Browsing by Subject "Conservation"
Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item Assesment of Conservation Importance of Jakhor Toal With Special Emphasis on Fishing Communities in Dhangadi Kailali , Nepal(Central Department of Zoology, 2019) Singh, K. DeepakFish diversity is the term given to the different variety of fish on earth which plays a very important role in the ecosystem and all the inhabitant including human. The present study was conducted on Jakhor Taal, an ox-bow perennial Lake, situated in Dhangadhi Municipality in Kailali district. The present study deals with fish diversity, environmental variables, socio-economic status and conservation challenges of Jakhor Taal. Fish sampling was done by Gill net, Cast net and other local fishing gears followed by questionnaires survey. A total of 24 fish species (8 Exotic and 16 Indigenous) were recorded belonging to 7 orders, 14 families and 22 genera. The order Cypriniformes were recorded highest comprising 41.66% among the total fish species recorded and 65.38% of total fish caught during the study periods followed by Siluriformes and Perciformes constituting 20.33% and 16.67% respectively. Similarly, the family Cyprinidae shows the highest number of fish diversity obtaining 64.27% of total fish species. Rasbora daniconius was the most dominant fish obtaining 16.61% of total catch. In diversity index, in case of season, Shannon diversity index was found high (2.93) in the month of February and low (2.76) in the month of July. Similarly, Simpson and Evenness value was also found slightly high in the month of February in comparison to the month of July. In case of site, the Shannon diversity index was found high (2.73) at the site II in compare to the site I, site III and site IV which is 2.31, 2.09 and 2.04 respectively. Similarly, Simpson and Evenness value was also found slightly high at the site II in comparison to the site I, site III and site IV. The Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that the environmental variables such as water temperature, depth and dissolved oxygen were found high significant to most species with respect to different sites and month however, pH and free CO has not shown any relation or significance. Altogether 22 clusters were formed by the fishes of Jakhor Taal in which exotic species shows highly significant cluster in comparison to indigenous species. The socio-economic status of the local fishing communities seems to be below poverty line and the lake and its resources play a very important role in their diet and income source. In context to conservation challenges and implications this lake is highly neglected from both governmental and local communities which negatively affect the natural habitats. Some of the major factors effecting the study area are lack of awareness, habitat destruction, illegal fishing, urbanization, and invasive species.Item Conservation Status Of The Fishing Cat In Chitwan National Park, Nepal(Department of Zoology, 2013-12) Mishra, RamaThe fishing cat is an endangered mammal on the IUCN red list and is also listed in Appendix 2 of CITES. Its population has been decreasing from the entire range, including Nepal. Chitwan National Park (CNP) is one of the prime habitats of fishing cats in Nepal. The main objective of this study was to assess the status and threats to the fishing cat and associated small carnivores in CNP. This study reports on systematic camera trap, sign and community based survey results. From a total survey effort of 868 camera trap days across a total area of 160 km2 19 photographs of fishing cats were obtained in six independent events with five individuals identified from three locations. Two different methods i.e. capture recapture analysis on CAPTURE program and spatially explicit capture recapture using SPACECAP software were used for population estimation whereas density was calculated only from the SPACECAP. Capture-recapture analysis estimated seven individuals (95% CI 6 – 23). The analysis from SPACECAP using spatially explicit capture recapture estimated the population of the fishing cat in CNP as 17.74 (95% CI 9 – 25) with a density estimate of 6.06 animals / 100 km2 Sign surveys showed a patchy distribution across potential habitats from Narayani river in the west to Amrite in the northeast and Thori in the southeast. The majority of the detections were in wetlands with surrounding grassland areas of average height 1-2 m indicating the most favorable habitats of fishing cats. A total of 26 species of mammals including nine species of small carnivores (small cats, civets and mongoose) were recorded on the camera traps. Targeted community interview surveys indicate habitat loss due to shrinkage of wetlands as the main threat to the fishing cat.Item Distribution modelling of traded species of Swertia L. and population ecology of S. Multicaulis in Nepal(Department of Botany, 2023) Dhami, AshishThe genus Swertia has a long history of usage in Indian, Tibetan, and Nepalese traditional medicine. The species of the genus have been widely used as a natural remedy for a variety of ailments. Because of high ethnomedicinal and pharmacological values, Swertia has become a major export of medicinal plants from Nepal and ranks as the second most traded genus in the country. The growing demand for medicinal plants has led to unsustainable harvesting, making conservation efforts necessary. Additionally, climate change has also affected the accessibility and productivity of medicinal plants. To address this, firstly, distribution models of traded species of Swertia were developed based on maximum entropy and secondly, an ecological study of less studied S. multicaulis was conducted. The study identifies the potentially suitable areas of seven commercially traded species of Swertia under the current climate conditions and predicts a significant decrease in suitable areas for all of the species by 2050 and 2070 AD in both representative concentration