1.
Ecology And Population Of Waterbirds Of A Ramsar Site Along Makran Coastal Wetlands Complex Pakistan
by Fehmeeda Bibi | Dr.Zulfiqar Ali | Dr.Muhammad Mahmood-ul-Hassan.
Material type: ; Format:
print
Publisher: 2009Dissertation note: AWetlands are valuable ecosystems that occupy about 6% of the world's land surface. Natural wetlands in Pakistan covering approximately 10% of the total land area of the country. Waterbirds depend on wetlands for a variety of activities which include feeding, breeding, nesting and moulting.
This study was undertaken to identify and analyzed the ecology and population of waterbirds. Jiwani Coastal Wetlands is internationally well known wetlands and declared as Ramsar Site on 5th October, 2001. Located along Gawater Bay arround the delta of the Dasht River, a very significant area of mangrove forests extending westward to the Iranian frontier, contiguous with Iran's Gawater Bay and Hur-e-Bahu Ramsar site. From December, 2007 to December, 2008 study was conducted to observe the ecology and population of waterbirds in the study area. During one year, number of birds species recorded was 112; representing 16 orders and 38 families recorded from the 4600 hectare area of the Jiwani Coastal Wetlands. Status and seasonal occurrence of birds was also studied, total count was 15,469 that comprise 53 species as common, 10 rare, 31 scarce, 17 abundant and status of one species was unknown. According to seasonal occurrence of waterbirds at Jiwani Coastal Wetlands, 79 species were exclusively as visitor and 33 were resident. Out of 79 visitor species, 54 species were winter visitor, 11 summer visitor, 10 were irregular year round visitor, and three species were vagrant. Maximum number of species recorded from order Chadriiformes were 34 while in Passeriformes were 30; number of species belongs to order Phoenicopteriformes, Falconiformes, Piciformes, Psittaciformes and Upupiformes recorded equal in numbers; one species in each order
Relative abundance, Census Index and Shannon Weiner Diversity Index were found for recorded bird data and compared with previous studies. Relatively abundant species were Eurasian Coot Fulica atra (0.1577), Common Teal Anas crecca (0.0645), Herring Gull Larus cachinnans (0.06 15), Eurasian Oyster Catcher Haematopus ostralegus (0.0606) and Shoveler Anas clypeata (0.0511) respectively while in previous study Dalmatian Pelican Felicanus crispus (14.037), Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus rubber (14.014), Herring Gull Larus cachinnans (11.487) Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus (3.046), Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis (0.24) respectively. Density of birds also recorded in this study which was 3.36 per bird per hectare; in comparison to previous study this value was 5.43 per birds per hectare that was slightly higher. Shannon Weiner Diversity Index value of the 112 species of waterbirds was 0.253 while in previous it was 0.236 that is slightly lowers. Population of birds was significantly higher in the present study total birds population was 15,469 and in previous study it was 8,862. Yet the number of species was 125 in past and 112 in present study. Identified threats for decline in number of species were exploitation of natural habitat, fishing, cultivation, illegal hunting, deforestation, urbanization and due to global warming.
Hence there is a strong need to restore, conserve and preserve these existing wetlands to maintain and improve the distribution, diversity, and abundance of populations and habitats of breeding, migratory, and nonbreeding waterbirds throught the lands and waters of the Pakistan.
Availability: Items available for loan: UVAS Library [Call number: 1059,T] (1).
2.
Habitat Abundance Morphology And General Biology Of Indian Flying Fox ( Pteropus Giganteus ) At Dir Malakand
by Muhammed Salim | Dr.Muhammad Mahmood-ul-Hassan | Dr.Azhar Maqbool | Dr.Zulfiqar Ali.
Material type: ; Format:
print
; Literary form:
not fiction
Publisher: 2009Dissertation note: This study was carried out from June, 2008 to December, 2008 to study the habitat, abundance, morphology and general biology of Indian flying fox (Pteropus gigc,nteus) at Dir, Malakand, Mardan and Charsadda districts of N. W. F. P - Pakistan. Five different roosts viz. (a) Dargai bridge, situated on main road from Peshawar to Swat, tehsil Dargai and district Malakand, (b) Ghaffar khan village, situated on main road from Shakoor to Mandani, tehsil Tangi in Charsadda district, (c) Chail Kandov Baba, situated on main road from Dargai to Katlang tehsil Takht Bhai in Mardan district, (d) Chakdara bridge, situated on river Swat at the junction of Chakdara and Swat road tehsil C'hakdara and Dir district, and (e) Fishing hut, situated on river Swat near Chakdara bridge tehsil Chakdara in Dir district were sampled for the study of habitat, abundance and morphology and general biology of the Indian flying fox (Pteropus giganteus).
