Changing landscape configuration demands ecological planning: Retrospect and prospect for megaherbivores of North Bengal

Abstract

The Gorumara National Park (GNP) is an important conservation area located in the northern region of West Bengal State, India, as it provides habitat for three megaherbivores: Indian One-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) and Gaurs (Bos gaurus). It harbours one of the last population of the one-horned rhino. In the present study, landscape change and configuration were investigated by comparing three Landsat images, from 1998, 2008 and 2018. The images were classified into six different landcover classes following standard methodology. The present study also involves evaluation of landscape and anthropogenic predictors influence on the megaherbivores of GNP, followed by future landcover simulation for the year 2028. The result shows a significant decrease in the grassland cover from 18.87 km2 to 8.27 km2 from 1998 to 2018, whereas the woodland cover has increased from 50.14 km2 to 62.09 km2 between 1998 and 2018. The landscape configuration indices such as Number of Patches (NP), Patch Density (PD), Interspersion and Juxtaposition (IJI), Aggregation Index (AI) and Mean Shape Index (SHAPE AM) indicated that the landscapes has lost complexity in the spatial placement of patches of different Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) classes. Also, the landscape over the three decades has become uniform in terms of diversity of patches, because of earlier plantation activities by the forest managers. Result also indicated that grassland, along with its class metrics are the top predictors contributing 43.6% in explaining the spatial distribution of megaherbivores in GNP. Results from the simulated landcover of 2028 suggest a possible decline in overall grassland by 6.23% and a subsequent upsurge in woodland by 6.09% from 2018. The present result will be useful in guiding the forest management in developing habitat improvement strategies for the long- term viability of megaherbivore populations of rhino, gaur and elephant in the GNP.

Fine-scale landscape genetics unveiling contemporary asymmetric movement of red panda (Ailurus fulgens) in Kangchenjunga landscape, India

“…Bias file was prepared in ENMeval; R package 63 following the methodology suggested by Dudik et al 64 . We omitted highly correlated variables with a threshold of 0.8 65 , 66 . Although we selected initially 26 variables but final model was predicted using 19 variables which passed on the multicollinearity test 67 and other related variables with a threshold of 0.8 were excluded to get rid of the over fit model (Table S6 ) 66 , 68 .…”

“…We omitted highly correlated variables with a threshold of 0.8 65 , 66 . Although we selected initially 26 variables but final model was predicted using 19 variables which passed on the multicollinearity test 67 and other related variables with a threshold of 0.8 were excluded to get rid of the over fit model (Table S6 ) 66 , 68 . For modelling, we have used 70% of the total locations as training and remaining 30% for testing the significance 60 , 66 , 69 .…”

Elephant’s habitat suitability assessment through geo spatial quantification in Panchet forest division, West Bengal

“…So water body presence in a habitat is essential for habitat suitability (Chamaille-Jammes et al, 2007). To restore elephant population and enhancing habitat quality water reserves have been created in several elephant sanctuaries (De Beer and Van Aarde, 2008) in North Bengal and also South India (Mukherjee et al, 2019). Among the entire forest habitat under PFD Joypur-i and ii, Kalabagan, Peardoba, Chandabelia forest patch hold higher number but low density of water body and high density found in Krishnasingpur, Nakaijuri and Chakshympur [ Figure 5(b)].…”

Distribution Model Reveals Rapid Decline in Habitat Extent for Endangered Hispid Hare: Implications for Wildlife Management and Conservation Planning in Future Climate Change Scenarios

“…Due to the limited ecological studies and inventories focusing on small mammals in the grasslands of the Indian subcontinent, particularly in comparison with large mammals [ 24 ], there remains a significant gap in understanding the population status and ecology of the hispid hare throughout its distribution range [ 9 , 17 , 25 ]. Consequently, vital information concerning its distribution and the factors influencing its habitat utilization is missing [ 11 ].…”