Biology and Conservation of Wild Canids, D.W. Macdonald, C. Sillero-Zubiri (Eds.). Oxford University Press, Oxford (2004), Pp. xiv+450. Price $74.50 paper

. Khan MS. 2017. Effect of forest composition on bird species abundance in tropical dry deciduous forest: A case of Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary, India. Biodiversitas 18: 78-85. The tropical dry deciduous forest (TDDF) with 38.2% of total forest cover in India forms the largest forest type of India. TDDF have been managed for centuries in the Indian subcontinent. However, so far it is not clear how different forest compositions and structures ini¬‚uence the abundance and the distribution patterns of faunal species vice versa. To provide further insights in this respect, we analysed how different habitat variables ini¬‚uence the abundance and diversity of forest birds. The difference in relative species abundances and habitat separation between forest specialist and generalist birds was also investigated. Different classes of bird density were discriminated with habitat variables. In general, it was found that higher bird densities were concentrated in the lower tree and shrub densities and diversities, however, high grass density and diversity with low tree density and diversity favoured the overall high bird density. Results further indicate the positive association of relative density of specialist bird species with the high grass density and diversity and low tree density and diversity. Specialists occurred in the lower relative densities (0.75Â±0.68) than that of generalists (0.86Â±0.69) and were found restricted to dense, pristine woody forest patches with high tree diversity.
Keywords: Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary, birds, Forest Composition, India, Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest

http://biodiversitas.mipa.uns.ac.id/D/D1801/D180112.pdf

Effect of forest composition on bird species abundance in tropical dry deciduous forest: A case of Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary, India

In India’s Indo-Gangetic plains, river flows are strongly altered by dams, barrages and water diversions for irrigation, urban supply, hydropower production and flood control. Human demands for freshwater are likely to intensify with climatic and socio-economic changes, exacerbating trade-offs between different sustainable development goals (SDGs) dependent on freshwater (e.g. SDG2, SDG6, SDG7, SDG11 and SDG15). Freshwater ecosystems and endangered aquatic species are not explicitly addressed in the SDGs, but only nested as targets within SDG6 and SDG15. Thus, there is high risk that decisions to advance other SDGs may overlook impacts on them. In this study, we link a water resource systems model and a forecast extinction risk model to analyze how alternative conservation strategies in the regulated Beas River (India) affect the likelihood of survival of the only remaining population of endangered Indus River Dolphins (IRD) in India in the face of climate change-induced impacts on river hydrology and human water demands, explicitly accounting for potential trade-offs between related SDGs. We find that the frequency of low flow released from the main reservoir may increase under some climate change scenarios, significantly affecting the IRD population. The strongest trade-offs exist between the persistence of IRD, urban water supply and hydropower generation. The establishment of ecologically informed reservoir releases combined with IRD population supplementation enhances the probability of survival of the IRD and is compatible with improving the status of relevant SDGs. This will require water managers, conservation scientists, and other stakeholders to continue collaborating to develop holistic water management strategies.

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Exploring trade-offs between SDGs for Indus River Dolphin conservation and human water security in the regulated Beas River, India

In Malaysia, multiple land use by humans has caused substantial losses of wetland ecosystems, and shrinkage of the populations, habitat and food bases of avian species. However, studies of avian populations, especially of waterbirds, is important, allowing us to understand the complexity of the wetland ecosystem structure, and also develop appropriate management techniques with robust monitoring tools to ensure the ecological sustainability of wetlands. This study aimed to determine the eco-climatic factors influencing the occurrence of waterbirds and to develop habitat suitability models for thePaya Indah (PIW) and Putrajaya wetlands (PW), Malaysia. A distance sampling point count technique using stratified random design was employed to survey the wetlands from November 2016 to January 2019. A total of 57 sampling points at 14 lakes at PIW and 54 sampling points at 24 lakes at PW were chosen. An automatic linear modelling algorithm and geographic information systems were employed to compute the importance ratios of 17 eco-climatic factors (hydrology 9; climate 5; waterscape 1 and landscape 2). The results revealed that all individual and estimated indices for observed waterbirds were significant. The automatic linear modelling algorithm results for PIW waterbirds also showed that the maximum and minimum weights of the factors were land cover and water dissolved oxygen, while in PW they were atmospheric pressure and Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI). The maximum and minimum weights of the factors for waterbirds in PIW were water turbidity and electrical conductivity, while at PW they were atmospheric pressure and six water parameters. Large areas of Putrajaya Wetland were classified as more suitable for waterbirds than Paya Indah Wetland due to the favourable water pH, atmospheric pressure and land cover (forage availability). Thus, the models' adoption as a management tool can help in the maintenance of the wetlands' habitat quality and management effectiveness of waterbird species.

https://bioone.org/journals/ornithological-science/volume-20/issue-1/osj.20.39/Environmental-Factors-and-Spatial-Heterogeneity-Affect-Occupancy-Estimates-of-Waterbirds/10.2326/osj.20.39.pdf

Environmental Factors and Spatial Heterogeneity Affect Occupancy Estimates of Waterbirds in Peninsular Malaysia

The present study was conducted between April 2011 and May 2013 in an approximately 70 km long stretch of River Beas to estimate the abundance and distribution pattern of Indus river dolphin along the Beas, as an initial step towards its better conservation. Based on the line transect method for wide channel, seven vessel-based collinear line transects of 10 km each were surveyed once every month. A total of 33 sighting frequencies were possible during the study. The studied isolated sub-population was found to be extant in very low abundance of 0.047 dolphins/km. The distribution of the dolphins was found significantly different in all flow seasons. The dolphins were found migrating towards upstream during high flows as the increased water levels create new suitable habitat patches, whereas low flows restrict them to the only remaining habitats downstream. Persistence of dolphins, even in low density in this isolated small stretch of River Beas is indeed a good sign, but intensive fishing and increasing pollution remain a matter of concern. Hence it is suggested that the government withdraws fishing contracts throughout its range of distribution.

Abundance and Distribution Modelling for Indus River Dolphin, Platanista gangetica minor in River Beas, India

Conservation status, species composition, and distribution of Avian Community in Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary, India

Khan MS, Pant A. 2014. Conservation status and distribution pattern of the Indus River Dolphin in River Beas, India. Biodiversitas 15:Â 75-79. Decline in the populations of Indus River Dolphins Platanista gangetica minor throughout its range of distribution and aÂ perception that it is a 'keystone species' for riverine ecosystem stirred the idea of proposed study. Deficiency of baseline data on itsÂ distribution and ecology is a major constraint that this (only known sub-population in India) speciesâ€™ conservation is facing in theÂ country. Thus to ascertain its conservation status and distribution pattern, the study was conducted between December 2010 to JuneÂ 2012. During the study, three schools of dolphins have been identified, one each along Beas bridge-Gagdewal; Baguwal-Dhunda andÂ Karmowala-Harike that comprised of adult, sub-adult and calves. The occurrence dolphins was found attributed to preferred habitatÂ features such as deep pools, slow water current, abundant prey base and low disturbance.

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Anjana Pant

Papers

Conservation status, species composition, and distribution of Avian Community in Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary, India

Conservation status and distribution pattern of the Indus River Dolphin in River Beas, India