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Forest cover, hunting and animal abundances across state and community forests of Meghalaya, India
Get PDFTropical forests are among the most biodiversity rich ecosystems. Overlapping with some of the poorest and rapidly developing regions of the world, they are also among the most threatened ecosystems today. To counter these threats and to prevent biodiversity loss two main conservation approaches has been followed: strict protection (Protected Area, PA) and involving local communities under the broad terms of community based conservation (CBC). Assessments of PAs success has largely focused on outcomes such as conserving species, habitat protection, management effectiveness whereas for CBC, evaluations have focussed on socio-economic well-being and social justice. Most previous assessments for PAs and CBCs were based on cases studied at separate sites and time, few have been carried out at landscape scales while fewer have used multiple-criteria across large spatio-temporal scales. This thesis adopted a comprehensive assessment framework to measure the habitat and animal species-based parameters across two categories of management viz. state and community forests. I also analysed how the drivers of such changes affect the conservation outcomes of the community and state forests. The field work for the study was carried at state-owned reserve forests and community-owned elaka forests of Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, where developmental changes and hunting of wildlife is predominant. Forest-cover changes were analysed using RS-GIS tools at a landscape level for the years 1994, 2003 and 2014 across 2 state forests (reserve forests) and 8 community forests (elakas). Hunting pressures were estimated using hunting-recall surveys in 15 villages spread across a reserve and an elaka. Vertebrate abundances were estimated through surveys carried out at 17 reported hunting sites spread across the reserve (low hunted) and the elaka (high hunted) forests.
The landscape change analysis revealed that until 2003 the changes in the reserve and the elakas were similar while after 2003 large forest areas in the elakas were converted to industries and mining. The reserves, on the other hand, still managed to retain a high proportion of dense forests (77-93 %) compared to the elakas (28-34%) in 2014. At a local scale, the hunting survey revealed that the local communities possessed a rich knowledge about the animals, acquired through a long history of hunting. Cash was found to be the most important driver of hunting indicating a local demand for wild-meat in the landscape. The preference list of the respondents confirmed this and it was found that the most preferred animals had very high cash value. One hundred and seventy two animals were reported to be hunted during the last 3 months across 12 families of mammals and one family of birds. The most hunted species, small squirrels (Sciuridae), palm civets (Viverridae), and pheasants (Phasianidae) were among the least preferred animals. The absence of highly preferred species like gaur (Bos gaurus) and sambar (Cervus unicolor) both from hunting-recall list and the subsequent animal survey that was carried out may be an indicator of their local extinction owing to high hunting pressures. The encounter rate of the animals were significantly higher in the reserve compared to the elaka. Highly preferred species like Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) were detected only in the reserve while the abundances of the highly hunted arboreal frugivores and ungulate herbivores were significantly higher in the reserve. Since the NDVI-based vegetation quality for the surveyed sites were similar, the variation in the animal abundances could be attributed to the hunting levels across the reserve and the elaka. The results showed that compared to the community forests (elaka), the state forests (reserves) were more effective in dealing with threats emanating from pressures exerted by both larger regional forces such as industrial development and mining and local demands such as wild-meat. Lack of appropriate safeguard measures and inadequacy of the local institutions to cope up with the pressures exerted by high industrial demand drove the large scale conversion of forest to non-forest land use in the elaka landscape. In the reserve, clarity about its legal standing and the application of pertinent forest acts and regulations probably allowed the maintenance of high-proportions of forest-cover across the same time. Lack of local regulations against hunting within the community and high cash value of many wild-life seemed to drive high hunting within the community forests. Occurrence of most game species within the community forests, difficulty in accessing the reserve along with voluntary compliance with the wildlife laws were the reasons behind less hunting pressures and therefore high animal abundances in the reserve forests. The multiple-criteria and multiple-scaled assessment revealed that the community forests could cope fairly well with local pressures but displayed high vulnerability to the underlying socio-political and economic drivers of forest and biodiversity loss. In comparison, the state forests showed higher resistance against large-scale drivers. Forests across the tropics are currently experiencing high growth pressures, drivers for which are similar to the ones in my study site. The nuanced understanding gained through the thesis can be used by policy-makers to craft more informed decisions
