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Mudappa, Divya

Prey Abundance and Leopard Diet in a Plantation and Rainforest Landscape, Anamalai Hills, Western Ghats

Abstract Views :272 | PDF Views:91

Authors

Swati Sidhu ¹, T. R. Shankar Raman ¹, Divya Mudappa ¹

Affiliations
1 Nature Conservation Foundation, 3076/5, 4th Cross, Gokulam Park, Mysore 570 002, IN

Source

Current Science, Vol 109, No 2 (2015), Pagination: 323-330

Abstract

Leopards use a wide range of habitats from natural forests to plantations in human-dominated landscapes. Within interface areas, understanding leopard ecology and diet can help in conservation management and conflict avoidance. In a fragmented rainforest and plantation landscape in southern India, we examined diet of large carnivores (with a focus on leopards) using scat analysis with DNA-based identification of predator species, and estimated relative abundance of prey species in different land uses through transect surveys. Large carnivores predominantly consumed wild prey species (98.1%) and domestic prey species contributed <2% to overall prey biomass. For leopards, four wild prey species (Indian muntjac, Indian spotted chevrotain, sambar and Indian porcupine) contributed 95.1% of prey biomass, with the rest being minor wild prey species (no livestock in identified scats). Wild prey species occurred across the landscape but varied in relative abundance by land-use type, with forest fragments supporting higher abundance of many species relative to tea and coffee plantations. As large carnivores mainly depend on wild prey and rainforest fragments act as refuges for these mammals within the tea and coffee plantations, it is important to continue to retain or restore these forest fragments.

Keywords

Diet, Leopards, Prey Abundance, Plantation, Tropical Rainforest.

Full Text

Assessing Leopard Occurrence in the Plantation Landscape of Valparai, Anamalai Hills

Seasonal Variation in Wildlife Roadkills in Plantations and Tropical Rainforest in the Anamalai Hills, Western Ghats, India

Abstract Views :246 | PDF Views:75

Authors

P. Jeganathan ¹, Divya Mudappa ¹, M. Ananda Kumar ¹, T. R. Shankar Raman ¹

Affiliations
1 Nature Conservation Foundation, 3076/5, 4th Cross, Gokulam Park, Mysore 570 002, IN

Source

Current Science, Vol 114, No 03 (2018), Pagination: 619-626

Abstract

Wildlife–vehicle collisions on the roads lead to mortality of a range of animal taxa both within and around wildlife reserves. Quantifying and understanding impacts of roads on wildlife mortality are essential for identifying vulnerable taxa and suitable mitigation measures. We studied animal mortality on roads in relation to habitat and season in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve and adjoining Valparai plateau in the Western Ghats, India. Habitats were broadly classified as forest, monoculture plantations (tea, coffee, eucalyptus) and mixed. Eleven road transects of 3–12 km length were surveyed between 9 and 12 times each during monsoon (2011) and summer (2012). We recorded 2969 roadkills (mean = 2.01/km) during the 1473.4 km of road surveys carried out. The overall roadkill rate was 21.2 (± 3.87 SE) individual kills/10 km. Amphibians were most frequent in roadkills (overall roadkill rate of 9.3 ± 2.17 SE kills/10 km, n = 1307), followed by invertebrates and unidentified taxa (7.6 ± 1.81 SE kills/10 km, n = 1066). Roadkill rate was 2.4 times higher in monsoon than summer, with amphibians particularly averaging higher kill rate during monsoon. Frequency of roadkills of various animal groups differed between seasons in different habitats. In both the seasons, most roadkills were recorded mainly in tea, forest, and forest–tea habitats. Relative to length of roads through forest, a disproportionately large number of roadkills of herpetofauna and mammals were recorded in forest habitat. Higher vehicular movements, including tourist traffic, road widening, removal of native plants along roads and construction of sidewalls without breaks obstruct animal movements and may be responsible for roadkills. Designing roads to be more permeable for safe animal movement, particularly where roads pass through forest, and sensitizing highways authorities are essential to reduce animal mortality and make roads more wildlife-friendly in this region.

Keywords

Linear Infrastructure Intrusions, Roadkill, Road Ecology, Western Ghats, Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions.

Full Text

References

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Native Shade Trees Aid Bird Conservation in Tea Plantations in Southern India

Abstract Views :223 | PDF Views:79

Authors

T. R. Shankar Raman ¹, Chayant Gonsalves ¹, P. Jeganathan ¹, Divya Mudappa ¹

Affiliations
1 Nature Conservation Foundation, 1311 ‘Amritha’ 12th A Main, Vijayanagar 1st Stage, Mysuru 570 017, IN

Source

Current Science, Vol 121, No 2 (2021), Pagination: 294-305

Abstract

In the Western Ghats, India, we study how different intensities of tea cultivation influence birds. We com-pared bird communities in conventional monoculture tea and mixed-shade tea plantations, both of which use agrochemicals, with organic tea plantations, a rainforest fragment, and continuous rainforest within the Anamalai Tiger Reserve. In 225 point count sur-veys, overall bird species richness and abundance were lowest in conventional tea and up to 33% higher in organic tea. Mixed-shade tea had 40% higher spe-cies richness (including 15 canopy and 4 shrub and mid-storey species – primarily frugivores, nectarivores and insectivores), and 83% higher bird abundance than conventional tea, with a greater proportion of forest-affiliated birds and similarity in species compo-sition with forest sites. The rainforest fragment and continuous rainforest had a higher proportion, richness and abundance of forest-affiliated birds and fewer open-country birds, unlike tea plantations where the pattern was reversed. Habitat associations of 62 bird species in indicator species analysis revea-led similar patterns. Thus organic tea is better than conventional tea for birds, but mixed-shade tea is even better, although still poorer than forests. Retaining or promoting native shade trees in tea plantations will increase bird diversity and abundance, including of forest-affiliated species and support landscape-level bird conservation.

Keywords

Bird Community Structure, Indicator Species, Land-Use Change, Shade Trees, Tea Plantations.

Full Text

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