Browsing by Subject "Species diversity"
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Item Ecological Study of Rupa Lake, Pokhara Valley, Kaski, Nepal(Department of Botany, 2008) Kunwar, DevendraThe present study was carried out in subtropical Rupa lake, wetland of Pokharavalley, from an ecological and management perspectives.Vegetationanalysis wasdone by quadrat method. Altogether 43 species of aquatic macrophytesrepresenting 26 family and 40 genera were recorded. By growth form, theemergents and the rooted floating leafed species recorded highest and lowestnumber of species respectively.Nelumbo nucifera,Trapa quadrispinosa,Trapabispinosa and Leersia hexandra recorded highest IVI value throughout theexperimental period. Physico-chemical parameters like: water temperature, DO,pH, total nitrogen andPO -Pwere analyzed.The water temperature varied from21.29°C to 23.39°C throughout the experimental period.Parameters like pHandDO recorded higher value in post monsoon period, while temperature, totalnitrogen andPO 4 4 -Precorded higher value in pre monsoon period.On the basis ofPO 4 -P, the lake can be categorized as eutrophic.Biomass ranges from 27.25 g/m to 389.25g/m 2 throughout the experimental period and the highest dry mass valueof 389.25g/m 2 wasobserved at the eastern side during the post monsoon period.Comparatively, higher dry mass value was recorded during the post monsoon period (171.1824.03g/m 2 ) than the pre monsoon (98.351.69g/m ). Amongthe growth form, the highest and lowest biomass was represented by emergents (251.1695.16g/m 2 ),free floating species (104.7628.02g/m 2 ) andsubmergedspecies (48.39 7.27g/m 2 ) respectively; which depicts the decrease inproductivity with the corresponding increase in depth contour. The reportedspeciesposses economic uses and ecological values including their role as a fishfood to human food and sheltering habitat to invertebrate and birds. The nuisanceof aquatic weeds has thwarted the lake to develop as a major ecotouristicdestination by impendingrecreationalandecological values. The principal threatsto the lake include; siltation, eutrophication, agricultural runoff and lake areaencroachment. Suggested management approaches include integrated land useplanning of the shoreline campaigning awareness among general public,demarcation of lake boundary and conservation through wise utilization ofaquatic plant resources. Key words: Siltation, Eutrophication, ConservationBiomass Species diversity, LimnologyItem Effect of Grazing Exclusion on Soil Properties and Vegetation Characteristics in Parthenium Hysterophorus L. Invaded Grassland of Hetauda, Central Nepal(Department of Botany, 2018) Paneru, PrativaGrasslands outside Protected Areas (PAs) in Nepal are much exploited ecosystems since these areas are surrounded by heavy settlement and grazing activity in these areas is entirely human controlled rather than being natural. Intense grazing practices without any management effort are making these grasslands likely to be invaded by IAPS and deteriorating the quality of the grasslands. Therefore this study was aimed to find out the impact of grazing exclusion in a highly grazed Parthenium hysterophorus invaded grassland. Three plots of 10 m × 10 m had been fenced since 2015 in the grassland to exclude grazing for research purposes. Three plots adjacent to those permanent plots were established in 2017. Effect of grazing exclusion on soil properties, relative abundance of weed species and plant species diversity of both Above Ground Vegetation (AGV) and Below Ground Vegetation (BGV) were compared between Freely Grazed (FG) and Grazing Excluded (GE) plots. The finding demonstrated that grazing exclusion of even three years showed some noticeable difference in some of the soil physico-chemical properties and vegetation characters of FG and GE plots. Soil bulk density and organic carbon were reduced while soil pH and electrical conductivity were enhanced by grazing exclusion. However, no apparent impact of livestock exclusion was observed for soil nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Grazing exclusion substantially altered the species composition of the grassland and enhanced the growth of much diverse plant species in AGV of GE plots. Similarly, grazing exclusion reduced relative abundance of Parthenium hysterophorus in germinable seed bank but it has no effect in AGV. However, since grazing exclusion showed opposite effect on species diversity of AGV and BGV no conclusion could be drawn about its effect on species diversity. Therefore more studies with longer period of grazing exclusion are required to fully understand the impact of grazing exclusion on soil properties and vegetation structure of grassland in order to use it as management practice in invaded grasslands.Item FISH DIVERSITY OF TULSIHAWA LAKE, RUPANDEHI, NEPAL(Amrit Campus, 2023-08-17) RAUT, TARAThe study on the fish diversity of Tulsihawa Lake, Rupendehi, Nepal was carried out four different seasons from October 2021 to July 2022. The cast net was used to collect fish samples hiring local fishermen. Physico-chemical parameters were also analyzed. A total species richness of 19 species was collected from Tulsihawa Lake, out of which 2 species were nonnative. Order Cypriniformes and family Cyprinidae were dominant both in species composition and individual capture. Amblyphryngodon microlepis was dominant species accounting 50.53% followed by Puntius sophore (14.99%) and Chanda nama (8.21%). The water quality parameters were found within suitable range that supports fish diversity. Fish diversity was positively correlated with temperature, transparency, dissolved oxygen, and alkalinity whereas turbidity, pH, and total hardness negatively correlated. The Shannon - Weiner diversity index, Margalef's richness and evenness index indicated a strong relationship with overall species richness. So, it is concluded that Tulsihawa Lake harbors suitable habitat for variety of fish species and aquatic inhabitants.Item Impact of Mikania micrantha on The Habitat of Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros Unicornis Linnaeus, 1758) in Baghmara Buffer Zone Community Forest, Chitwan, Nepal(Department of Zoology, 2014) Aryal, Madhav PrasadThis study was carried out aiming to assess the floral diversity, status and distribution of Mikania and its impact on Rhinoceros habitat in three different habitats namely natural forest, planted forest and grassland in the onset of monsoon season. For Sampling 20×20m 2 , 5×5 m 2 and 1×1m2 sized quadrates were used to obtain quantitative data related to trees, shrubs and herbs having sampling intensity 0.8%, 0.1% and 0.004% respectively under belt transect method of data collection. Altogether 88, 53 and 50 plant species were recorded in natural forest, planted forest and grassland respectively. Among three habitats, natural forest was found to be more diverse, followed by planted forest and grassland. Based on IVI of tree species natural forest was classified as Albizia-Trewia forest and planted forest as Dalbergia-Trewia forest. Mikania was found to be more abundant in planted forest than in natural forest but in grassland, Imperata cylindrica was found to be more abundant and followed by Saccharum spontaneum and Mikania micrantha. Altogether 41 food species of rhino were recorded, among them Imperata cylindrica. Saccharum spontaneum, Phragmites karka were smothered by Mikania invasion. Myrsine chisia and Litsea monopetala were found to be more severely impacted among major tree species followed by Mallotus philipensis, Dysoxylum binecteriferum, Milusa veluta, Acacia catechu, Dalbergia sissoo and so on. The preference habitat of Rhinoceros was found to be more severely impacted by Mikania micrantha invasion where more number of Rhinoceros was recorded. The abundance of Mikania micrantha and the species richness are highly negatively correlated at the 0.01 level and same types of correlation was found between coverage of Mikania micrantha and food species of Rhinoceros unicornis, which indicates that higher coverage of M. micrantha in the plot lowers the species richness and food species of Rhinoceros unicornis. Food species of Rhinoceros unicornis is more sensitive towards presence of M. micrantha than overall species richness. Key words: Mikania, Species diversity, Impact, Rhinoceros, Invasive speciesItem Plant community structure and regeneration of Quercus Semecarpifolio Sm.Forests in disturbed and undisturbed areas(Department of Botany, 2010) Thakuri, Pratistha SinghRegeneration behavior of tree species is characterized by their population structure which depends upon the presence of adequate number of seedlings and saplings. Quercus semecarpifolia is a main forest forming evergreen tree species from upper temperate to lower sub alpine regions of the Himalaya. Vegetation structure and regeneration of Quercus semecarpifolia were studied in two forests of midhills of Central Nepal with different disturbance levels; one was distrubed forest at Simbhanjyang, Makawanpur, and another was undisturbed forest in Shivapuri National Park, Kathmandu. A systematic random sampling method, using square quadrats, was used for vegetation and soil sampling. Soil was collected from each quadrat and their physicochemical characteristics (soil pH, organic carbon and total nitrogen) were analysed. In each quadrat, presence/absence of herbs and shrubs; and the total number of individuals of tree species, sapling and seedling were recorded. Community attributes such as importance value index, species richness and species diversity were determined for both forests and compared. Density-diameter relations for trees, and the spatial pattern of distribution of seedlings and saplings were analyzed to understand regeneration pattern. Altogether 86 and 57 species of flowering plants were found in disturbed and undisturbed forests, respectively. Tree species diversity was higher in undisturbed forest while herb and