Browsing by Subject "Plant species"
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Item Invasive alien plant species and their effect on the habitat utilization of mammal species in Shuklaphanta National Park, Nepal(Department of Zoology, 2022) Chand, ChandraThe introduction and colonization of invasive alien plant species (IAPS) is one of the most serious threat to the conservation of native flora and fauna. Such threats are noted in the various protected areas including lowlands of Nepal with negative impacts on the species and ecosystem services. The impacts of IAPS on threatened mammal species especially on their occurrences is little known. This study identified the effects of IAPS on the occurrence and habitat utilization of threatened mammal species at Shuklaphanta National Park (ShNP), Nepal from 11 November 2020 to 11 June 2021. During the study period, ShNP was categorized into IAPS invaded and non-invaded habitats. The occurrence of threatened mammal species was recorded from 210 plots of 10 m X 10 m along the line transect. Altogether 11 IAPS were recorded among seven families during this study. Among them Blue Billygoat Weed (Ageratum houstonianum) was abundant species in the study area. Altogether 25 mammal species were recorded in the study area, whereas 11 mammal species were threatened. Among the threatened mammal species, 10 species were in IAPS invaded habitat and all 11 species in IAPS non-invaded habitat. In IAPS invaded habitat, the sign of Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) was recorded only from IAPS non-invaded habitat. The higher occurrence of threatened mammal species was recorded nearer the forest as the abundance of IAPS decreased with decreasing distance to the forest. In addition, the higher occurrence of mammal species was found with increasing the distance to water source, distance to road, distance to human settlement and distance to agricultural land as the abundance of IAPS decreased with increasing distance to water source, road, human settlement and agricultural land. The threatened mammal species utilizes the IAPS noninvaded habitat rather than the IAPS invaded habitat. For providing suitable habitat for threatened mammal species, the removal or control of the invasive alien plant species from ShNP is recommended.Item Occurrence of Invasive Alien Plant Species (IAPS) in the habitat of Swamp Deer (Cervus Duvaaucelii Cuvier, 1823) of Shuklaphanta National Park, Nepal(Central Department of Zoology, TU Kirtipur, 2019-09) Bhandari, RenuThe present study was conducted during October 2018 to April 2019 with an aim to assess the floral diversity, status and distribution of invasive alien plant species and its impact on swamp deer habitat in seven research sites within the grasslands of Shuklaphanta National Park. The quadrats of 5*5m were laid so as to collect the data for native and invasive species in the park. The number of native and invasive alien plants species within the quadrats were counted and noted. The invasive floral diversity indices, Shannon- Weiner index (H) and Simpson Index of species (SI) diversity were calculated using Ms Excel 2016. Out of 20 plant species recorded in the study area, grass species were nine, and invasive plant species were eleven. The abundance of IAPS was higher in Tintale area and least in Barkaula. The Shannon- Weiner diversity index for Tintale are, Singhapur, Barkaula, Silalekh, Pillar 24, Pillar 26 and Sundarpur were 1.051, 1.275, 0.085, 1.309, 0.953, 0.905 and 0.541 respectively whereas the Simpson Index diversity was 0.573, 0.692, 0.033, 0.683, 0.563, 0.547 and 0.355 respectively. The abundance of invasive alien plants was higher in open grasslands and those having less distance from the village and roads. The invasive species cover was low in the areas where there was high native species cover. The overall impact of IAPS was seen low in the grasslands of the park to create impact on the habitat of the swamp deer however the threats due to invasion cannot be neglected. The buffer zone and the wetlands were highly invaded, which can become a major contributor to encourage the invasion in the core areas of the park which can eventually lead to the decline of Swamp Deer population in the park. Therefore, proper management of IAPS before it completely invades the park and Swamp Deer Conservation action plan is needed in the park.