Evidence of bhellar (Trewia nudiflora) seed dispersal by chital (Axis axis) in Chitwan National Park, Nepal

In riverine forest of Chitwan National Park, Nepal, Bhellar or trewia (Trewia nudiflora) is one of the most abundant tree species. Similarly, chital (Axis axis) is the most abundant and widely distributed deer species. We documented the potential role of chital in seed dispersal of trewia tree in Chitwan. We observed the trewia seeds regurgitated by chital at the Gharial Conservation and Breeding Center (GCBC), Kasara, Chitwan. The trewia seeds were recorded the following morning of the chital sheltering the GCBC. A detailed study is suggested to understand trewia the seed germination success and trewia-chital relationship.

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The Role of Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) in the Plant Seed Dispersal of Golestan National Park

Iranian Journal of Applied Ecology ◽

10.29252/ijae.7.2.29 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 29-42

Author(s):

S. karimi ◽

M.R. Hemami ◽

M. Tarkesh Esfahani ◽

Ch. Baltzinger ◽

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Keyword(s):

Seed Dispersal ◽

National Park ◽

Ursus Arctos ◽

Brown Bear ◽

Plant Seed

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Diet of Bengal Tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) in Chitwan National Park, Nepal

European Journal of Ecology ◽

10.1515/eje-2017-0008 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 80-84 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Shivish Bhandari ◽

Mukesh Kumar Chalise ◽

Chiranjibi Prasad Pokharel

Keyword(s):

National Park ◽

Panthera Tigris ◽

Mammal Species ◽

Small Component ◽

Axis Axis ◽

Panthera Tigris Tigris ◽

Chitwan National Park ◽

Muntiacus Muntjak ◽

Cervus Unicolor ◽

Wild Pig

AbstractWe studied the diet of the Bengal tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) in Chitwan National Park, Nepal, by identifying 109 prey items from 85 tiger scats. Tigers in this region fed upon eight different mammal species. Chital (Axis axis) was the major prey with a frequency of 45% of the Tigers’ diet. The occurrence of other prey species included sambar (Cervus unicolor, 23%), wild pig (Sus scrofa, 15%), hog deer (Axis porcinus, 9%), barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak, 4%), and gaur (Bos gaurus, 2%). Tigers also hunted livestock, but this prey comprised a small component of the relative biomass (buffalo 5% and cow 2%). Our study suggests that the tiger depends mostly upon wild prey for its subsistence in the Chitwan National Park, but will also sporadically hunt livestock.

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The Role of Dispersal in Structuring the Chitwan Tiger Population

Behaviour ◽

10.1163/156853993x00560 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 124 (3-4) ◽

pp. 165-195 ◽

Cited By ~ 141

Author(s):

JAMES L. DAVID Smith

Keyword(s):

Social Interactions ◽

Population Size ◽

National Park ◽

Genetic Variance ◽

Effective Population ◽

The World ◽

Chitwan National Park ◽

Tiger Population ◽

Stochastic Events

AbstractDispersal in tigers was studied in Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Thirty six adult and young were studied to monitor movements and social interactions relative to dispersal. Fourteen subadults were followed from before their dispersal until they died or established post-dispersal territories. Subadult tigers became semi-independent of their mother when her next litter was born. They usually remained within her natal area until the subsequent litter began to move with her at about 2 mos of age. Animals dispersed between 19 and 28 mos. Males dispersed farther than females and settled in poorer habitat. Three of 4 females settled adjacent to their mothers; in two cases the mother shifted her territory allowing the daughter to take over a large portion of the mother's former territory. Wounds on young prior to dispersal indicated that aggression prompted dispersal. Fjghts were observed between dispersers and residents. After fights, dispersers always left the resident's area. All 4 dispersing females established breeding territories. Females settled next to their mothers tending to reduce the genetic variance of a male's offspring. Eight of 10 males became localized in temporary, post-dispersal territories; 4 of the 8 survived. Two males died of poisoning and 2 from intrasexual aggression. Surviving males either expanded temporary territories or shifted to new areas to establish breeding territories. The Chitwan tigers are an isolated remnant of a population once continuous across the lowlands of Nepal. Effective population size was estimated to be <30 animals. Tigers did not disperse across cultivated areas but did travel through degraded forest habitat. No animal dispersed outside the Chitwan region and there appear to be effective barriers separating Chitwan from the two nearest populations 150 and 250 kms distant. The Chitwan population is probably one of the largest tiger populations remaining in the world. Isolation and small size threaten these populations with stochastic events that may lead to further reduction in population size.

