Showing 15 results for Kumar
Aklesh Kumar Sah, Bivek Gautam, Santosh Bhattarai,
Volume 2, Issue 2 (6-2020)
Abstract
The distribution of Cantor's Kukri Snake Oligodon cyclurus has been poorly documented in its geographic range from Cambodia, China, Bangladesh, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam. We provide confirmed locality records with notes on some aspects of natural history information for O. cyclurus. Although the species is designated as Least Concern according to IUCN Red list of Threatened Species, the species is facing multiple threats like roadkills and vindictive killing. We suggest a more detailed inventory to better understand its biology, distribution patterns, population status and molecular identity to aid in a more comprehensive global conservation action.
Pooja R Patel, Krupal J Patel, Kauresh D Vachhrajani, Jigneshkumar N Trivedi,
Volume 2, Issue 4 (12-2020)
Abstract
The present study deals with gastropod shell utilization of the hermit crab, Clibanarius rhabdodactylus Forest on the rocky intertidal zone of the Saurashtra coast, Gujarat State, India. Collection of the specimens was carried out using a hand-picking method in June and December 2018 during low tide. The hermit crab weight (HW) and shield length (SL) were measured and sorted in different class intervals of 1 mm each. Gastropod shells were identified and morphological variables such as shell dry weight (DW), shell length (SHL), shell volume (SHV), shell aperture length (SAL), and shell aperture width (SAW) were recorded. A total of 2000 individuals of C. rhabdodactylus were collected, occupying 29 different species of gastropod shells. Males and non-ovigerous females occupied a greater number of gastropod shell species (25 and 27 respectively) as compared to ovigerous females (23 species). Males and ovigerous females preferred larger shells as compared to non-ovigerous females. Cerithium caeruleum (Sowerby II) (67.1%) was the highest occupied gastropod shell species followed by Lunella coronata (Gmelin), Tenguella granulata (Duclos) and Turbo bruneus (Roding). Regression analysis showed a moderate relationship between the different morphological variables of hermit crabs and gastropod shells; the highest values of coefficient of determination were obtained between hermit wet weight and gastropod shell dry weight. The values of relationship between different morphological variables of hermit crabs and gastropod shells suggest that shell architecture has a significant impact on shell utilization patterns of C. rhabdodactylus.
Jash Hang Limbu, Suren Subba, Jeevan Kumar Gurung, Jawan Tumbahangfe, Bharat Raj Subba,
Volume 3, Issue 1 (3-2021)
Abstract
We assessed the correlation of fish assemblages with habitat and environmental variables temporally from July and October, 2019 and January and April, 2020 across 5 study sites in the Phewa Khola stream of Mangsebung Rural Municipality, Ilam, Nepal. We sampled 3571 fish representing 13 species, belonging to 3 orders, 4 families, and 9 genera. An analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) indicated that there is a significant difference between the fish assemblage structure in space (R= 0.833, P= 0.001) but not in time (R= -0.148, P= 0.985). Our habitat study showed that glides, runs, pools and deep pools are the primary habitats contributing to the maximum diversity in the Phewa Khola stream. The canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) affirmed that variables such as pH, water temperature, water velocity, total hardness and dissolved oxygen play an important role in shaping fish species distribution. Results from the similarity percentage analysis (SIMPER) hinted that, 67.08% similarity was found between the months and the major contributing species were Schistura multifasciata (20.61%), Devario aequipinnatus (16.48%), Schistura rupecula (15.65%), Garra annandalei (15.36%), Schistura horai (7.74%), Schistura scaturigina (5.91%), Schistura savona (5.74%), Schizothorax plagiostomus (4.37%), Channa punctata (3.9%), Puntius terio (1.9%) and Neolissochilus hexagonolepis (1.39%). On the contrary, a 76.23% similarity was found between the sites and the major contributing species were Schistura multifasciata (21%), Devario aequipinnatus (16.8%), Garra annandalei (15.89%), Schistura rupecula (15.38%), Schistura horai (7.7%), Schistura scaturigina (5.66%), Schistura savona (4.9%), Schizothorax plagiostomus (4.4%), Channa punctata (3.97%), Puntius terio (2%) and Neolissochilus hexagonolepis (1.43%). Ongoing road development, micro-hydropower generation, the use of poisonous herbicides, illegal electro-fishing, deforestation and water diversion are all found to be major threats to the present fish species of the Phewa Khola stream.
