EFFECT OF EDGES ON NON-VOLANT SMALL MAMMALS IN TWO ADJACENT HABITATS OF WAYANAD WILD LIFE SANCTUARY
| dc.contributor.advisor | Arun Zachariah | |
| dc.contributor.author | Sreejith Sivaraman | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2017-12-15T06:53:01Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2017-12-15T06:53:01Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 42580 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Non-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. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810037599 | |
| dc.keywords | Fragmentation, Diversity distribution | en_US |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.pages | 51 | en_US |
| dc.publisher | Kerala Veterinary and animal science university, Pookode | en_US |
| dc.sub | Wildlife Studies | en_US |
| dc.subject | null | en_US |
| dc.theme | Wildlife studies | en_US |
| dc.these.type | M.Sc | |
| dc.title | EFFECT OF EDGES ON NON-VOLANT SMALL MAMMALS IN TWO ADJACENT HABITATS OF WAYANAD WILD LIFE SANCTUARY | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |