Loading...
Thesis
Browse
8 results
Search Results
ThesisItem Open Access FLORAL DIVERSITY AND ANIMAL UTILIZATION OF FOREST MARSHY GRASSLAND IN WAYANAD WILDLIFE SANCTUARY(Kerala Veterinary and animal science university, Pookode, 42580) Aswathy Balan; Abdul Azeez, C P;The present study was conducted in six selected marshy grasslands (Vayals) of Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary of Kerala during February 2016 to June 2016 to identify the floral richness, density and diversity of different plant growth forms and to evaluate utilization of swamp areas by herbivores in marshy grasslands. The total number of different plant growth forms recorded was 142 which included 29 trees, nine weeds, 19 shrubs, 61 herbs and 24 grasses. The major invasive plants found in these marshy grasslands were Chromolaena odorata, Lantana camara and Ludwigia peruviana. The shrub species such as Persicaris sp., Urena lobata, Catunaregam spinosa and Randia tamilnadensis were constituted 69 percent of total shrub species. Totel six herbivores were recorded. The total diversity of trees were 0.8 ± 0.03. The total density density of weeds were 20.3 ± 2.08. The total mean density of shrub was 11.4 ± 2.56. Total density of grass was 32.1 ± 3.80 and diversity was 1.1 ± 0.04. Tree density was low in the Vayal area when compared to adjacent forest areas. The canopy cover and plant growth forms such as tree and shrub density influences the grass density in the Vayals.ThesisItem Open Access PREVALENCE OF ENDOPARASITE AND PREY PREFERENCE OF TIGER (Panthera tigris tigris) IN WAYANAD WILDLIFE SANCTUARY(Kerala Veterinary and animal science university, Pookode, 2016-05-12) Arjun, M S; Arun ZachariahStudies on gastro-intestinal parasitic diversity and prey preference of tigers in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, were conducted from April to September 2015. Coprological analysis of scat samples was carried out to identify the gastro-intestinal parasitic diversity and diet composition in the tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) population. A total of 46 scat samples (76.6%) analyzed were found to be positive for endoparasites. Scat analysis for parasitic diversity was carried out by sedimentation method. Gastro-intestinal parasitic analysis revealed the presence of parasites belonging to seven different genera. Diphyllobothrium latum (33 nos.) was the most commonly recorded parasite followed by Paragonimus westermani (25), Taenia sp. (6) Strongyle sp. (4), Trichuris sp. (2), Toxocara sp. (2) and Nematode larvae (2). Although the gastro-intestinal parasitic diversity is less compared to similar studies from other tiger habitats, the number of individuals infected was considerably high. Hair samples of known animals were collected and studied for cuticular and medullary structures. This was used as reference while analyzing the hair from scat samples. A total of 60 scats were analyzed. The tigers in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary were found to be feeding on five prey species. Sambar was the most predominant prey, featuring in 29 of the 60 scat samples (48.33%) followed by Gaur (21.66%), Chital (20%) and Wild Boar (5%). The data revealed that tigers in WWS prefer larger ungulates (i.e. Gaur and Sambar) to smaller prey species such as Wild Boar, Chital and Barking Deer.ThesisItem Open Access INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT HABITATS ON OCCURRENCE OF ASIAN SMALL-CLAWED OTTER (Aonyx cinerea. Illeger, 1815) IN WAYANAD, KERALA, INDIA(Kerala Veterinary and animal science university, Pookode, 2016-05-12) Ajisha, S; George ChandyAonyx cinerea is a threatened mammal belongs to Mustelidae family, largely due to adverse anthropogenic activities such as sand mining, poaching, misuse of pesticides in agriculture, habitat loss and conversion of natural forest to plantations. In the present study mainly focuses the occurrence of this species in different habitat, which are adjacent to forest areas and hence the occurrence of several large mammals and other invertebrates reside in these plantations. Field sampling was carried out from January to May 2015, which was the driest period of the year and considered an ideal time for sampling otters. The South Wayanad division was divided into four sectors based on location and habitat types namely forests, coffee plantations, tea plantations and paddy fields. Equal number of transects were allotted to each vegetation (ten transects in each vegetation). In each habitat type, samplings for indirect and direct evidence of otter occupancy was carried out along a 500 m transect which was further divided into twenty 25 meter sub-sections. For each 25 meter subsection, habitat variables were recorded. In this study 140 signs including direct and indirect signs were recorded from 40 segments that were surveyed. Otter spraint abundance were identified from 34 segments (85 per cent occurrence) while the rest of the segments were considered as non-otter sites. One way ANOVA between encounter rates in different habitats showed that there is a significant difference in encounter rates between the different habitats (p value 0.0004583; F= 7.6099). Correlation between encountered rates of spraints in tea plantation showed that there is a significant difference between shoreline vegetation width and species occurrence. In this study, it is revealed that the distance of human modification was more, which helped to decrease the negative effects of human induced disturbances.ThesisItem Open Access ASSESSING GENETIC DIVERSITY OF TIGER (Panthera tigiris tigiris) IN WAYANAD WILDLIFE SANCTUARY BY USING NONINVASIVE TECHNOLOGIES(Kerala Veterinary and animal science university, Pookode, 42502) Vishnu, O; Arun ZachariahThe Royal Bengal Tiger is the most charismatic and adaptable large cat species of India and holds about 70% of the world’s wild tiger population. This study aims to look into the genetic diversity of tigers in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, which is an integral part of the largest tiger population in the world, by analyzing allelic diversity in six microsatellite loci by extracting DNA from the scat samples. In total sixty scat samples were collected from eighteen sampling blocks of four ranges from Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and DNA was extracted. All the samples were screened with the tiger specific cytochrome b primer set (TIF/TIR) for separating tiger scat from its sympatric carnivores. The forty percentage of the DNA isolated from the scat has been identified as of tiger origin. The samples positive for tiger DNA was amplified for the six microsatellite loci i.e. D10, E7, C34, E21, 3E6 and D15. The mean amplification rate and allelic dropout were observed to be 91% and nine percentage respectively. The observed heterozygosity and an expected heterozygosity were 0.48 and 0.72 respectively. The samples/ loci anallysed in the present study were deviated from Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium.ThesisItem Open Access COMPARISON OF COMMUNITY STRUCTURE OF REPTILES BETWEEN A FOREST FRAGMENT AND AN INTACT FOREST(Kerala Veterinary and animal science university, Pookode, 2016-05-12) Anuraj R Kaimal; George ChandyThe present study compared the community structure of reptiles in a forest fragment to that of a continuous forest. The study was carried out in the Vythiri section of South Wayanad Forest Division from June second week to September second week 2015. Diurnal quadrats, transects and time constrained searches were carried out to describe the species assemblage. In total 80 person hours was spend in the continuous forest and 70 person hours was spend in the forest fragment for sampling. Species accumulation curves were plotted and diversity indices were evaluated for both sites. Eight species and forty nine individuals were sampled from the continuous forest while from the fragment merely three individuals belonging to two species were found. Eutropis macularia (n = 18) was the most abundant species in the forest followed by Calotes ellioti (n = 9). Cnemaspis aff. monticola was the only shared species in the forest and forest fragment from quadrats and transects. Twelve different habitat variables were measured from the sampling sites and five of the variables differed significantly with respect to the study sites. Correlation analysis revealed that canopy cover (-0.44) has a negative correlation and leaf litter depth (0.41) have a positive correlation with abundance of reptiles in the forest. None of the habitat variables correlated with abundance in the fragment. The long isolation, small area and edge effects might have resulted in the local extinction of many of the herpetofauna in the fragment.ThesisItem Open Access EFFECT OF EDGES ON NON-VOLANT SMALL MAMMALS IN TWO ADJACENT HABITATS OF WAYANAD WILD LIFE SANCTUARY(Kerala Veterinary and animal science university, Pookode, 42580) Sreejith Sivaraman; Arun ZachariahNon-volant small mammals are an integral component of forest animal communities contributing to energy flow, nutrient cycling and playing extremely important roles as seed predators, dispersal agents and pollination agents in tropical forests. This study aims to compare non-volant small mammal diversity and abundance between two adjanent habitats (forest and agriculture land) of Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and to find out whether the distribution follows the habitat edge effect concept. The present study was conducted at two sites having forest and agriculture land (paddy) adjacently. Three transects were laid perpendicular to each habitats in both sites. Specimens were collected using Sherman live traps method. Statistical analysis were carried out using the software Past 1.56. The work was conducted spending 48 nights in the field and 75 individuals belongs to five species were captured (Suncus murinus, Rattus satarae, Suncus montanus, Golunda eliotti and Mus musculus.). Suncus murinus (36) was the abundant species in agriculture land followed by Suncus montanus (16), Mus musculus (1) and Rattus satarae(1). Rattus satarae (18) was dominating the forest land Golunda eliotti (4) and Suncus murinus(1) had only less individuals. Shannon diversity, Dominance, Evennes, Richness were analysed. Dominance