Field data was also collected to know the habitat, abundance and general biology of these bats in the study area. The carcasses of the bats were collected from the ground underneath the above mentioned five roosts. Out of five roost only two i.e. Ghaffar Khan Village and Chail Kandov Baba where the habitat was composed of loamy soil and vegetated with maximum number of Eucalyptus glob ulus and some grasses.
Before being weighed the external body measurements of some specimens were recorded. The skulls of these specimens were also prepared for recording different parameters of the skull. The proportion CL/HBL, FL/HBL, TL/HBL and CaL/HBL were almost similar in the two types of skulls whereas the proportion ELIHBL, EB/HBL, TWC/HBL, 21I metaJHBL, 3 metaJHBL, 41h metaJHBL, metaJHBL, FAL/HBL and meta/HBL, FAL/HBL and WS/HBL was somewhat greater in the case with skull without ridge. Only the proportion BW/HBL was greater in the case of the skull having ridge than those without ridge.
Since all the specimens wer putrefied, it was not possible to autopsy them so the reproductive data of any of these specimens could not be obtained. However some general observations of the live bats were recorded.
Availability: Items available for loan: UVAS Library [Call number: 1064,T] (1).
3.
The Ecology And Biology Of The Indian Flying Fox(Pteropus Giganteus)
by Tayiba Latif Gulzar | Dr.Muhammad Mahmood-ul-Hassan | Dr.Zulfiqar Ali | Prof. Dr.Masroor.
Material type: ; Format:
print
; Literary form:
not fiction
Publisher: 2009Dissertation note: Exploratory visits to Jinnah during March 2008 and subsequent visits in each successive month provided new information of the ecology and biology of the Indian flying fox (Pteropus giganteus). There were 45 trees belonging to 22 species that were used as roosts by bats. The population of the indian flying fox varied from 884 - 2267 individuals. Among 45 roost, there were thirteen viz, Albizia procera, Aegle marmelos, Celtis australis, Cinnamomum, camphora, Dalbergia sissoo, DIospyros peregrina, Ficus elastica, Kigelia pinnata, Pinus roxburghii, Pterospermurn acerifölium, Putranjiva roxburghii, Terminalia bellerica and Taxodium mucronatum that harboured less than 100 bats.
Ceiba pentandra and Pistachia chinensis were the staple food item in bat guano and bolus during winter and autumn, respectively. The seeds of Ficus spp. were highly preferred and seven species viz; Ficus benjamina, F bengalensis, F. carica, F glomerta, F. mysorensis, F. religosa and F. retusa were identified that were consumed by bats throughout the year in their respective fruiting season. the seeds of Diospyros kaki and D. peregrina also showed 100 % consumption rate and were preferred by bats during winter and autumn, respectively (present study).
Bat guano forms the basis of food web consisting of bacteria, fungi, protozoans, nematods and arthropods. Ten fungal genera were identified from bolus and eight fungal genera from guano the randomly collected samples of the Indian flying fox in different seasons at Jinnah Garden. Alternaria, Aspergillus Candida, Chrysosporium Fusarium Penicillium and Saccharomyces were observed in the bolus of the bat. The fungal genera observed in guano included Alternaria, Aspergillus, Chrysosporium, Cryptococcus Exophiala Histoplasma Scopulariopsis and Trichophyton. Six bacterial genera were identified from bolus and ten from the guano seasonal sampling at Jinnah Garden. These included Acaligens, Azotobacter, Bacillus, Bartonella, Coryenbacteria, Klebsella, Listeria, Nitrsomonas, Nocardia, Salmonella and Stretomycetes.
The fresh guano of fruit bats is dark in colour and forms a flat, laminated mass. It generally contains more than 60% organic matter. Mineral composition of bolus and guano of Indian flying fox at Jinnah Garden were analyzed in four seasonal samples throughout the year. The pH of fruit bat bolus near acidic to neutral ranges between 6.7 and 7.4 where as pH of fruit bat is guano is near neutral to alkaline ranges between 7.1 and 7.4. The most abundant elements in bolus and guano are nitrogen and phosphorus whereas potassium is less abundant. The total nitrogen ranges between 2.28 % and 4.10 % the nitrogen values are higher in bolus than guano (2.0 % and 3.30) and the total phosphorus ranges between 3.10 % and 5.20 % which is slightly higher than the phosphorus range of bolus (3.50 % and 5.0 %).
