Waning grasslands: a quantitative temporal evaluation of the grassland habitats across human-dominated upper Gangetic Plains, north India

Grassland habitats currently face severe anthropogenic exploitations leading to cascading effects on the survival of grassland-dependent biodiversity globally, particularly in non-protected areas. Significant amount of such biodiversity-rich grasslands in India are found outside protected areas but lack quantitative information on their status. We evaluated the current and historical (30 years) status of the grasslands using a combination of intensive field surveys and GIS tools across one of the most fertile, human-dominated region: the upper Gangetic Plains of north India. On-ground mapping and visual classifications revealed 57% decline in grassland habitats between 1985 (418 km2) and 2015 (178km2), mostly driven by conversion to croplands (74% contribution). Radio-telemetry data from the largest endemic cervid swamp deer (n=2) showed grassland-dominated average home range (50% BBMM) size of 1.02 km2. The animals highly preferred these patches (average Ivlevs index- 0.85) and showed the highest temporal continuity (88%) compared to other LULC classes. Camera trapping within the core habitats suggests critical use of these patches as fawning/breeding grounds. Habitat suitability analysis indicates only ~18% of the entire area along the Ganges is suitable for swamp deer. Accurate mapping (86% accuracy) and characterization of four major grass species revealed a total 144.04 km2 vegetation area, dominated by Saccharum sp. (35%). We recommend protection and recovery of these critical grassland patches to maintain dynamic corridors and other appropriate management strategies involving multiple stakeholders to ensure survival of this critical ecosystem. Such evaluations, if spatially expanded, would be critical to restore this rapidly vanishing ecosystem worldwide.

Feasibility of reintroducing grassland megaherbivores, the greater one-horned rhinoceros, and swamp buffalo within their historic global range

Reintroduction of endangered species is an effective and increasingly important conservation strategy once threats have been addressed. The greater one-horned rhinoceros and swamp buffalo have declined through historic hunting and habitat loss. We identify and evaluate available habitat across their historic range (India, Nepal, and Bhutan) for reintroducing viable populations. We used Species Distribution Models in Maxent to identify potential habitats and evaluated model-identified sites through field visits, interviews of wildlife managers, literature, and population-habitat viability analysis. We prioritize sites based on size, quality, protection, management effectiveness, biotic pressures, and potential of conflict with communities. Our results suggest that populations greater than 50 for rhinoceros and 100 for buffalo were less susceptible to extinction, and could withstand some poaching, especially if supplemented or managed as a metapopulation. We note some reluctance by managers to reintroduce rhinoceros due to high costs associated with subsequent protection. Our analysis subsequently prioritised Corbett and Valmiki, for rhino reintroduction and transboundary complexes of Chitwan-Parsa-Valmiki and Dudhwa-Pilibhit-Shuklaphanta-Bardia for buffalo reintroductions. Establishing new safety-nets and supplementing existing populations of these megaherbivores would ensure their continued survival and harness their beneficial effect on ecosystems and conspecifics like pygmy hog, hispid hare, swamp deer, hog deer, and Bengal florican.

Assessment of endemic northern swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii duvaucelii) distribution and identification of priority conservation areas through modeling and field surveys across north India

Recent declines in large herbivores have led to significant conservation efforts globally. However, the niche-specific megaherbivores residing outside protected areas face more imminent extinction threats. Swamp deer, the obligate grassland-dwelling endemic cervid is the most extinction-prone megaherbivore in the Indian subcontinent. Limited information on distribution and habitat status pose significant conservation and management challenges for the remaining fragmented populations in north, north-east and central India. To this end, we combined exhaustive field surveys and Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) modeling to generate the most detailed distribution map for the northern swamp deer subspecies. We used primary data from more than 6000 km2 field surveys and eight ecologically relevant covariates for model predictions. Grassland cover, annual mean temperature and distance from water were the major factors that predicted the species distribution. Models predicted swamp deer distribution in only ~3% of the entire landscape, covering both protected (~1.4%) as well as non-protected (~1.6%) areas. Our validation surveys in some of these predicted areas confirmed swamp deer presence and indicated ~85% model accuracy. Finally, we identified four ‘Priority Conservation Areas’ still retaining adequate grassland habitat and species presence that require immediate attention to ensure population connectivity across this landscape. These results highlight the importance of the marginalized grassland ecosystems of northern India that still retains high biodiversity. We suggest a swamp deer-centric conservation approach to protect these human-dominated habitats and emphasize in generating such information for other endemic, habitat-specialist species across the globe.