was higher at Muthanga forest (0.7083) lowest dominance recorded at Tholpetty forest(0.4876). Evennes higher and lower at Tholpetty agriculture (0.9329) and Muthanga forest(0.5871) respectively. Shannon diversity was higher at Tholpetty forest(0.86). Captures were increased at inerface of two habitat. By moving distant from the inerface to both sides, number of captures decreased. Higher species abundance were observed in agriculture land habitat dominated by shrews which may be due to their insectivorous diet getting more insect pest from the paddy fields and lead to insect pest control. Rattus satarae was the most abundant species in forest land. The larger body size made them highly susceptible to oredation and to avoid predation they prefer forest for more hiding places and burrows. Ecological edge concept says that biodiversity will be rich in habitat edge between two habitats. In the case of non-volant small mammals, current study also supported this concept. The study revealed that small mammal richness and activity signifinantly higher at interface between two habitats and by moving from the edge, the number of animals captured reduced. Assessment of number of captures across four consecutive nights in each transect showed a trend that the captures were less in initial two days followed by a slightly increase on third day. A decrease was noticed on fourth day which clarified the learning behaviour of small mammals.ThesisItem Open Access CHARACTERISATION OF MONO AMINE OXIDASE A (MAOA) GENE AND TRANSCRIPT FROM ASIAN ELEPHANT (Elephas maximus): A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE FOR RISK TAKING BEHAVIOUR(Kerala Veterinary and animal science university, Pookode, 42580) Jishnu, M; Arun ZachariahVarious studies in humans and other mammals showed the role of Mono Amine Oxidase A (MAOA) gene in violent and aggressive behaviour. The aggression and violent behaviour in case of humans is also a kind of risk taking. Hence we hypothesise that MAOA gene may have a role in the risk taking (crop raiding) behaviour of Asian Elephants. From the four autopsy samples of Asian Elephants, MAOA genomic locus and its transcripts were identified and characterised. The total length of identified transcript were 2083 (transcript - 1) and 814 bp (transcript - 2) and have a common 5’UTR of 212 bp. Transcript - 1 composed of 1596 bp open reading frame (ORF) and a 275 bp 3′UTR. On the contrary, transcript - 2 has a shorter ORF of 519 bp, and a 3′UTR of 83 bp when compared to the transcript-1and it encodes a putative 172 aa protein. The similarity search of nucleotide and protein sequences of transcript – 2 followed a similar trend to that of transcript -1. The gene structure of MAOA deduced by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) platform displayed a 58366 bp of fragment after the alignment, which contains fifteen coding exons and fourteen introns. The genomic organization of the Asian Elephant MAOA gene is similar to that of African elephant and humans.In the wide spread expression analysis of MAOA gene in different tissues, transcript -2 (truncated form) was expressed in kidney, brain, heart, lungs, liver and spleen. On contrary, none of the tissue showed amplicon for transcript – 1 except the lung sample of a young male calf. The homology modelling of MAOA protein deduced from the identified transcripts showed considerable alteration in the structure. The MAOA protein structure modelled from the amino acid sequence of transcript – 2 seems to be a truncated form. The transcripts identified in the present study is highly correlated with the elephant’s conflicting behaviour, hence MAOA gene may have a role in it. Above all, analysis of MAOA gene and its transcript may provide base line information on gene and transcripts structural organisation in Asian Elephants.ThesisItem Open Access A STUDY ON MICROHABITAT SELECTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF BICOLOURED FROG (Clinotarsus curtipes. Jerdon, 1854) TADPOLE WITHIN A HILL STREAM WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO RIVER CONTINUUM CONCEPT(2016-07-29) Haritha, S; Abdul Azeez, C PThe microhabitat selection of C. curtipes within hill streams was carried out in streamlets of Chennaykavala and Sugandhagiri which flow through the vested forests of Wayanad District. The study was carried out from April 2015 to May 2016. The hypothesis that the distribution of C. curtipes within hill stream depends on stream ecology and river continuum concept was tested. Ecological factors in the region of the stream where the tadpoles were present was compared with that of the region where tadpoles were absent. The Chi-square test and t-test were used to analyze the association of presence of tadpole with stream type, vegetation type, canopy cover, embededdness, physical and chemical parameters of water. Analysis was done using the statistical software package SPSS version 20. The microhabitat selection was showed to be influenced by stream ecology and riparian vegetation type. As the vested forests of Wayanad were under human disturbance, the study showed deviation from River continuum concept.