharya, David W. Macdonald, Amy Fitzmaurice,
Volume 3, Issue 4 (12-2021)
Abstract
The Rusty-spotted Cat Prionailurus rubiginosus is a ‘Near Threatened’ small felid native to South Asia. It was believed to occur only in India and Sri Lanka, but recent studies confirmed its presence in the Bardia National Park (BNP) and Shuklaphanta National Park, Nepal. Here we add evidence of the species in the Banke National Park (BaNP) in 2013 and Bardia National Park (BNP) in 2017. A pair of motion sensor cameras was installed either side of the game trail, forest road or stream bed, maximizing the possibility of tiger capture. Cameras were active for a minimum of 15 days in each sampling location. Camera trap photos were systematically sorted species- wise. A photograph of a single individual rusty-spotted cat was obtained in BaNP in the hot dry season (April–May) of 2013. The camera trap location in BaNP lies in dry- deciduous Sal Shoresa robusta forest at a distance of approximately 4.3 km from the nearest settlements. Additional photographs of rusty-spotted cat were obtained in BNP during the camera trap survey conducted in the dry season (January-April) of 2017. Importantly, the BNP detections confirm the presence of rusty-spotted cats in community forests outside protected areas. These findings reinforce mounting evidence of the value of observations of elusive species made as by-catch from camera-trapping studies focused on tigers or other large charismatic fauna, especially in the context of extending information on poorly known geographical ranges.
Shahla Barmooz, Atta Mouludi-Saleh, Soheil Eagderi, Asghar Jafari-Patkan,
Volume 3, Issue 4 (12-2021)
Abstract
In the present study, the length-weight relationships (LWRs) of 148 specimens representing four species, including 20 specimens of Pseudorhombus javanicus, 70 Plicofollis dussumieri, 28 Scarus persicus and 30 S. fuscopurpureus collected from the Persian Gulf were estimated. The LWRs equations were found as W= 0.67×L2.23 for P. javanicus, W= 0.05×L2.38 for P. dussumieri, W= 0.62×L2.15 for S. persicus and W= 0.27×L2.41 for S. fuscopurpureus. The values of b ranged from 2.15 (S. persicus) to 2.41 (S. fuscopurpureus), with the coefficient of determination (r2) greater than 0.85. The present study presents the LWRs parameters for P. javanicus from the Persian Gulf, Iran for the first time and provides useful information for marine ecologists, fishery managers, the conservation of marine fishes, and the online database of FishBase.
Ayan Mondal, Nilanjan Das, Sudipto Mandal,
Volume 4, Issue 1 (3-2022)
Abstract
The domestication of rice (Oryza sativa L.) has a rich history with its diversification from wild progenitors based on genetic differences. For human benefit, natural environments have been agriculturally modified. Concurrently, the biodiversity of natural or wild environments is greatly affected. Here, a comparison has been made between the biodiversity associated with wild-type rice and domesticated rice fields. Species were categorized into broad groups, i.e. Arthropoda (Arth), Other Invertebrate (OInv), Vertebrate (Vert), Algae (Alg), Fungi (Fng), Pteridophyta (Ptrd), and Higher Plant (HPlan). Physico-chemical factors including water depth (WD), water pH (pH), temperature (T), total hardness (TH), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), turbidity (Turb), and dissolved oxygen (DO) were measured directly in the field. Statistical analysis such as Student’s t-test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for equal distributions, tests for dominance and multiple indices including Simpson, Shannon, and Evenness were used to assess the biodiversity. Furthermore, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) were used for community comparisons, and SIMPER analysis was used to assess dissimilarity between taxa. The Artificial Neural Network model (ANN) was applied to assess the relative importance of factors governing the system. The present study showed the assemblage of species in the wild along with domestication. The vertebrate species number was well correlated with all the other biotic groups indicating a bottom-up controlling pattern in the rice field ecosystem. The ANN analysis showed that of the environmental factors examined, WD played the most important role followed by pH, T, DOC, and DO as the next most influential factors in distinguishing wild and domesticated rice field ecosystems. SIMPER analysis demonstrated that arthropods were a major contributor to dissimilarity. Collectively our results showed that the domestication of rice led to a decline in biodiversity.