Parasite commonality at Swamp Deer (Mammalia: Artiodactyla: Cervidae: Rucervus duvaucelii duvaucelii) and livestock interface

Interactions between wildlife and livestock have increased over time with increased anthropogenic pressure on limited available natural habitats. These interactions have resulted in sharing of pathogens between the species resulting in impacting the wild animals’ fitness and reproduction and further influencing their abundance and diversity. The spatial overlap between Swamp Deer and livestock was studied at Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserve (JJCR), Uttarakhand and Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS), Uttar Pradesh in India, having different levels of interaction with livestock. The prevalence, load and commonality of gastro-intestinal parasites in the species was studied through coprological examination. Parasitic ova of Strongyle sp., Trichostrongylus sp., Fasciola sp., and Moniezia sp. Amphistomes were encountered in swamp deer and livestock from both the sites. The parasitic species richness and prevalence however, varied between JJCR and KWLS. The study recorded significant differences between the parasitic load in Swamp Deer with the eggs per gram of 487.5±46.30 at JJCR and 363.64±49.97 at KWLS at varying levels of livestock interactions.

Identification of suitable habitat for Swamp Deer Rucervus duvaucelii duvaucelii (Mammalia: Artiodactyla: Cervidae) in Chitwan National Park, Nepal

Swamp Deer is a globally threatened large-sized deer species confined within small patches of the Indian subcontinent. Historically, Swamp Deer occurred in Chitwan National Park, Nepal but was extirpated in the 1960s primarily due to widespread hunting. We assessed the habitat suitability at present for the Swamp Deer in Chitwan National Park using multi-criteria analysis in GIS and vegetation assessment using frequency, dominance, and cover. Within the 952.63km2 area of the national park, the habitat suitability analysis identified 14.57km2 as highly suitable, 134.87km2 as suitable, and 803.19km2 as moderate to least suitable area. Most of the national park’s grassland is suitable for Swamp Deer. Grassland is dominated by Saccharum spp.; Imperata cylindrica is the most widely distributed grass species followed by Saccharum spp., Narenga porphyrocoma, and Apluda mutica. Grass species of the Poaceae family are the most preferred species by Swamp Deer, which are found within short grasslands. The study revealed that Padampur Phanta could be the most suitable site for the reintroduction of Swamp Deer due to its highest proportion of short grass and availability of preferred food species and good habitat in comparison to other blocks. Invasion of swamps of Chitwan by Mikania micrantha and Eichornia crassipes could be a limiting factor for the habitat suitability of Swamp Deer.

First detection and molecular identification of the zoonoticAnaplasma caprain deer in France

Cervids are known to be reservoir of zoonotic tick-transmitted bacteria. The aim of this study was to perform a survey in a wild fauna reserve to characterizeAnaplasmaspecies carried by captive red deer and swamp deer. Blood from 59 red deer and 7 swamp deer was collected and analyzed over a period of two years. A semi-nested PCR that targets the23SrRNA was performed to detect and characteriseAnaplasmaspp. and determine zoonotic species presence.Anaplasma phagocytophilumwas identified in 14/59 deer (23.7%) but not in swamp deer. Few sequences could not be assigned to any particular species based on the23SrRNA sequences. Nested PCR targeting16SrRNA,gltAandgroELgenes and sequencing analysis detected a recently reported zoonotic species,Anaplasma caprain red deer as well as in swamp deer. This is the first reporting of the tick-borne zoonotic bacteriumA. caprain France, a species otherwise described only in China and Japan, in goats, sheep, deer and japanese serows. Even if this bacterium may have been introduced in the Park with infected imported animals, its local epidemiological cycle through tick transmission seems possible as locally born deer were found infected. Diagnostic methods, especially molecular ones, should take into account the potential infection of animals and humans with this species.

DELINEATING ECO-SENSITIVE ZONES USING GEOSPATIAL METHODS – A TEST CASE OF JHILMIL JHEEL CONSERVATION RESERVE

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> Most of the protected areas (PAs) in India have a hard boundary; very rarely having a transition zone to minimise the negative human wildlife interface. With increasing anthropogenic pressures, areas surrounding PAs are becoming integral for conservation. Government of India introduced a concept of Eco-sensitive Zones (ESZ) around PAs to minimise anthropogenic pressures and regulate rapid development in these areas. However, delineation of ESZs is a complex process and may take a long time. In this paper, a novel geospatial approach has been presented to delineate ESZ using a species centric approach. A case study using Swamp deer (<i>Rucervus duvaucelli duvaucelli</i>) as focal species was explored for its potential to delineate ESZ around protected area Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserve (JJCR) located in Uttarakhand India. Maximum entropy or Maxent model was used to identify habitat suitability. Normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI), altitude, land cover and distance to roads were used as co-variates. Seasonal variations for habitat suitability were also considered. In this study habitat suitability map of swamp deer was further rationalised based on habitat fragmentation and management limitations and proposed as ESZ of JJCR. This approach for delineation of ESZ can be very useful for PAs in India which have focal species and are yet to declare their ESZ.</p>