Biotic assessment of crowdsourced data defines four ecoregions in Thar: A novel approach for community engagement in conservation

Mukherjee, Manasi; Paul, Angshuman; Mukerji, Mitali

doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02559

Cited by 2 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…The Species richness (S) obtained from ebird data on 33 counties of Rajasthan state of India accross four ecoregions (Mukherjee et al, 2023) is illustrated in Table 1. The seasinal species richness of birds varied significantly between the ecoregions (Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…3). WT, in particular, was noted to exhibit the second-highest alpha diversity (395) concerning bird species (Mukherjee et al, 2023). This indicates abundant food resources in both these ecoregions, especially during winter, essential for sustaining migrating birds.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This was curated from the histogram data under the barchart category available in eBird (https://ebird.org/barchart?r=IN-RJ&yr=all&m=) as a matrix of columns. All the districts under each ecoregions from our earlier study Mukherjee et al (2023) namely Western Thar (WT), Eastern Thar (ET), Transitional ZOne (TZ) and Cultivated Zone (CZ) were selected to curate the species richness (S) data.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thar in Rajasthan situated between 27.4695°N to 70.6217°E (1) features the Aravallis, India's oldest mountain range, that geographically divides the region into Western Thar (WT), comprising 80% of the Thar desert, and the relatively greener Eastern Thar (ET). Thirty three districts of Rajasthan were selected to analyze the differences in avian species richness in each ecoregion Mukherjee et al (2023) and their relation to the Insecta of Thar.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Understanding why migrating birds return to resource-limited biomes, like deserts, is crucial for shaping conservation strategies, especially considering the vulnerability of these environments to climate and developmental changes. In the present study we explore the functional properties of Thar desert through assessment of spatio-temporal variations of avian species richness and insect diversity and abundance accross four delineated ecoregions of Thar from our earlier study (Mukherjee et al, 2023). Briefly these include, Western Thar (WT), Easter Thar (ET), Transitional Zone (TZ) and Cultivated ZOne (CZ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Wastelands or Preferred-lands? Indicators for redefining Desert conservation

Mukherjee,

Banerjee,

Sharma

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Desert ecosystems though crucial in shaping global climate, are often perceived to have limited function and are frequently designated as wastelands due to low biotic diversity and abundance. We explore the functional properties of desert through assessment of spatio-temporal variations of avian species richness and insect abundance of the relatively understudied Thar in Rajasthan. The study was conducted across four contrasting ecoregions (Western Thar (WT), Eastern Thar (ET), Transitional Zone (TZ), and Cultivated Zone (CZ) spanning 33 counties of Rajasthan. Monthly avian diversity were obtained from crowdsourced eBird data. Insect diversity and abundance accross the ecoregions were curated from the annual surveys of ZSI, India. The leads were corroborated with five years feeding behaviour observational data recorded from a representative site spanning 852 acres. There was a significant seasonal differences in bird species richness between the ecoregions with the most pronounced variations between summer and winter and CZ exhibiting the highest spatial variability followed by WT. WT also recorded the highest insect diversity and abundance, especially the orders Orthoptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Lepidotera and Diptera. The correlation matrix between bird and insect abundance and Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) plot indicated the relation between diverse dietary preferences and migratory patterns. These observations challenge the conventional notion that resource-limited environments harbour lesser biodiversity especially in arid environments. The dominance of insectivory among winter migrants aligns with the higher density of resident arthropods and emphasizes the pivotal role of insects as a food source during the migratory period. The adaptability of resident species to varied food sources, particularly arthropods, provides a means to strategically navigate during resource constraints. This study thus provides a unique framework to (a) redefine the functional importance of desert using migratory birds as prominent ecological indicators. (b) include an ecological criteria during policy formulation for biodiversity conservation. It also emphasizes reevaluation of deserts during designation of wastelands especially in the unique WT eco-regions when evolving developmental as well as ecological restoration strategies.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Wastelands or Preferred-lands? Indicators for redefining Desert conservation

Mukherjee,

Banerjee,

Sharma

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Avian Atlas: Unveiling the Diversity Divide in Desert Realms between Tropics

Mukherjee,

Mukerji

2024

Preprint

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Understanding diversity gradients across global deserts remains a significant challenge. The unique characteristics of deserts complicate conservation efforts for these biomes, which are highly affected by climate change. Here, we conduct a comprehensive study of ecological traits to determine the behavior and uniqueness of avian communities in ten major tropical deserts, using crowd-sourced avian diversity data fromGBIF.orgas a key analytical tool. Our results reveal significant variations in bird diversity among tropical deserts, with heightened diversity in deserts near the Tropic of Cancer (TCan) compared to those near the Tropic of Capricorn (TCap).The analysis of ecological traits indicates that, unlike TCap deserts, TCan deserts have a higher prevalence of migratory species. This is facilitated by a broader niche breadth among sedentary bird species, which reduces niche competition and allows the influx of migratory invertivores. This study is the first to identify a differential avian diversity gradient within tropical deserts, demonstrating that avian species richness in deserts is more closely linked to tropical locations than to realm classifications.Recognizing the vulnerability of TCap deserts and the diverse trophic roles played by avian species, our analysis underscores the need for targeted conservation strategies. Protecting the unique avian diversity in TCan deserts and mitigating extinction risks in TCap deserts are essential steps to ensure the resilience and sustainability of these critical ecosystems.

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Biotic assessment of crowdsourced data defines four ecoregions in Thar: A novel approach for community engagement in conservation

Cited by 2 publications

References 21 publications

Wastelands or Preferred-lands? Indicators for redefining Desert conservation

Wastelands or Preferred-lands? Indicators for redefining Desert conservation

Avian Atlas: Unveiling the Diversity Divide in Desert Realms between Tropics

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