Ashish Kumar Jangid, Ravi Kumar Sharma, Dr. Abhijit Das,
Volume 3, Issue 4 (12-2021)
Abstract
We present the first-ever annotated checklist on snakes of the proposed Jawai Community Conservation Reserve of southwestern Rajasthan, India. We opportunistically encountered 26 species of snakes from the study area during the years 2015 to 2017. We have also collated a distribution synopsis for all the observed species with respect to the state of Rajasthan.
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.
Bhushan Kumar Sharma, Sumita Sharma,
Volume 3, Issue 4 (12-2021)
Abstract
Our assessment of Rotifera biodiversity of the floodplain wetlands of the Majuli River Island of the Brahmaputra basin in Assam state, northeast India (NEI) reveals a total of 175 species belonging to 39 genera and 19 families. The rich and diverse assemblages of the phylum categorize the Majuli as one of the megadiverse Rotifera region of India. The observed biodiversity of Rotifera is hypothesized to be associated with the habitat diversity of the Majuli wetlands, including its varied aquatic macrophytes, the location of the study areas in the ‘Indo-Burmese biodiversity hotspot’ and the ‘Rotiferologist effect’, and merits conservation interest in light of the extinction threat to this alluvial floodplain. We record one rotifer species as new to the Indian sub-region and NEI, and 29 species as new records from the Majuli. We also consider various newly recorded species to be of global and regional biogeography interest, with some hypothesized to have a biogeographic role linked to the ‘Assam gateway’. High richness of Lecane > Lepadella ≥ Trichocerca, the richness of Testudinella, and the paucity of Brachionus species are noteworthy features. Reports of 175 species from floodplain lakes and 148 species from small wetlands indicate biodiverse rotifer assemblages in these two categories of wetlands and present a useful contribution to Rotifera ecological diversity of the Indian and the tropical floodplains.
Mithila Bhat, Krupal J. Patel, Jigneshkumar N. Trivedi,
Volume 3, Issue 4 (12-2021)
Abstract
Metopograpsus cannicci Innocenti, Schubart and Fratini, 2020 is distributed in the Red Sea, Iran, along the East African coast, Seychelles, Madagascar, and Mauritius. The present paper reports this species for the first time from India indicating its eastward extension.
Subhajit Roy, Aniruddha Singhamahapatra, Amar Kumar Nayak,
Volume 4, Issue 2 (6-2022)
Abstract
The diversity and heterogeneity of Odonata was studied at 10 sites located across almost all parts of the Bankura district (except northwestern and northeastern boundary regions), in the state of West Bengal, India from July 2015 to June 2022. Analysis of variance and rarefaction was performed to study the β-diversity and compare the taxa abundance at the sites to understand the heterogeneity of Odonata observations. The seasonality of the species and their site-wise distribution were also studied. A total of 74 odonate species belonging to eight families, represented by 46 genera were recorded. The study adds 17 species to the known Odonata fauna of Bankura district, including the addition of Microgomphus torquatus (Selys) to the fauna of West Bengal. It also confirms the addition of Ictinogomphus kishori to the known Odonata fauna of West Bengal, which has been confused with and misidentified as Ictinogomphus distinctus for long, the latter being described from the state of West Bengal and is also found in the region adjacent to the study area. Most recorded odonates belonged to the family Libellulidae (29 species), followed by Coenagrionidae (19 species), Gomphidae (nine species), Platycnenididae (six species), Aeshnidae (five species), Macromiidae (three species), Lestidae (two species), and Chlorocyphidae (one species). Species diversity and abundance assessments are essential for conserving the habitats of the restricted and endemic (to peninsular India) species.
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.
