Informations et ressources scientifiques
sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

Titre : Ecology of desert fox vulpes vulpes pusilla in Thar desert of Rajasthan India

Auteur : Wilson, Vigil

Université de soutenance : Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University

Grade : Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) 2020

Résumé
Understanding the ecological needs of any species particularly carnivores is the primary step towards conservation of the species itself and to generate management policies. The opportunistic and adaptive nature of Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes Linnaeus, 1758) in terms of habitat, diet and various other aspects has proved them to be one of the most successful and widespread mammalian species in the world. Thar Desert in Indian subcontinent with its hot, dry and harsh climatic condition is home to two different species of foxes. Among them are the Red Foxes that are most successful in colonizing the rural areas and the farmlands as they provide them with easy access to food subsidies irrespective of the threats and increasing human wildlife conflicts in recent times in the study region. Desert Fox (Vulpes vulpes pusilla Blyth, 1854) is one of the subspecies of Red Fox reported from the Thar Desert. The main objective of this thesis was to investigate and discern key ecological factors essential for its basic necessities like food (investigation of feeding habits and preference), habitat (understand microhabitat of dens for breeding purpose) and to understand any kinds of threats (natural as well as direct or indirect human-influenced) pertaining to them in the wild. The sampling for the collection of scats was conducted for a period of around two years, covering all seasons of the year between 2015 to 2017. Food availability of potential prey species in the study area was estimated using line transect, trapping web design and by direct counts. The density of each was estimated by statistical analyses using DISTANCE 7.0 software. The diet composition was estimated using scat analysis of a total of 699 scats. Various components were identified by different methods suitable for each category of food item that even included hair analysis which is specific for identification of mammalian species

Présentation et version intégrale (Shodhganga)