https://libjncir.jncasr.ac.in/xmlui/handle/10572/13 2026-04-04T05:30:29Z 2026-04-04T05:30:29Z Gray, Thomas N. E. Vidya, T. N. C. Potdar, Sheetal Bharti, D. K. Sovanna, Prum https://libjncir.jncasr.ac.in/xmlui/handle/10572/2454 2017-02-21T10:25:22Z 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z

Population size estimation of an Asian elephant population in eastern Cambodia through non-invasive mark-recapture sampling Gray, Thomas N. E.; Vidya, T. N. C.; Potdar, Sheetal; Bharti, D. K.; Sovanna, Prum The Asian elephant is a flagship species for conservation in tropical Asia, but reliable population estimates are available only from a few populations. This is because the species can be elusive and occurs at low densities in dense habitat over a large part of its range. Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary in the Eastern Plains, Cambodia, which is part of one of the largest protected area complexes in South-East Asia, is one such habitat that had not been systematically censused for elephants. We, therefore, used fecal-DNA based capture-mark-recapture sampling to estimate the population size for establishing a monitoring baseline. Five sampling sessions targeted all areas in and adjacent to Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary believed to be used by elephants. Fresh dung was collected as the source of DNA and genotyping was carried out based on nine microsatellite loci. The 224 samples collected yielded 78 unique genotypes. Using model averaging of closed population capture-mark-recapture models, the elephant population in Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary was estimated to number 136 +/- A 18 (SE) individuals. Our results suggest that eastern Cambodia supports a regionally important Asian elephant population. Restricted Access

2014-01-01T00:00:00Z Chakraborty, Subhankar Boominathan, D. Desai, Ajay A. Vidya, T. N. C. https://libjncir.jncasr.ac.in/xmlui/handle/10572/2455 2017-02-21T10:25:25Z 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z

Using genetic analysis to estimate population size, sex ratio, and social organization in an Asian elephant population in conflict with humans in Alur, southern India Chakraborty, Subhankar; Boominathan, D.; Desai, Ajay A.; Vidya, T. N. C. With growing human and, possibly, elephant populations and a drastic increase in anthropogenic activities, human-elephant conflict in Asia has been on the rise. The Alur area in Karnataka state, southern India, is one such case in point, which has witnessed increasing levels of human-elephant conflict over the last two decades. The tiny, moderately protected habitat available for elephants in this human-dominated landscape does not appear to be able to support elephants over the long term. Options to deal with the escalating conflict include translocation of elephants, bringing elephants into captivity, and culling. We carried out a molecular genetic study of elephants in the Alur area to estimate the minimum number of elephants using the area, the sex ratio, genetic relatedness between individuals, and genetic structure with regard to the larger population in the landscape, so that informed management decisions could be made. Fresh dung samples were collected from the field and genotyped using 12 microsatellite loci. We found 29 unique individuals in the population, comprising 17 females and 12 males of different age classes. Relatedness between females suggested independent colonisations by discrete, small groups rather than by one cohesive clan of related females. This obviates the need for a single solution for dealing with all the females in the area in order to maintain social integrity, and has implications in terms how these elephants can be dealt with. We demonstrate how social organization inferred through molecular data from non-invasive sampling can inform management decisions. Restricted Access

2014-01-01T00:00:00Z Sarangi, Manaswini Ganguly, Payel Zenia Arvind, Chiti Lakshman, Abhilash Vidya, T. N. C. https://libjncir.jncasr.ac.in/xmlui/handle/10572/2451 2017-02-21T10:25:26Z 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z

Common Myna Roosts Are Not Recruitment Centres Sarangi, Manaswini; Ganguly, Payel; Zenia; Arvind, Chiti; Lakshman, Abhilash; Vidya, T. N. C. We studied communal roosting in the Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) in the light of the recruitment centre hypothesis and predation at the roost. The number and sizes of flocks departing from and arriving at focal roosts were recorded over a two year period. We also recorded the sizes and behaviour of foraging flocks. We found that flock sizes of birds departing from roosts at sunrise were larger than those at the feeding site, suggesting that there was no recruitment from the roosts. Flocks entering the roosts during sunset were larger on average than those leaving the following sunrise, suggesting no consolidation of flocks in the morning. Flocks entering the roosts at sunset were also larger on average than those that had left that sunrise, although there was no recruitment at the feeding site. There was no effect of group size on the proportion of time spent feeding. Contrary to expectation, single birds showed lower apparent vigilance than birds that foraged in pairs or groups, possibly due to scrounging tactics being used in the presence of feeding companions. Thus, the recruitment centre hypothesis did not hold in our study population of mynas. Predation at dawn and dusk were also not important to communal roosting: predators near the roosts did not result in larger flocks, and resulted in larger durations of arrival/departure contrary to expectation. Since flock sizes were smallest at the feeding site and larger in the evening than in the morning, but did not coincide with predator activity, information transfer unrelated to food (such as breeding opportunities) may possibly give rise to the evening aggregations. Open Access

2014-01-01T00:00:00Z Vidya, T. N. C. https://libjncir.jncasr.ac.in/xmlui/handle/10572/2452 2017-02-21T10:25:28Z 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z

Large, secondarily collected data in biological and environmental sciences Vidya, T. N. C. Open Access

2014-01-01T00:00:00Z