pathways (RCP 6 and RCP 8.5), with the exception of S. racemosa. The ecological study was conducted at four different sites around the Gosainkunda area in Lamtang National Park. The study involved a total of 40 plots of 3m 2 and 200 sub-plots, each measuring 1m 2 , that recorded the presence of S. multicaulis in open alpine meadows on north-east facing slopes at different elevations. The overall density was found to be 11.33 plants/m 2 . The densities of young and adult reproductive plants decreased significantly with increasing elevation. In the lower elevation sites, the proportion of young plants was higher, indicating better regeneration there. Despite the similar vegetative and reproductive traits among all populations studied, the higher elevation population near Suryakunda, which featured rocky terrain, had a higher below-ground biomass allocation. The study also revealed the negative effect of litter cover on the total plant density of S. multicaulis. But the density positively correlated with greater distance from the nearest trail. The findings of the ecological study of S. multicaulis as well as the habitat suitability map for seven traded species of Swertia created by the distribution models can be utilized as a reference for developing conservation policies for such species and also prioritizing those areas as potential areas for cultivation or harvesting purposes. For species like S. multicaulis, with very limited climatic suitability in a specific region, our study recommends facilitated assisted migration to predicted suitable areas as the optimal solution to ensure their future.Item Habitat Assessment, Behavior and Conservation Practices of Sarus Crane (Antigone antigone Linnaeus, 1758) in Lumbini Important Birds and Biodiversity Area, Nepal(Department of Zoology, 2017) Duwal, RabitaThe present study was carried out on Sarus Crane (Antigone anitigone) to know the current population status, their habitat, behavior and the conservation practices used by local people in Lumbini IBA. Road transect method was used to count the Sarus Crane population. The survey was carried out on July and August, 2017. Total 127 transects having length 5km each were surveyed covering cropland and wetland of Lumbini IBA. Habitat parameters were determined by measuring the distance of nest from water source, road, forest and resident area using Google Earth Pro. Climatic-parameter (mean temperature and relative humidity) were determined from EasyLog USB data loggers. Similarly, water parameter of nesting sites were recorded from alcohol-thermometer and pH meter respectively. Behavior was studied by focal scan sampling method observing two pairs of Sarus Crane, a pair in wetland and other pair in cropland for four days. Conservation practices and threats to Sarus Crane were carried out by household questionnaire survey in Bishnupura VDC. Total 180 Sarus Cranes were recorded including 88 pairs of male and female and four undistinguished. Among them 146 Sarus Cranes were recorded in cropland and only 34 in wetland. Significance difference (Fratio= 5.198, d.f.= 1, 64; P-value = 0.026) was found in site utilization by Sarus Crane. Maximum (36.67%) Sarus Cranes were found in Lumbini Sanskritik Nagarpalika and least (2.22%) in Sammarimai Gaunpalika. Uniform distribution of Sarus Crane was found with the density 0.285/km 2 area. No Sarus Crane was observed in Pakadisakron, Betakuiya,Titrirkhi and Asurena. Total of 12 nests were recorded out of which maximum nests (n=8) were in cropland and minimum (n=4) in wetland. Altogether, 17 eggs were recorded in 12 nests. Two eggs were recorded in five nests whereas only one egg was recorded in seven nests. Majority (24.80%) of Sarus Cranes were observed sitting on nest, and least (0.21%) running behavior was recorded during the study period. There was no significant difference (Fratio=1.1658, d.f.=1, 27; P-value=0.344) in the behavior of Sarus Crane on wetland and cropland. Positive correlation was found between behavior pattern of male and female. Most of the respondent (68%) agreed with no change in population of Sarus Crane in the area and 94% respondents showed positive attitude toward Sarus Crane conservation. Harassment, destruction of nests, destruction of eggs, stealing of eggs, and wetland damage were observed as existing major threats to Sarus Crane in the study area. Key words: Conservation, Lumbini IBA, Sarus Crane, threats, vulnerableItem Habitat Preferences and Illegal Trade of Chinese Pangolin Manis pentadactyla (Linnaeus 1758) in Kavrepalanchowk District, Nepal(Faculty of Environmental Science, 2015) K.C., AnjuAvailable with full textItem “Population Ecology and Harvesting Sustainability of Aconitum spicatum and Dactylorhiza hatagirea in Nepalese Himalaya”(Institute of Science & Technology, 2023) Chapagain, Deep JyotiThe harvesting of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) is a customary subsistence activity of forest-dependent communities across the world. However, the harvesting and marketing of MAPs has been highly commercialized in recent years, leading to the colossal pressures on the MAPs resource base. Many MAPs like Aconitum spicatum and Dactylorhiza hatagirea have been threatened in the Himalaya due to unsustainable harvest. At the same time, scientific knowledge on the demographic properties, magnitude of harvest impact, and the long-term viability of populations of these plant species is largely lacking thus limiting our ability to develop sustainable management strategies. Thus, this research was designed to understand the population ecology and harvesting sustainability of A. spicatum and D. hatagirea in the Annapurna Conservation Area and Manang in Central Nepal, and Darchula in Western Nepal. Different levels of tuber harvesting (0%, 25%, 50% and 75%, where 0-25% represents low harvest intensity and 50-75% represents high harvest intensity) were applied directly by the locals for A. spicatum among three ecotonal populations (subalpine, lower