shrub diversity was higher in disturbed forest. There was significant (p<0.05) difference in soil pH, soil nitrogen, soil organic carbon, litter coverage, total tree density, density of Quercus semecarpifolia tree, sapling and seedling of Quercus semecarpifolia, density of seedlings of all tree species, and total species richness between two forests. Sapling density of Quercus semecarpifolia declined with increasing tree basal area in both forests and seedling density was also decreased with increasing basal area in undisturbed forest whereas no relation was found in disturbed forest. Significant increase in regeneration of Quercus semecarpifolia along with other tree species in disturbed forest might be due to disturbances in the canopy of trees.Item POPULATION STRUCTURE OF RHODODENDRON ARBOREUM SMITH, AND ASSOCIATED TREE SPECIES ALONG THE ALTITUDINAL GRADIENT IN A MIXED FOREST OF RAINASKOT, LAMJUNG, NEPAL(Amrit Campus, 2023-08-14) KHADKA, PRERANAPopulation structure is the number of individuals present in each of the definite girth classes of tree species. The main objectives of this study was to determine the population structure and regeneration of Rhododendron arboreum and its associated tree species along the three altitudinal range in a mixed forest of Rainaskot Lamjung. The study area was divided into three altitudinal range: lower (1200-1400masl), middle (1400-1600masl) and upper (1600 -1653masl). Altogether 75 circular quadrants, 25 from each altitudinal range were laid by using random systematic sampling method. Circular plot of 10m radius were laid for the study. Height and Diameter at breast height of the trees (>10cm dbh), associated trees (>10cm dbh), were recorded within main plot. Number of saplings and seedlings were recorded within main plot. Finally five soil samples were prepared from 25 soil samples collected from the center of the main plot within each altitudinal range. Total fifteen soil samples were taken for analysis such as Soil pH, organic matter, soil texture and 3 macro nutrients (NPK). A total of 13 tree species belonging to 11 different families were reported. The species richness in the forest increases with increasing altitude. The most frequent and dense tree species in the forest was R. arboreum with IVI value 77.7 and was present in 93.33% of the total sampling plots. The density of R arboreum was 257.52 individualha-1 with basal area 16.40 m2 ha-1 . In altitude wise comparison of density of R. arboreum with total tree density, upper altitudinal range had (393.28 individualha-1 ), middle altitudinal range (248.19 individualha-1 ), and the lower altitudinal range had (127.28 individualha-1 ). IVI of R. arboreum was quite lower (68.19%) in the lower altitudinal range with compared to middle (70.02%) and upper altitudinal range (105.52%). The R. arboreum shows reverse J-shaped population structure and fair regeneration status in overall forest having higher number of seedlings compared to saplings. However, the numbers of saplings were less than the adults except in lower altitudinal range. The height class distribution of R. arboreum shows a reverse J-shaped distribution with little deviation in the upper altitudinal range. The soil pH of forest was found to be acidic. The seedlings, saplings and adults density were positively correlated with the nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter except pH, potassium, canopy cover and litter depth. The anthropogenic disturbance, ecological diversity, and soil characteristics are responsible for the variation in population and regeneration attribute of the forest.Item Seasonal Diversity, Relative Abundance and Status of Avian Fauna in Nagarjun Royal Forest,Kathmandu, Nepal(Department of Zoology, 2006) Malla, SandeshSeasonal diversity, relative abundance and status of avian fauna were studied inNagarjun Royal Forest (NRF), Kathmandu. NRF is supposed to be a paradisefor several species of residential and migratory forest birds. The study areamainly consists of four types of forests-Schima wallichiiForest (SWF), MixedBroadleaved Forest (MBLF), Pine Forest (PF) and Dry Oak Forest (DOF)andsmall patches of grassy meadows and some streams. The study was carried outfrom May 2005 to Feb 2006 covering all four seasons. Four fixed line transectscovering all the major habitats of the study area were followed to census thebirds. Two of themrun through interior of the forests and two of them runthrough the forest edges. Shannon–Wiener function was used to calculateseasonal species diversity. Jacob's coefficient was used to calculate relativediversity. For relative abundance, encounter rates of every species werecalculated. A total of 117 taxa of bird species, belonging to 12 orders and 37families were recorded from the study area. Among them 76 (64.95%) specieswere resident, 18 (15.38%) were winter visitors, 19 (16.23%) were summervisitors and 4 (3.41%) were of unknown status. Diversity Index of bird showedhighest value during spring season (3.7916) followed by winter (3.7267),autumn (3.4323) and rainy (3.295) seasons. Similarly Jacob's coefficient forrelative abundance showed highest value in spring (0.870) followed by winter(0.848), rainy (0.834) and autumn (0.828) seasons. Among all species recorded,only 10 species were encountered commonly, 26 species were encounteredfrequently while 81 species were uncommon in its relative abundance. And,among 76 resident species 10, 21 and 45 species fell in the common, frequentand uncommon categories respectively. Among six different habitats, highestnumbers of species were exclusive to SWF which covers the largest area of allother forests. The number and species richness of birds were significantlydifferent in all seasons as well as in all the habitat transects. The resultindicated that species richness of birds was high during spring and winterseasons than rainy and autumn seasons. Similarly, species richness of birds washigher in forest edges than in interior of the forest. The fact, that the area hasgood diversity of birds and 15 bird species of all recorded species werenationally threatened, points to the importance of conservingthe forest, therebyensuring the survival of these vulnerable species and developing it as potentialarea for avian fauna ecotourism has been one of the major foci of this study.Item Species Diversity and Diet Analysis of Insectivorous Bat in Daunne Hill Range, Central Nepal(Department of Zoology, 2023) Poudel, DikshyaAvailable with full textItem Species Diversity and Distribution of Fish Community of Reu River(Department of Zoology, 2015) Dhakal, Debendra PrasadThis study was carried out in Madi valley, Chitwan, Nepal with the objective of investigating the Species Diversity and Distribution of fishes. To facilitate the research objective, river were categorized into three different stations at regular distance. Field surveys were conducted in different seasons of a single year from March 2014 to March 2015. Mainly cast net, Dhadiya, Rod and line were used to catch the fishes. Altogether 26 Fish species belonging to 7 orders and 12 families and 19 genera were observed in the study area. Majority of the fish species collected from the river fall under the order cypriniformes. Puntius sophore had the highest frequency occurrence of 10.92% and glyptothorax alaknandi had the lowest frequency occurrence of 0.33%. Other most common fish species were Puntius chola and barilius vagra with the frequency of 9.933% and 9.271 % respectively. Correlation between temperature, water depth and DO vs. number of fish composition are positive while velocity and pH vs. number of fish composition are negatively correlated. The highest Shannon diversity index, (H=1.41) were recorded at station I followed by (H= 1.26) at Station III and (H= 1.17) at Station II. Species richness index were recorded highest (d=11.062) at station III followed by (d=8.74) at station I and (d=8.41) at station II. Similarly the highest Shannon diversity index, (H=1.174) were recorded at monsoon followed by (H=1.1730) in pre-monsoon and (H=1.163) in post monsoon. Species richness index were recorded (d=10.57) in monsoon followed by (d=8.88) in pre-monsoon and (d=8.46) in post monsoon. Both conventional and non-conventional fishing appliances were found to be used in Reu River. Cast net, rod and line and some basket implements were used throughout the year. The socioeconomic condition of the fishermen of Reu River is not so poor, but most of them are illiterate.Item Species Diversity and Environmental Correlates of Farmland Dependent Birds in Nawalpur,Nepal(Department of Zoology, 2021) Regmi, PabitraThe increase in change in farming practices, result in habitat destruction or alteration, the greatest threats to biodiversity. Birds found around or in the farm utilizing different crops for foraging and some nesting in the hedges near the farm area are known as farmland dependent birds. Bird richness in agricultural lands are considered to be a good indicator for good state of wildlife and healthy condition of plants and invertebrate on which they feed. This study aims to explore the species diversity and environmental factors affecting the diversity of farmland dependent birds. Data was collected from the centroid point of the randomly selected 72 grids of size 500m by 500m. The birds were recorded at the circle of 50m radius for 20 minutes by using visual encounter method. The environmental variables (distance to nearest forest, distance to nearest water body, distance to nearest tree, distance to nearest village distance and number of people presence) were also collected within the circle. The data was analyzed using standard statistical tools. Generalized linear model (GLM) was performed to examine the relation of birds with different environmental variables. A total of 123 bird species were recorded in the farmland of Nawalpur during this study, where eighty three species in summer season, seventy seven species in rainy season and sixty