Sujan Bohara, Rajeev Joshi, Bishow Poudel,
Volume 4, Issue 1 (3-2022)
Abstract
The Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), also known as the gavial or fish-eating crocodile, is a member of the family Gavialidae, is the most threatened of the two species of crocodilians found in Nepal. However, sufficient information on its habitat characteristics influencing population status, distribution, and threats to its existence are lacking. We studied the gharial population in the Narayani River that was carried out in the winter season during December 2019 to April of 2020. During our surveys, a total of 117 gharials were recorded, including an adult male, 56 adult females, 19 sub-adults, 32 immature and nine were unidentified. The gharial census recorded 57 gharials in Sikrauli-Amaltari (Chitwan branch) river section followed by 14 in Sikrauli-Amaltari (Nawalparasi branch), 16 in Amaltari-Baguwan and 30 in the Baguwan-Tribeni River sections. Of 117 individuals, the number of gharials sighted under the direct observation category was 112. The majority of respondents (129 of 140) during our questionnaire, considered gharial as an important species and displayed a favorable attitude towards gharial conservation. This study concludes that the population of gharial in the Narayani River has increased, as the present population is larger than recorded during previous surveys. Finally, regular surveys and monitoring of gharial in the area are recommended to investigate the status of gharial, the prevalence of any threats and disturbance along the habitat of this important species.
Krishnendu Mondal, Pooja Chourasia, Shilpi Gupta, Kalyanasundaram Sankar, Qamar Qureshi,
Volume 4, Issue 2 (6-2022)
Abstract
In order to understand the generalist nature of leopards and whether they have any degree of specialization, a study on resource selection of the Indian Leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) was carried out in a tropical dry deciduous forest in Sariska Tiger Reserve, Western India from January 2007 to May 2011 with the use of camera trapping under the mark-recapture framework. Camera trapping was done in an intensive study area (230 km2) encompassing 200 camera locations on 85–130 occasions each year. In total, 40 Indian leopards were identified in the study area, of which seven individual leopards were selected for resource selection analysis. Resource selection by Indian leopards was investigated at two scales. First, habitat selection was studied using compositional analysis comparing habitat availability in the geographic range of all seven Indian leopards and utilization by the individual animals within it. The results showed that habitat selection was non-random (P< 0.001). The leopard’s preference of habitat selection was in the following order: Boswellia forest> Anogeissus forest> Acacia forest> Butea forest> Zizyphus forest> Barren land> Scrubland. Second, resource selection was studied through a generalized linear mixed-effect model (GLMM) comparing the resource availability and utilization in each leopard’s range. The results showed that leopards preferred Anogeissus dominated forest followed by Zizyphus mixed forest and scrubland. In addition, leopards preferred habitat with a higher encounter rate of sambar (Rusa unicolor) and chital (Axis axis) and to a lesser degree of use, habitat with a higher livestock encounter rate. The results revealed that Indian leopards showed a significant degree of preference for moderate to thick vegetation cover and wild prey species rather than areas with open forest types and domestic prey species.
Kalyan Mukherjee,
Volume 4, Issue 3 (9-2022)
Abstract
This paper is reporting Evolvulus nummularius (L.) L. (Convolvulaceae) as a new larval host plant for Junonia orithya (Linnaeus) (Nymphalidae) and Syzygium samarangense (Blume) Merr. and L. M. Perry (Myrtaceae), as a new larval host plant for Virachola isocrates (Fabricius) (Lycaenidae) from Raibaghini, Bankura, West Bengal, India.