alpine and alpine) along an elevation gradient (3000–4200 m a.s.l.) in Annapurna Conservation Area, North-Central Nepal. For D. hatagirea, two sites were selected: Manang, where harvesting of MAPs was locally regulated (protected); and Darchula, where harvesting was locally unregulated (unprotected) to see the effect of harvesting on its demographic parameters. Population density and structure of A. spicatum was studied and variation in its life history traits among three populations along the elevation gradient in Central Nepal was assessed. The results showed that human disturbances and topographic factors greatly contributed to the variation in density and life history traits. The overall density ranged between 0.56 ± 0.09 (mean ± SE) and 2.48 ± 0.24 plants/m2 with highest mean density in the lower alpine and lowest in the subalpine population. Harvesting, animal droppings and fire appeared to be the most important factors affecting density of A. spicatum at its different life stages. The demographic data of A. spicatum included 4-year observations on growth, fecundity and survival of individuals classified by size. The population dynamics of A. spicatum in three different populations along the elevation gradient in Annapurna Base Camp Region, North-Central Nepal was studied. The population growth rate (λ) was >1 in low harvest intensity (0-25%) in all the populations in all the transitions (2015-2018) indicating that the harvesting of this plant at low harvest intensity is sustainable. In the high harvest intensities (50-75%), the lambda value was <1 in lower elevation populations indicating that these populations are sensitive to high harvest. The results showed that the extinction probability derived from the stochastic simulation (1000 runs) in 100 years has extremely low value for all the populations in both the intensities. Transient dynamics revealed that the low harvested alpine population shows gradual increase in its population reaching a size of approximately 4000 individuals during the projection period of 10 years. The deterministic projection revealed that the subalpine population is the most sensitive population. The populations of subalpine (both low harvest and high harvest) can reach the low harvest intensity of alpine in more than 20 years. The high harvest population of viii subalpine requires 22 years to reach its low harvest intensity in contrast to 7 years of lower alpine. The higher contribution of large size classes to λ indicates that the larger size classes are the critical stages in the life cycle of A. spicatum and conservation priority should focus on the protection of theses stages. Population density, structure, and tuber biomass of D. hatagirea were studied and compared in seven different populations. Mean density of D. hatagirea was significantly higher in the locally protected (1.31 ± 0.17 plants/m2 ) than in the unprotected (0.72 ± 0.06 plants/m2 ) site. The protected site showed stable population density with high reproductive fitness and tuber biomass over the three-year period. The densities of different life-stages were highly sensitive to harvesting and livestock grazing. Significant interactions between site and harvesting and grazing indicated particularly strong negative effects of these disturbances on densities of juvenile and adult reproductive stages in the unprotected site. A matrix population model was prepared to explore variation in demographic parameters in response to different level of disturbances. In case of D. hatagirea, demographic data included 2-year observations on growth, fecundity and survival of individuals classified by size. Transition probabilities for stage-based population projection matrices varied between populations and among years. The population growth rate (λ) was less than 1in unprotected (Darchula) and more than 1 in protected (Manang) site. The unprotected populations can resume its sustainable growth at 10- fold increase in its present fecundity while the present protected populations would allow approximately 10% of the populations to be harvested locally maintaining sustainability. The wetland population requires 25-fold increase in its present fecundity to maintain the stable size. Elasticity analysis shows that the juvenile and reproductive adult stages are the critical life stages of D. hatagirea in unprotected and protected site respectively and should be conserved with greater priority. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with informants (n = 65 for A. spicatum and n = 186 for D. hatagirea) in the villages and at the ecological survey sites. The result shows that the population of A. spicatum is decreasing due to indiscriminate harvesting by the outsiders and the locals are highly responsible for the conservation of A spicatum of that area. In case of D. hatagirea, populations at the protected site are well maintained with almost constant density over years but populations at unprotected sites greatly fluctuated in density. It is concluded that the long-term viability of A. spicatum and D. hatagirea largely depends on the magnitude of harvest impact and the level of protection provided directly by local people; and the opportunities of sustainable harvest vary among plant species with different strategies of growth and demographic properties, and these further relate with ecological conditions set by elevation gradient. Sustainability of harvest of A. spicatum and D. hatagirea can be achieved through integrating species specific ecological studies, and knowledge and practices of key knowledge holders. The findings of this research suggest that strategies and actions towards reducing human induced disturbances like over-harvesting and grazing would greatly benefit population recovery and productivity of theses plant species.Item Yarsagumba Collection and Its Contribution on Income and Expenditure (A Case of Dolpa District)(Department of Economics, 2018) Mahatara, BidhyamanAvailable with full text