Vasantkumar M. Rabari, Arzoo Malik, Nishith Dharaiya,
Volume 4, Issue 3 (9-2022)
Abstract
Knowledge of the occurrence and distribution of terrestrial mammals is imperative in the design of conservation strategies in protected areas. There is a lack of information available on the occurrence and abundance of wild mammals in the Balaram-Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat of India. Thus, the present study was carried out to understand the relative abundance of the wild mammalian species in the Balaram-Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary via camera trapping. We used day/night camera traps to record the presence of diurnal and nocturnal mammals in the Balaram-Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary. We plotted 11 cameras near water bodies for 20 days from 6 January 2020 to 26 January 2020. A total of 268 photographs of wild animals were captured. Among the photos 13 wild mammalian species were identified, including the Rusty-spotted cat Prionailurus rubiginosus (I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire), which is reported for the first time in this area. The Relative Abundance Index (RAI) of each identified species was calculated to understand the species richness, providing baseline data for species occupancy.
Adarsha Mukherjee, Arjun Kumar, Supriya Mahato, Supriya Samanta,
Volume 5, Issue 1 (3-2023)
Abstract
To understand and update the account of the butterfly diversity in Ajodhya Hills, Purulia, West Bengal, India a study was carried out in two consecutive years from January 2020 to December 2021 with photographic documentation. A total of 143 butterflies from 6 families, 19 subfamilies and 95 genera were recorded. The highest richness was found in the families Nymphalidae with 45 species and Lycaenidae with 44 species, whereas Riodinidae had the lowest richness with only 1 species recorded. This study also reports the addition of one species, Black Angle Tapena thwaitesi (Moore), to the state butterfly fauna of West Bengal, as well as the addition of one species, Common Orange Awlet Burara jaina (Moore), to the butterfly fauna of southern West Bengal. In addition, three species, Plain Banded Awl Hasora vitta (Butler), Malabar Spotted Flat Celaenorrhinus ambareesa (Moore) and Common Acacia Blue Surendra quercetorum (Moore), were recorded with the first photographic documentation from southern West Bengal representing the rediscovery of Malabar Spotted Flat after 124 years from the Chotanagpur Plateau of West Bengal. The present study updates knowledge of the butterfly diversity of Ajodhya Hills and discusses the threats and conservation of the area, which may help in threat prevention, developing effective conservation strategies and to build awareness among the local people and government authorities to save the wildlife of Ajodhya Hills and its habitats.
Pritom Roy, Antara Das, Md. Asir Uddin, Dr. Jadab Kumar Biswas,
Volume 5, Issue 2 (6-2023)
Abstract
We used linear morphometric measurements to assess secondary sexual dimorphism in the external traits and pelvis of the lesser bandicoot rat, Bandicota bengalensis (Gray). Multivariate analysis of variance revealed significant difference between the sexes in both external (Wilks' lambda = 0.542, F = 3.378, P < 0.05) and pelvis measurements (Wilks' lambda = 0.238, F = 10.05, P < 0.05). Males were larger than females in most of the external traits. In contrast, females were larger in most variables of the pelvis. Separation between the sexes was also demonstrated in the discriminant analysis. Although allometric slopes did not differ between the sexes, means adjusted for allometry were sexually dimorphic in five out of seven variables of the pelvis. In conclusion, our results revealed differential patterns of secondary sexual dimorphism for the external morphology and pelvis in B. bengalensis. These patterns are explained with respect to the accessible evolutionary theories on mammalian sexual dimorphism.
Shahbaz Ahmed Khan, Anil Kumar Nair, Sujnan Mohan Kumar, Ali Jabran, Shubham Prakash Bhise, Ekta Shekhawat,
Volume 5, Issue 3 (10-2023)
Abstract
We report the first record of the White-bellied flying squirrel Petaurista albiventer (Gray, 1834), within the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, which is part of the Terai Arc Landscape in India. This marks a new geographical distribution for P. albiventer within the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. This study contributes to the understanding of the geographical distribution, habitat ecology and taxonomy of the genus Petaurista (Link, 1795), shedding light on its presence in various ecologically significant regions and emphasizing the importance of preserving its habitat and promoting further research.
Shraddha Kumari Krishnanagara, Rajesh Puttaswamaiah, Chetan Nag Krishnaswamy Sudarshan,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (In Press 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 (In Press 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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