Azadeh Rezaei, Hoda Khaledi, Ahmad Savari, Babak Dostshenas, Hossein Mohammad Asgari, Rezvan Attari,
Volume 4, Issue 3 (9-2022)
Abstract
Macrobenthos play an important role in aquatic ecosystems because they mineralize, promote, and mix the oxygen flux into the sediment, which recycles the organic matter. Sampling of macrobenthos populations for this study was carried out in the supratidal, mid tidal, low tidal, and subtidal regions of the Dayyer, Ouli, and Kangan stations in the Persian Gulf during both cold and warm seasons. Water parameters such as the temperature, salinity, pH, turbidity, and electrical conductivity were assessed, and were indicative of moderate water quality. Representatives of a total of 31 taxonomic families were identified during both seasons, of which 59 were identified to genus and species. The highest average number of species was observed in the low tidal region of Kangan in the warm season at 16.6 ± 1.2 species, and the lowest number was observed in the supratidal regions of Ouli and Kangan in the cold season at 6.6±2 species. The species diversity, as calculated using the Shannon–Wiener Index (H’), showed a significant difference between sampling seasons and sampling stations, as well as pollution level at the beaches. The species diversity index in Ouli, Dayyer, and Kangan stations also differed between the seasons. In both seasons, the Kangan station showed the highest species diversity while the Dayyer station showed the lowest. These results reveal a rich species diversity of macrobenthos and good water quality at the three beaches in the Persian Gulf. Re-assessment of species diversity during an environmental impact assessment prior to urban development should be further conducted to ensure that the
community is not significantly affected and the ecosystem remains intact.
Bharat Sharma, Rajeev Joshi, Sambandam Sathyakumar,
Volume 4, Issue 3 (9-2022)
Abstract
Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus Shaw), one of four species of bear found on the Indian sub-continent, has a geographical distribution across Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka. It is listed as Vulnerable under the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species due to the rapid decline of the global population. This decrease in Melursus ursinus presents a need for comprehensive research to predict and understand the distribution pattern. The present study predicts the habitat suitability and distribution pattern of M. ursinus in the Chitwan National Park, Nepal and its buffer areas. The entire study area was divided into 4 X 4 km grids. Within each grid, 10-meter radius plots were sampled for bear signs and habitat evaluation occurred at every 250 meters along a transect (1–1.5 km). Data on direct and indirect signs (diggings, pugmarks, scrapes, and scats) and other habitat use parameters of M. ursinus were collected. The study was carried out during the dry season (January to March 2019) in almost 57 grids of the study area. The calculated habitat suitability for M. ursinus determined that 25% of the total area was suitable, and the remaining 75% was less suitable habitat. Drainage, followed by slope and elevation, were found to be the important variables affecting the distribution of species in the study area and this model was found to be 88.5% accurate in terms of explaining the dependent variables. The findings of the present research will be useful for park managers, researchers, and academicians in the formulation of an appropriate conservation plan for this charismatic mammal species.
Hoda Khaledi,
Volume 4, Issue 4 (12-2022)
Abstract
Benthic macrofauna has a pivotal role in the energy flow and material cycles of marine ecosystems. Abiotic and biotic factors determine the presence and distribution of benthic macrofauna. The present study investigated possible relationships between benthic macrofauna and natural abiotic factors along the coastal region of the Gulf of Oman, including the north of Chabahar Bay, Konarak, and Tis. This was achieved through survey of the supra-littoral and intertidal zones at low tide, during the cold and warm seasons. In each zone, nine transects were sampled at random using quadrats. Then, sediment characteristics and macrofaunal abundance were determined. Mollusks and echinoderms had the highest and the lowest species richness, respectively. The average values for the Shannon–Wiener index of the transects at Tis, north of Chabahar Bay, and Konarak were 3.22, 3.28, and 3.20 in the warm season, respectively, while the index reached 3.29, 3.47, and 3.17 in the winter. Regardless of seasonality, the level of biodiversity was at a maximum in the northern part of Chabahar Bay, and Konarak showed the minimum biodiversity. The results of multi-linear regression analysis proposed that non-biological factors are suitable proxies for predicting the levels of species density in the study regions (R2= 0.72, F(6,71) = 2.25, p< 0.05).