Factors influencing the local scale colonisation and change in density of a widespread invasive plant species, Lantana camara, in South India
Get PDFIdentifying factors that underlie invasive species colonisation and change in density could provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of biological invasions and for invasive species management. We examined a suite of factors potentially influencing the landscape-level invasion of Lantana camara L., one of the most ubiquitous invasive species in South Asia. These factors included disturbance factors like forest fires, historical habitat modification, and edge effects, in addition to factors like propagule pressure and habitat suitability. We examined the relative importance of these factors on the colonisation and change in density of L. camara in the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve, Western Ghats, India. We used extensive (1997–2008) datasets tracking the presence and abundance of L. camara and combined these with corresponding data on disturbances, propagule pressure, and habitat suitability. We used an information-theoretic model selection approach to determine the relative importance of each factor on the colonisation and change in density of L. camara. Colonisation was mainly a function of proximity to already established populations (i.e. propagule pressure), whereas increase in L. camara density appeared to be constrained by high fire frequency. Research and management efforts need to recognize the multi dimensional nature of mechanisms underlying L. camara’s success during different invasion phases when strategizing interventions to mitigate its effects
DNA barcoding to assess species adulteration in raw drug trade of “Bala” (genus: Sida L.) herbal products in South India
No full textThe genus Sida L. (family: Malvaceae) is widely used in India and many other countries including China, South East Asia, Africa and South America for treating various neurological disorders and for improving general health and vigour. However, as with many other herbal medicines, it is believed that the Sida products sold in the market may be adulterated with other related or unrelated plant species. In this study, we investigate species adulteration in the raw herbal trade of Sida natural health products (NHPs) in southern India. DNA barcoding was used as a tool to identify the ingredients in the NHPs. A biological reference material (BRM) library for Sida and closely related species was developed using taxonomically authenticated species. DNA barcodes for the species were developed using one nuclear (ITS) and two chloroplast regions (matK and psbA-trnH). The psbA-trnH and ITS region were found to effectively discriminate all species with an interspecific distance of 0.133 and 0.149 and intra-species distance of 0.007 and 0.015 respectively. These DNA barcodes were used to identify the ingredients in raw Sida herbal products obtained from 10 markets in Southern India. Our study indicated that species adulteration in the market samples is rampant especially in case of Sida cordifolia, where all the market samples analyzed were Sida acuta. We discuss the results and the need for a robust herbal drug authentication system to regulate the quality in raw herbal trade market
Needs for policy on landscape restoration in India
Get PDFIn India, population growth and rapid industrialization
concurrent with an ever increasing quest for better quality of life have resulted in a growing demand for
energy and infrastructure, leading to significant impact on the country’s environment and ecology. Resources such as natural forests are particularly exploited through agricultural expansion, timber extraction, monoculture plantations, rail and road networks, hydroelectric projects, mineral exploration and mining. Apart from these, the Indian forests form the livelihood base for nearly 173,000 villages 1. The consequences of over exploitation of forest resources include depletion of natural resources, soil erosion and land degradation, lower productivity, groundwater depletion, reduction in species diversity and an overall increase in the extent of wasteland. At present, it is estimated that approximately 68.35 million hectares (m ha) of the total geographic area of our country is considered as wasteland, of which nearly 50% of the land is degraded non-forest land 2
Frugivory and seed dispersal by birds and mammals in the coastal tropical dry evergreen forests of southern India: A review
No full textWe review the findings of studies carried out on frugivory and seed dispersal in coastal Tropical Dry Evergreen Forests (TDEF) of southern India, derived largely from studies in Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh) and Point Calimere (Tamil Nadu). A family-wise list of fruiteating birds and mammals recorded at these sites, the fruit-species eaten and dispersed by them, and the physical traits of fruit species are discussed. Important fruit resources for birds and mammals are highlighted. In total, 34 species of birds of 17 families and 12 species of mammals of 11 families were recorded eating fruits. The major avian frugivores were from the families Pycnonotidae, Sturnidae, Corvidae, and Cuculidae. Among mammals, the major frugivores were from the families Cercopithecidae, Canidae, Viverridae, and Pteropodidae.