nine species in winter seasons were recorded. The species diversity was higher during summer than rainy and winter. The significant impact in species richness of birds with distance to nearest forest, distance to nearest water body, precipitation (mean) and temperature (mean) was found. Distance to nearest forest, distance to nearest water body, precipitation (mean) have negative correlation with species richness in all three season but temperature has positive association with species richness in all three season whereas distance to highway has positive correlation with species richness in winter seasons. Distance to village was not important compared to other factors for bird diversity. Thus farmland of Nawalpur supports higher species richness of farmland dependent birds.Item Species Diversity and Factor Affecting the Abundance of Farmland- Dependent Birds in West Nawalparasi, Nepal(Department of Zoology, 2023) Poudel, KamalaAvailable with full textItem Species Diversity, Distribution and Status of Fishes in Tinau River, Nepal(Department of Zoology, 2015) Rijal, BikramA study was conducted to assess the fish diversity, distribution, abundance and status of fishes in Tinau River. The Tinau River supports for the habitat of many fresh water fishes of many types like carps, barbs, minnows, catfishes, eels etc. The study was focused on the diversity pattern of fishes and data was collected through selecting the sampling site and the field was visited on 4 different seasons. The study revealed that total 26 fish species have been collected from the Tinau River, belonging to 4 orders, 9 families and 19 genera. The most commonly observed fish species during the study period were Barillus bendelensis and Puntius sophore and Garra spp. Similarly, Tor tor and Brachydenio rerio were rare caught fishes. The physiochemical parameters were found to be related with the composition and distribution of the fished in Tinau River. Highest Shannon weiner diversity index was observed in station IV (1.14) and in the month of July (1.11). Similarly, the maximum richness was observed in station IV (6.63) and in the month of April (9.97). Evenness index was found to be higher in January (0.97) and in the station III (1.18). No significant difference in the diversity status was obtained during the investigation period rather it was a seasonal phenomenon in the composition of fish species.Item Study of Vegetation Ecology, Conservation and Management Practices of Betini Community Forest in Mangalbare Urlabari of Morang District, East Nepal(Department of Environmental Science, 2012) Ghimire, NirmalaA study on vegetation ecology, conservation and management practice of Betini Community Forest (BCF) was conducted in Urlabari Village Development Committee (VDC) of Morang district of Eastern Nepal. The field work was conducted on the month of January to March in 2011. The major objectives of this research were to study the species diversity of the forest and its status, demand and sustainable supply of the forest product, to identify the management practice of the community forest (CF) and to analyze the socioeconomic aspect of the Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs). The methodologies include both primary and secondary data collection. The primary data were collected by vegetation survey, socioeconomic survey, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), Key Informant Interview (KI) and Interaction with management committee. The secondary data were collected through the internet, report, and other related journals. Vegetation survey was conducted by using random sampling method in 49 quadrates where as socio economic survey was conducted using structured questionnaires of 79 HH through stratified random sampling method. The density and diversity index of the forest indicates that the forest was dense (higher diversity) with dominant species of Shorea robusta and the forest was more evenly distributed. The forest was found to be good in terms of high regenerating species. However the demand of forest product does not match with the supply from CF. Resources demand was found to be two times more in fuelwood and 35 th times more in fodder than the forest can supply. Large farm households (HH) have fulfilled the deficit of fodder and fuelwood through their own land and have adopted alternative energy resources like biogas. The landless and small farm HH had high pressure on the CF regarding the fuelwood and fodder. The unequal resource distribution compels the locals for illegal extraction of resource from the CF. The forest management practice of the CF was found to be weeding, thinning and new plantation which is entirely depends on their traditional knowledge. Also the forest provided good habitat for the different kind of animals, birds, and maintain biological corridor of elephant. Key Words: Community Forest, Forest User Groups, Demand, Sustainable supply, Species Diversity, Biodiversity Conservation, Biological Corridor