Pema Dendup, Ugyen Ugyen, Rinzin Dorji, Choki Lham,
Volume 5, Issue 1 (3-2023)
Abstract
The Himalayan red panda Ailurus fulgens F. Cuvier (family Ailuridae) is a carnivore that feeds mainly on bamboo leaves and shoots. Habitat loss, fragmentation, degradation, and poaching are some of the major threats to the red panda population. In Bhutan, Ailurus fulgens is reported from within and outside protected areas; however, only a few studies (distribution, threats, and habitat correlates) have been carried out, and much remains unknown about this species. Herein, we report information on the updated distribution, habitat use, and activity pattern from by-catch images of A. fulgens occurrence from both systematic camera traps set for a country-wide tiger Panthera tigris (Linnaeus) survey (2014–2015) and other surveys during 2015–2021 from different parks and forest divisions. Ailurus fulgens was found to occur in 19 out of 20 districts in Bhutan. Regarding protected areas, they were found in eight out of eleven protected areas (Wangchuck Centennial, Jigme Dorji, Jigme Singye, Phrumsengla National Park, Bumdeling and Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, Jigme Kheser Strict Nature Reserve, and Royal Botanical Park) and five out of eight biological corridors (connecting Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary to Jigme Singye National Park, Wangchuck Centennial National Park to Jigme Singye National Park, Phrumsengla National Park to Jigme Singye National Park, Phrumsengla National Park to Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, and Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary to Jomotsangkha Wildlife Sanctuary). The majority of A. fulgens were recorded in broadleaf forest followed by mixed conifer forest and were found to be distributed at elevations between 1,520–4,331 m (mean 3,131 m). Red pandas displayed higher use of habitats including cool broadleaf and mixed conifer forests. The activity pattern of A. fulgens showed that they were mostly diurnal, with peak activities taking place between 10:00–11:00 hours.
Tanuj Suryan, Gauraangi Raghav, Aniruddha Majumdar, Ravindra Mani Tripathi,
Volume 5, Issue 1 (3-2023)
Abstract
The big cats are of paramount importance for the sustenance of ecosystems and their interaction with humans is critical for their conservation. Coexistence and tolerance of the people involved will be crucial in the conservation of these cats in the growing human-dominated landscapes. The literature review on humans and big cats' conflicts and their coexistence indicates socio-economic factors are the main driving forces in shaping human attitudes toward these cats. In contrast to the mainstream view, conflict frequency does not directly affect the tolerance capacity of stakeholders; instead, coalitions of many factors like livelihood status, religious and cultural beliefs and government intervention are involved. The review provides an evaluation of the prevalent mitigation measures and other principles that govern human-big cats conflict and sheds light on the potential of coexistence as a pro-conservation strategy.
Raju Vyas, Vishal Mistry, Pranav Vaghasiya, Devendra Chauhan,
Volume 5, Issue 1 (3-2023)
Abstract
Railway lines, roadways, canals, and electricity cable networks, pose serious problems to wildlife, fragmenting habitats worldwide. These infrastructures are well-recognized as linear intrusions. Today it is a threat to wildlife, including the Mugger or Marsh Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris). The current study documents 15 crocodile-vehicle collisions (CVC) recorded in two years (2021 and 2022); 11 were on roads, and four were on railway tracks. Sex was determined for 11 individuals (five males, six females), and four unknown due to crushing). A total of 13 individuals were found dead at the various sites of collision, and two juvenile individuals were found injured, and one of them was treated successfully and returned to the wild. The high numbers (9) of CVCs occur in the Central Gujarat and follow 3 CVCs in Saurashtra, 2 CVC in the Kutch region, and one in north Gujarat. Mitigation measures would be required for the collision situationsin Gujarat are discussed. The literature survey shows totals of 75 CVCs were recorded within the last 18 years due to the state's road (n= 51, 68%) and railway (n= 24, 32%) networks, with the highest numbers of 56 CVCs observed in the Central Gujarat and lowest 2 CVC noted in north Gujarat, and no CVC was noted in south Gujarat. The high number of subadults and juvenile muggers victimized due to the CVC. The CVC site location in different regions of Gujarat state positively corresponds to crocodile populations. However, the Mugger crocodile (C. palustris) has been nationally protected under Indian Wildlife Act as Schedule I species, the IUCN criteria as ‘Vulnerable’, and the Appendix I of CITES, therefore conservation acts are essential. The CVC incidences were recorded widely in the entire species distribution range, from Iran, India, and Sri Lanka and can be classified as an emerging threat for mugger crocodiles.