Birds and mammals in coastal TDEFs utilized fruit from 49 different families. Fruit colour was dominated by red, black, and yellow and fruit type by drupe and berry
Morphology and RAPD analysis of certain potentially entomopathogenic isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae Metsch. (Deuteromycotina: Hypocreales)
Get PDFDiversity within the entomopathogenic fungi have been traditionally analyzed using morphological features but
morphology alone can lead to ambiguity pertaining to identification at species level. Therefore utilization of
molecular methods to detect the level of polymorphism among species helps minimize the problem. Nine isolates of Metarhizium were morphologically characterized by assessing their colour, media pigmentation, size and shape of conidia. Molecular characterization was carried out by random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis. The RAPD - PCR assay for nine isolates were performed by amplifying random sequences using three RAPD primers. The
amplification products for the different isolates were compared with each other and were screened for the presence or absence of specific bands. The scored band data was subjected to cluster analysis. A genetic similarity matrix was constructed using Jaccard’s coefficient method. Colony colour varied from pale green to blackish green. Pigment production was observed for four isolates. Average width of spores ranged from 2.10 - 4.10μm and length 3.20 - 7.69 μm. The spores were grouped as either oval, round or elongated. The three primers generated a total of 166 reproducible distinct bands among the 9 isolates and the similarity was estimated on the basis of number of shared bands. The Jaccard’s similarity coefficient between isolate pairs ranged from 0.00 to 0.70 indicating a high genetic diversity. The maximum similarity was noticed between isolates MIS13 and MIS18. A dendrogram was generated from RAPD patterns of the Metarhizium isolates. Grouping of isolates into clusters correlated with similarities in their RAPD DNA patterns
Diversity and distribution of stored grain insects among the Soliga Tribal settlements of Biligirirangana Hills, Karnataka, India
No full textSoligas are a tribal community living in the forest areas of Biligirirangana Hills in southern Karnataka, India. Soligas cultivate several crops in small patches located close to their settlements for subsistence. During the present investigation, the diversity, distribution and abundance of insects that infest food grains stored by Soligas were studied and the influence of biotic and abiotic factors was assessed. Grains held in storage by Soligas were found to be infested by 13 species of insects. The distribution and abundance of all the species were mapped. Among these, Sitophilus oryzae was the most widely occurring and abundant species, while, Corcyra cephalonica was the least abundant and less frequently occurring species. Species richness was influenced by the number of food grain types stored by Soligas. It was observed that the biotic and abiotic factors did not influence the diversity and distribution of stored grain insects. Instead, the observed pattern of stored grain insect distribution was found to be influenced by anthropogenic factors like food grain sharing habits among the Soligas and accessibility to the towns and cities from their settlements
Scaling new heights: first record of Boulenger’s Lazy Toad Scutiger boulengeri (Amphibia: Anura: Megophryidae) from high altitude lake in Sikkim Himalaya, India
Get PDFFrogs in the genus Scutiger of the family Megophryidae are the highest altitude frogs in the world, and are endemic to eastern Himalaya. Here, we report the occurrence of Scutiger boulengeri (Bedriaga, 1898) in one of the highest altitude lakes in the world, Lake Gurudongmar. This is the first report of Scutiger boulengeri from India and the first record of any amphibian species to be found at an altitude as high as 5270m, thus setting a world record for the highest altitude frog. Scutiger sikimmensis (Blyth, 1855) is another species of the genus Scutiger found in this region. This species is often confused with Scutiger boulengeri due to similar morphology and habitat overlap. We provide a detailed account of both S. boulengeri and S. sikimmensis based on morphology and molecular identification techniques
The grass is greener here
Get PDFKnown to be the largest natural grassland in the Indian
subcontinent and one of the finest in Asia, the Banni landscape
in Kutch is both socio-culturally unique and ecologically
valuable. With a history of migratory pastoralism going back
at least 500 years, and a stunning range of biodiversity, this
unique region offers fascinating insights into man-environment
dynamics and grassland conservation studies
Locating Human-Wildlife Interactions: Landscape Constructions and Responses to Large Carnivore Conservation in India and Norway
Get PDFPeople’s reactions to large carnivores take many forms, ranging from support and coexistence to resistance and
conflict. While these reactions are the outcome of many different factors, in this paper we specifically explore
the link between social constructions of landscapes and divergent responses to large carnivore presence. We compare case studies from four different landscapes shared by people and large carnivores, in India and Norway. We use social construction of landscapes as a key concept to explore responses to large carnivores in the context of ecological, economic, social, and cultural changes in these areas. Based on this comparison, we argue that the process of change is complex, with a plurality of responses from the groups affected by it. The response to large carnivore presence is influenced by many different factors, of which the interpretation of change—particularly landscape change—plays a significant role