Thumbnail Image

Thesis

Browse

2016 - 201922020 - 20211
Reset filters
Subject: Zoology × Author: Sukhpreet Kaur × End date: 2023 × Type: Thesis ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Population status, feeding behaviour and breeding biology of Baya Weaver Bird (Ploceus philippinus) in Punjab
    (Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2021) Sukhpreet Kaur; Kler, Tejdeep Kaur
    The present study on population status, feeding behaviour and breeding biology of Baya Weaver Bird was conducted for the period of February 2018 to January 2020. Three villages per district namely village Baranhara (nesting colony I), Raghunath enclave (nesting colony II) and Rattan (nesting colony III) in district Ludhiana; village Fatehpur (nesting colony IV), Mukarabpur (nesting colony V) and Manjitpur (nesting colony VI) in district Rupnagar; village Haraj (nesting colony VII), Wan (nesting colony VIII) and Toot (nesting colony IX) in district Ferozepur were selected. Relative abundance of Baya Weaver Bird ranged from 11.09% to 16.07% at all the selected locations. Present study on feeding and foraging behaviour of Baya Weaver Bird revealed the feeding on different crops (rice, wheat, pearl millet, sorghum) at different stages. During breeding season they fed their youngones on termites, grasshoppers, beetles, flies, moths, bees and wasps. Breeding season of Baya Weaver Bird was found to be ranged from May to September during both years. Nesting colonies of Baya Weaver Bird was found on trees Date Palm (77.77%), Royal Palm (11.11%) and Fishtail Palm (11.11%); which were located in residential premises (44.44%), village outskirts (22.22%) in crop fields (33.33%) and water bodies (77.77%). Chronological data showed the initiation of nesting varied from 2nd week of May to 3rd week of June during the year 2018 and 2019 at all selected locations. First and second batch of fledglings of Baya Weaver Bird were observed from 4th week of July to end of September month during both the breeding seasons. Clutch size was recorded 2 to 4 eggs per nest and nestling period was ranged from 13- 23 days. Hatching success and nestling success was ranged between 75.00% - 100.00% and 50.00% to 100.00% respectively. Thirteen eggs were examined for the morphometrical analysis which showed the average weight of eggs 1.77±0.13 g; maximum mean length (21.25±0.55 mm) and maximum mean width (13.52±0.55 mm) was recorded at location II and location I respectively. Six vertebrate predators (three avian species and three reptile species) were observed damaging and predating on the nests. Abandoned nest of Baya Weaver Bird were utilised by secondary nesters namely Indian Silverbill, Scaly-breasted Munia, House Sparrow and Yellow Wasp. Pesticide analysis for 16 organophosphates had shown the presence of Chloropyriphos and Triazophos in the excreta samples. Fifteen heavy metals were analyzed, As, Pb, Cd and Cr were recorded above normal range and below toxic range. Present study implicated that plantations of palm trees are required to be undertaken in agricultural habitat would help in establishing colonies of Baya Weaver Bird and to exploit their insect biocontrol potential during their breeding season. Present study provides valuable information on habitat structure, breeding and feeding activities of Baya Weaver Bird for the formulation of its species specific conservation programme.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Diversity and seasonal incidence of aquatic insects of ponds in South-West Punjab
    (Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2019) Sukhpreet Kaur; Hundal, S.S.
    A comparative study was conducted dealing with diversity and seasonal incidence of aquatic insects of ponds in South-West Punjab. Aquatic insects are group of arthropods that spend some or almost full life in water. They act as bioindicators and help in determining water quality of different water bodies. The sample collection was done fortnightly from 3 villages of Faridkot district viz. Pakka, Chambeli and Bhana from June 2018 to May 2019. The insect specimens were got identified and confirmed from ZSI, Kolkata and analysis of water samples for physico-chemical parameters was done using standard methods. A total of 1103 individuals of aquatic insects belonging to 4 orders (Coleoptera, Odonata, Hemiptera, and Diptera) were collected from three village ponds. The maximum number of aquatic insects was recorded from village Pakka (373) while minimum number was recorded from village Bhana(311). Hemiptera was the most dominant order in all three village ponds. Various water quality parameters like temperature, pH, EC, DO, BOD, alkalinity etc. were analysed. It was observed that there were slight variations in water quality parameters in three ponds. The result of study indicated high diversity of aquatic entomofauna in pond of village Pakka and suggests the possibility of using aquatic insects efficiently for biomonitoring purposes.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Bird composition in relation to management practices of orchards in Ludhiana district
    (Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2016) Sukhpreet Kaur; Kler, Tejdeep Kaur
    The present study was carried out to observe bird composition in relation to management practices of orchards in Fruit Research Farm, Punjab Agricultural University campus, village Birmi and village Baranhara in Ludhiana District from March 2015 to February 2016. A total of 52, 44, 38, 49, 31and 30 bird species had been noted in the transects I, II, III and IV of Fruit Research Farm, PAU, transect V of orchard at village Birmi and transect VI of orchard at village Baranhara respectively. Order wise Passeriformes and feeding habits wise omnivorous were most dominant in all the said transects throughout the study period. In transect IV management practices (bird manual scaring) were performed and guava crop fruit damage was found to be estimated 5.5%. Data was taken on ber trees protected with manual scaring and netting. Bird damage was 11.08% in manual scaring area and nil on the netted trees. Guava fruit damage was estimated 42.50% and 23.50% at fruit ripening stage (without management practices) in transect V of village Birmi and transect VI of village Baranhara respectively. In the comparison of guava crop at different developmental stages, 22 species were in transect IV, 19 species in transect V and 25 bird species in transect VI were recorded. The implementation of management practices (netting, manual scaring) helped in reducing the bird damage in guava and ber crop. The present study suggested that mixed fruit orchard seemed to provide food to bird species of different tropic levels from frugivores to carnivores.