Sherab Jamtsho, Sonam Phuntsho, Tshering Dorji, Lhendup Tharchen,
Volume 5, Issue 2 (6-2023)
Abstract
Pallas’s fish eagle, Haliaeetus leucoryphus (Pallas), is listed as endangered (En) in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species with a global population of 2,500 to 9,999 individuals. It is one of the least known species in Bhutan and assessing its foraging and nesting behavior will be one of the best conservation measures to monitor its status, ecology and conservation threats. Therefore, the nesting behavior of the eagle was observed for two months and chick feeding activities for sixteen weeks at 21 vantage points along a 75 km highway in the Punatshangchu River Valley, Bhutan. Fifty households residing 500 m from the river were interviewed using structured questionnaires to examine their perception towards the eagle. A total of 92% (n= 46) of respondents were aware of the presence of H. leucoryphus in their locality and 78% felt that it is a rare and endangered fishing eagle. However, 84% (n= 42) of respondents were not aware of nesting within their vicinity. The sexes of H. leucoryphus can be differentiated by their plumage and the fledgling was observed approximately one week after the end of the incubation period. It took 112 days for the fledging to leave the nest. The study revealed that the eagle preferred foraging between 7 and 9 AM in the morning and in the afternoon from 1 to 3 PM. The maximum foraging attempts occurred in a pool habitat 54% (n= 37) with a success rate of 78% (n= 54). The hunting and feeding of the fledgling was done by the male and prey delivery in the first two months consisted of 78.5% fish and 19.5% rodents. However, the feeding of fish declined by 35% in the next two months and its diet mainly consisted of small birds. Attacks on the fledgling were done by the crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela Latham) (48%), followed by the black eagle Ictinaetus malaiensis (Temminck) (33%).
Raju Vyas, Kartik Upadhyay,
Volume 5, Issue 2 (6-2023)
Abstract
The blackbuck Antilope cervicapra (Linnaeus) is a grassland antelope widely distributed in Pakistan, Nepal, and India. Here we present a review of the known horn anomaly in the species followed by two new examples: a male with an abnormal right 'curled' horn and a female with a horn at the Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar, Bhavnagar District, Gujarat State, India. We also provide a photographic record of a female with horns in captivity.
Maryam Rezaie, Fariba Ardeshir,
Volume 5, Issue 2 (6-2023)
Abstract
The two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch is one of the most important pests of agricultural crops worldwide, infesting a wide range of plants including some economically important crops. An investigation was carried out to study the life table parameters of five Iranian populations of T. urticae from Urima, Dashtnase, Faryman, Razkan and Tehran under laboratory conditions of 27 °C, 60% RH and 16 L: 8 D hours on Malus domestica Borkh leaves. There was a significant difference in the developmental time of T. urticae among tested populations. The total survival rate of T. urticae ranged from 76% to 81%. The adult longevities were significantly different. The adult longevities of the Faryman and Dashtnase populations were different from the Razkan population. Total fecundity of the Urima, Razkan and Tehran populations were higher than that observed for the other tested populations. The highest value of R0 was for the Urima and Dashtnase populations and the lowest was for the Faryman population. The r values of the Dashtnase (0.248 day-1) and Urima populations (0.200 day-1) were significantly higher in comparison to the Faryman population (0.124 day-1). The observed variation of the two-spotted spider mite collected from different localities showed that ecological factors such as geographical separation can influence the life table parameters of a phytophagous organism.