Availability: Items available for loan: UVAS Library [Call number: 1070,T] (1).
4.
Ecology Population And Conservativation Of Migratory Birds At Taunsa Barrage Punjab Pakistan
by Qazi Adnan Ahmad | Dr.Zulfiqar Ali | Dr.Muhammad Mahmood -ul-Hassan.
Material type: ; Format:
print
Publisher: 2009Dissertation note: In the present survey, census data of avian diversity and threats to them recorded from March to May, 2009 at Taunsa Barrage Wildlife Sanctuary. The avian diversity was estimated by direct physical counts by using binocular and spotting scope. The photographs besides the coordinates of the different localities of Taunsa Banage Wildlife Sanctuary during this study were noted. Different birds were identified on the basis of birds' identification guides. Indirect observations were taken by the meetings held with the local community. After these meetings threats due to human interference with the avifauna of the selected site were found.
In recent studies, total 108 species of birds were recorded, which belongs to 45 lamilies of the birds. Among them family Ardeidae remained dominant in bird populatoii while Sylviidae was the family, which had greater bird species to the site. 1hc family Oriolidae has only one bird species.
Out of 108 species, 65 were resident, 7 were breeding resident, 34 were winter visitor and only 2 'ere summer. The most critical threat facing the birds is the destruction and 1iumentation of habitat. Fishing activities and illegal hunting by local people re also the major threats to the avifauna (migratory as well as resident).
Availability: Items available for loan: UVAS Library [Call number: 1081,T] (1).
5.
Inter Population Variation In The Indian Flying (Pteropus Giganteus)Of Nwfp And Punjab-Pakistan
by Faiz-ur-Rehman | Dr.Muhammad Mahmood-ul-Hassan | Dr.Zulfiqar Ali | Prof.Dr.Azhar Maqbool.
Material type: ; Format:
print
Publisher: 2010Dissertation note: The present study was designed to investigate the morphometric variations in the Indian flying fox populations inhabiting NWFP and Punjab. Intensive field efforts resulted in finding out three roosts of Indian flying fox (Pteropus giganteus) at NWFP (one each in Peshawar, Charsadda and Mardan districts and two in Punjab (one each in Gujranwala and Kasur districts). Four specimens each, from the three bat roosts of NWFP and, three specimens each from two bat roosts of Punjab were captured and euthanized to study the inter-population variations in the Indian flying fox (Pteropus giganteus).
The results of the inter-population variations revealed that bat samples collected from Charsadda district were not significantly different from those collected from Peshawar district. They were also not different significantly from those collected from Kasur district. The Peshawar bats also showed no significant variation with respect to their cranial depth, breadth of upper incisors, maximum dentary length and mandibular tooth row with those collected from Gujranwala as well as other districts of Charsadda, Mardan and Ksur too.
The bat sample collected from Charsadda district were also not significantly different from those collected from Mardan district with respect to their body weight, length of 3 metacarpal, length of l phalanyx on third metacarpal, length of 2' phalanyx on metacarpal, length 41 metacarpal, wingspan and length of femur, respectively.
Whereas these specimens were not different from Gujranwala specimens in all the norphometric parameters measured. Mardan bat specimens were also not difibrent from Gujranwala bat specimens with respect to their mastoid breadth, length of the incisor of the upper jaw and mandibular tooth row, respectively.
The specimens collected from Kasur district were not significantly different from Peshawar, Mardan, and Gujranwala with respect to the length of the desired parameters taken. Inter- population variations in all other comparisons were statistically similar.
Combined inter-populations variations in the body weight, external body and cranial measurements of the Indian flying fox (Pteropus giganteus) captured from Punjab and NWFP. Of the 22 parameters studied, both populations were not significantly different ft)r any parameter. There were also no significant variations in the length of the Claw (C), Length oF the 5th metacarpal (5tI1 met) and the Condylobasal length (CBL). While the cranial depth (CR1)).
Breadth of the incisors of upper jaw (J2J2), maximum dentary length (MDL) and mandibular tooth row length (MBTR) were also not different significantly in these specimens captired from two populations of Punjab and NWFP. A comparison of the two populations revealed that NWFP population had no significantly broader ear, longer femur, and deeper cranium, broader incisors of the upper jaw, longer dentary bone and longer mandibular tooth row with respect to Punjab.
The body weight, external body and cranial measurements of the male and female Indian flying fox (Pleropus giganteus) populations captured from Punjab and NWFP were also had no 1significant variations in all the 22 parameters measured.
Availability: Items available for loan: UVAS Library [Call number: 1099,T] (1).