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The potential role of ducks in wetland seed dispersal

Wetlands ◽

10.1672/0277-5212(2002)022[0170:tprodi]2.0.co;2 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 170-178 ◽

Cited By ~ 59

Author(s):

Margaret Holt Mueller ◽

Arnold G. Valk

Keyword(s):

Seed Dispersal ◽

Potential Role

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Factors Affecting Population Composition and Social Organization of Wild Ungulates in the Chitwan National Park, Nepal

Journal of Institute of Science and Technology ◽

10.3126/jist.v22i2.19608 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 156-167 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bishnu Prasad Bhattarai ◽

Pavel Kindlmann

Keyword(s):

Wild Boar ◽

National Park ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Population Composition ◽

Human Disturbances ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Axis Axis ◽

Chitwan National Park ◽

Disturbed Forest

We investigated the factors affecting group sizes and population composition of chital (Axis axis), sambar (Rusa unicolor), hog deer (Axis porcinus), northern red muntjac (Muntiacus vaginalis), wild boar (Sus scrofa) and gaur (Bos gaurus) in the Chitwan National Park in southern Nepal. The study revealed that mean group sizes were the largest for chital (winter: 13.76 and summer: 11.01), followed by wild boar (winter: 6.89 and summer: 8.51), hog deer (winter: 5.52 and summer: 6.66), gaur (winter: 4.36 and summer: 5.81), sambar (winter: 1.86 and summer: 2.45) and muntjac (winter: 1.44 and summer: 1.46). The age and sex ratio of ungulates were biased towards females in all species. This study found the highest proportion of young individuals in wild boar and the lowest in gaur. Habitat structure, presence of predators and human disturbances strongly affected group size of ungulates in this area. Larger groups of ungulates were found in less disturbed open areas with high predatory pressure, while smaller groups and solitary individuals were found in highly disturbed forest areas. We recommend that management of human disturbances inside the park and regular monitoring of the changes in the demography of ungulate populations will improve long-term conservation strategies in this park. Journal of Institute of Science and TechnologyVolume 22, Issue 2, January 2018, Page: 156-167

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Post-dispersal seed removal by rodents in Ranomafana rain forest, Madagascar

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467417000104 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 232-236 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Onja H. Razafindratsima

Keyword(s):

Seed Dispersal ◽

Tree Species ◽

National Park ◽

Camera Traps ◽

Rodent Species ◽

Scatter Hoarding ◽

Disturbed Habitat ◽

Disturbed Habitats ◽

Secondary Seed Dispersal

Abstract:Seed-consuming rodents are increasingly recognized for their roles in the maintenance of tree species diversity, by acting on crucial post seed-dispersal processes. Yet, studies examining the extent to which rodents may act as secondary seed dispersers and/or predators in Madagascar's forests are limited. Thread-marking seed experiments were run to address this, using the seeds of two native large-seeded, frugivore-dispersed tree species (Abrahamia thouvenotii and Cryptocarya crassifolia), in disturbed and less-disturbed habitats in the rain forests of Ranomafana National Park, during the dry season. Data show that post-dispersal handling of seeds by rodents (predation and removal) was significantly lower in disturbed than in less-disturbed habitats (1.31–3.78 times lower; n = 2200). Also, seeds were more likely to be predated or left on the forest ground after removal than being larder- or scatter-hoarded: 27–78% of the removed seeds were found on the ground, <12% found in burrows and there was no evidence of scatter-hoarding (n = 132). Based on pictures from camera traps, the native rodent species, Nesomys rufus, was potentially responsible for seed predation and/or removal in the less-disturbed habitat; but no indication of the rodent species active in the disturbed habitat was obtained. The lack of scatter-hoarding suggests a limited role of rodents in secondary seed dispersal in this system. These findings form a preliminary account of the potential roles of rodents in post seed-dispersal processes in Madagascar's forests, but this warrants further study.

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Potential role of frugivorous birds (Passeriformes) on seed dispersal of six plant species a restinga habitat, southeastern Brazil

Revista de Biología Tropical ◽

10.15517/rbt.v56i1.5519 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 56 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Verónica Souza da Mota Gomes ◽

Maria Célia Rodrigues Correia ◽

Heloisa Alves de Lima ◽

Maria Alice S. Alves

Keyword(s):

Seed Dispersal ◽

Plant Species ◽

Potential Role ◽

Southeastern Brazil ◽

Frugivorous Birds

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Risky Behaviors in Yellowstone National Park: The Potential Role of Decision-Making and Justice on Visitors’ Behavior

Human Dimensions of Wildlife ◽

10.1080/10871209.2013.751637 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 181-193 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Camille B. Lalasz

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Yellowstone National Park ◽

National Park ◽

Potential Role ◽

Risky Behaviors

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Potential Role of Passenger Pigeons and Other Vertebrates in the Rapid Holocene Migrations of Nut Trees

Quaternary Research ◽

10.1016/0033-5894(86)90096-7 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 367-375 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Sara L. Webb

Keyword(s):

Seed Dispersal ◽

Potential Role ◽

North American Species ◽

Species Range ◽

Range Extension ◽

The Holocene ◽

Seed Predators ◽

Light Wind ◽

Dispersal Distances

Rapid rates of species range extension during the Holocene represent seed dispersal distances of at least 6 to 8 km per generation for North American species of Fagus, Quercus, and Carya, taxa whose fruits are heavy nuts. Occasional seed dispersal by biotic seed predators is necessary for these dispersal distances. One likely agent for dispersal across long distances and habitat discontinuities was the extinct (since 1914 A.D.) passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius). This bird's abundance, capacity for delayed digestion, and nomadic habits strongly suggest an occasional seed dispersal role, although a coevolutionary seed dispersal relationship cannot be inferred from available evidence. The capacity of some heavy seeds for dispersal distances greater than those of most light, wind-dispersed seeds has biogeographic and genetic implications.

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