Manchiryala Ravikanth, Nagarajan Baskaran,
Volume 5, Issue 3 (10-2023)
Abstract
Gyps species declined rapidly between the late 1990s and early 2000s in southern Asia due to the use of diclofenac and are listed as Critically Endangered species. Long-term data on breeding ecology is essential to understand the population trends of these threatened species. This study assessed the breeding phenology and reproductive performance of two critically endangered Gyps species—Long-billed Gyps indicus (Scopoli) (LBV) and White-rumped Gyps bengalensis (Gmelin) (WRV) vultures—through long-term monitoring at breeding colonies in Kaghaznagar and Sironcha Forest Divisions in the Deccan Plateau of India between 2010 and 2021. LBV began their nest construction and copulation in the second week of October, and ended in the fourth week of November, while the WRV completed the same between the first and second weeks of October. LBV started egg-laying during the first week of December and ended in the first week of January, with a peak during the third week on 14 December, and the mean incubation period was 54±1 days. The WRV completed their egg-laying early, during the second and third weeks of October, and peaked during the second week on 14 October and had a relatively longer incubation of 61±1 days. For LBV, hatching peaked during the first week of February, and the mean nestling period was 103±2 days, while for WRV hatching peaked much earlier, during the third week of December and the mean nestling period was 105±1 days. Overall nest success, breeding success, and productivity estimated based on 159 breeding pairs of LBV observed over 12 years were lower compared to that of 124 breeding pairs of WRV observed over 6-year period. The decline in breeding success of LBV since 2019 is discussed in light of cattle poisoning reported in 2018, and the reopening of the Sirpur paper industry (Kaghaznagar) in 2017 that discharges its hazardous effluent into the Peddavagu stream. Therefore, the present study suggests long-term monitoring of breeding colonies including evaluation of the drivers of population and breeding, molecular and toxicological studies, and implementation of Vulture Safe Zones to save these critically endangered Gyps vultures from local extinction.
Ashish Subedi, Rajeev Joshi, Santosh Ghimire, Sewak Bhatta, Kripa Pokhrel,
Volume 5, Issue 3 (10-2023)
Abstract
The wild water buffalo-WWB (Bubalus arnee) holds a significant ecological role within Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal. Despite its importance, there has been a lack of comprehensive research addressing its distribution, habitat suitability, and interaction with domestic cattle. To address these gaps, this study was undertaken with the primary objectives of elucidating the population distribution of B. arnee within the reserve, mapping its habitat suitability, and evaluating the interplay between B. arnee and domestic cattle in the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve. The study area was subdivided into cells to gather data on B. arnee presence using various indicators such as sightings, dung, and footprints. Interaction between B. arnee and domestic cattle was assessed based on their spatial overlap within and outside a 500-meter radius from observation points. Employing the MaxEnt algorithm, distribution data of B. arnee and climatic variables including maximum and minimum temperatures, mean temperature, and rainfall were analyzed, while land use and cover maps were acquired from the Department of Survey for further analysis. Results revealed a concentration of B. arnee in the southwest region of the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, with a total of 405 individuals recorded, comprising 26 calves, 6 sub-adults, and 373 adults. The distribution pattern displayed a prevalence of small-sized herds (1–15 individuals) followed by medium-sized (15–29 individuals) and large-sized (29+ individuals) herds. Notably, B. arnee presence was most prominent in grassland areas (approximately 49% of observations), while forested regions accounted for the lowest presence (approximately 10% of observations). Interestingly, domestic buffalo were observed near B. arnee only in a single cell in the southwest section of the study area, while in the eastern cells of the reserve, overlaps between domestic cows and B. arnee occurred within a 500-meter radius. Our study indicated a suitability index greater than or equal to 0.5876, encompassing only about 14% of the reserve's total area. The jackknife test highlighted the influential environmental variables in the model, with annual precipitation contributing around 60.8% and the maximum temperature of the warmest month contributing about 39.20% in determining the distribution of B. arnee. The results underscored the significance of annual precipitation, with a regularized training gain of 0.50, compared to 0.32 for the maximum temperature of the warmest month. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the distribution, habitat suitability, and interaction dynamics of B. arnee within the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, offering valuable insights for informed wildlife management and conservation strategies.
Shraddha Kumari Krishnanagara, Rajesh Puttaswamaiah, Chetan Nag Krishnaswamy Sudarshan,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (10-2023)
Abstract
Much is known about bats from other parts of the globe regarding factors such as homogeneity and heterogeneity of habitats, prey abundance influencing the predator-prey relationship, etc. Sadly, minuscule literature on bat ecology is available for India. The current study investigated diet of the Kolar leaf-nosed bat Hipposideros hypophyllus, a Critically Endangered (CR) insectivorous bat in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, known only from a single cave where it shares its roosting site with congeneric species, namely Durgadas’s leaf-nosed bat H. durgadasi Khajuria and Schneider’s leaf-nosed bat H. speoris (Schneider), which are Vulnerable (VU) and Least Concerned (LC), respectively. Because Hipposideros hypophyllus is on the brink of extinction with no baseline ecological data available, the study analyzed the dietary compositions of the species. It relied on the morphological cataloguing of post-digested prey fragments in fecal pellets of the species and its congeners. Fresh fecal pellets of all three species of Hipposideros were analysed to understand morphological differences and prey composition at the only known site for H. hypophyllus, Hanumanahalli village, Kolar district, India, between November 2022 to February 2023. A total of 29,793 prey remnants were examined from all three species belonging to 11 insect orders (Blattidae, Coleoptera, Dictyoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Neuroptera, Odonata, Orthoptera, Thysanoptera). All three species of Hipposideros fed mainly on Coleoptera, followed by Diptera and Lepidoptera, showing a strong overlap in their prey composition. Our results suggest a long-term study across seasons and prey identification to species level which can provide a more detailed picture of the prey compositions leading to the conservation of Hipposideros hypophyllus, H. durgadasi, and H. speoris.
Anisha Parajuli, Chitra Rekha Basyal, Manoj Baral, Hari Adhikari, Shailendra Kumar Yadav, Janga Bdr. Basnet, Sachin Timilsina,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (10-2023)
Abstract
Human-wildlife conflicts (HWC) are common in locations where human settlements and wildlife ecosystems intersect. Conflict between people and wildlife is a significant conservation issue that is challenging to resolve. Therefore, this research aims to reveal the trends, status, and patterns of HWC in the Buffer Zone (BZ) of Chitwan National Park (CNP) from July 2012 to July 2021. Primary data were collected through household surveys, key informant interviews (KIIs), direct observation, and secondary data from park offices, the Buffer Zone User Committee (BZUC), and institutions through reports, documents, and booklets. Our study shows crop raiding was the most common and notable problem, followed by livestock depredation, with 4416 documented cases. According to the report, elephants are the biggest conflict-causing species, accounting for 37.86% of overall losses. HWC occurrences peaked in 2018, accounting for 23.41% of total incidents from July 2012 to July 2021. During the research period, victims of HWC received compensation totaling ~0.805 million US dollars (106641196.00 Nepalese rupees). Autumn is identified as the greatest season for HWC, owing to paddy harvesting, which draws animals. Most people believe that the population density of wildlife increases in the park due to positive human participation. By adopting a participatory management approach to conservation, the park has the potential to increase the number of locals who benefit from it significantly.
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