Chapter 3 Study Area - INFLIBNETshodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/9171/9/09... · 2015-12-04 · 3 Study Area Indian Coursers (Cursorious coromendelicus) are distributed

Chapter – 3

Study Area

Study Area

Ph. D. Thesis: S. B. Munjpara: “Ecology of the Indian Courser …………..…. India” Page 15

3

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Indian Coursers (Cursorious coromendelicus) are distributed throughout

the Gujarat State, however it is observed in some specific areas of the State. The

species is quite common in its range and habitats. The area of Abdasa Taluka is

selected for the study of some ecological aspects of this species for the present

work.

Kachchh District along with Abdasa Taluka is one of the ecologically

significant areas of the State. The District is largest District of Gujarat State and

second largest District of the country after Leh. It is the western most part of the

country (Fig. 3.1). The total area of the District is about 45,612 Km2 that is

divided into a total of nine talukas (Varasani 1991), of this Abdasa Taluka is

contributing approximately 2,244.8Km2 (Patel 1971).

3.1 Location

Abdasa Taluka is the southwestern province of Kachchh District of

Gujarat State in western India (Fig 3.2). It is situated between 220 53’ N and 230

28’N latitude and 680 32’E and 690 22’E longitude. Southern part of Taluka is on

the coast of Gulf of Kachchh and the Arabian Sea. Land boundary is associated

with other three talukas; on the northern side it connected with Lakhapat

Taluka, on the east-north side it is associated with Nakhatrana Taluka and the

eastern Taluka boundary is shared by Mandvi Taluka.

3.2 Geography

A major part of the study area and that of the district is also occupied by

the Jurassic rocks, which is an attribute of the geological process of the

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Pleistocene age. Southern part of Taluka is flat while the northern part is quite

undulating.

3.3 Climatic condition

The area falls under semi arid and arid where the rainfall is quite low,

erratic and the monsoon is unpredictable. The extremes of temperatures results

in high evapo-transpiration rates in this region. The area is characterized by the

three distinct seasons i.e. winter, summer and monsoon. Winters are relatively

severe, is usually extending from the middle of November to the end of February.

January and February are coldest months. Minimum temperature some time falls

below 5°C in winter season. Summer starts from March and continues till late

June. Air temperature in some part of the District is found highest (40°C- 45°C) in

the month of May, temperatures ranging from. The southwest monsoons reach

the coastal regions by the end of June or by the first week of July and spread to

the other parts of the State.

3.3.1 Relative humidity

Relative humidity in this region is higher as it is close to coast of Arabian

Sea and the Gulf of Kachchh. During the southwest monsoon relative humidity is

above 80 percent. While during the rest of the period of year it falls below 25

percent. High evapo-transpiration rate results in drying up of most natural water

sources shortly after monsoon.

3.3.2 Wind

Most of the times wind blows from the sea to the inland i.e. West to East

direction. In this region, wind is generally light to moderate in early summer and

in winter. But speed increase during late summer and southwest monsoon

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season. This part of the Gujarat State falls under rain shadow due to higher wind

speed during monsoon.

3.3.3 Rainfall

As the ecological zone falls in the semi arid region, rainfall is scanty and

erratic. The monsoon starts in late of June. Average annual precipitation of

Abadasa Taluka is 349 mm, as per the rainfall data from 1980 to 1999 of the

Kachchh District (Annexure-8). During last 20 years maximum rainfall 951 mm

was recorded in year 1988 and minimum 000 mm (drought) in year 1987.

Besides these, maximum rainfall 1372.6 mm was recorded in year 1959. Draught

is very common in the area with periodicity of every alternative year.

3.4 Ecological condition

Ecologically, this area is of the type of 5A/DS 4-Dry grassland with few

scattered patches of 5A/DS 2-Dry Savannah forest as per Champion and Seth

(1968) classification of Forest Types of India. This area lays in the Biogeographic

Zone 3B (Kachchh Desert) (Rodgers et al. 2000) serves as the habitat of several

important species of fauna (Meen et al., 2005), some of which have been declared

as Schedule I under Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Moreover the area is under

human settlement and most of the part of the area is waste land. Most of the

waste land is as scrubland, grassland, open land, water bodies etc. The area that

close to the coastline is salt affected and in some area like Jakhau can be

considered as saline grassland because of the growth of grass in saline land.

Nearly 100 km2 area is under the costal grassland, known as Naliya grassland

(Pandey et al., 2009). The vegetation of the study area includes several perennial

grass species like Cymbopogon, Dicanthium, Sporobolus etc., other shrub species

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include Acasia spp, Prosopis juliflora, Prosopis cineraria, Ziziphus, Salvadora spp.,

Caparis spp. (Home 2005 and Meena et al., 2005) The Detailed list of species is

mentioned in annexure–4.

3.5 Faunal diversity of the study area

This area has ecological significance due to the diversity of the fauna.

Variety of vertebrates and invertebrates species inhibits in this area. Some

species of them being listed in the Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.

The significant population of Chinkara (Gazella gazella), Golden jackal (Canis

aureus), Jungle cat (Felis chaus), Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) and Wild boar

(Sus srcofa) are recorded in this area. Some other endangered mammalian

species as per the IUCN category are, the Indian wolf (Canis lupus), Caracal

(Caracal caracal), Desert cat (Felis libyca ornata), Ratel (Mellivora capensis),

hyena (Hyaena hyaena) etc recorded in this area. Mammalian species recorded in

the study area is listed in Annexure–3. This area is very important for the avian

diversity. Important bird species include Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps),

Lesser Florican (Sypheotides indica), Mac’Queen’s Bustard, Stoliczka’s Buschat,

Black Francolin, variety of larks and various types of raptors. It is also

noteworthy that this area has maximum number of Gyps vultures thriving in

Gujarat State in the year 2005 and 2007 (Pandey et al., 2007, Pandey et al,.

2010). List of the bird species is mentioned in Annexure–2. Apart from above

mentioned birds and mammals, the area is also home for a variety of reptiles and

amphibians, listed in Annexure–1.

3.6 Local Community and their occupation

Nearly 165 villages are there in Abdasa Taluka. Population in this area is

mainly Hindus and Muslims. Major occupations of local community in this area

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are cattle breeders (Maldharies) and farmer. Fishing communities also exist in

this area. The livestock rearing especially involves sheep and goat however few

of them also rear cattle. The main agriculture products are Cotton, Groundnut

(Magfali), Green gram (Mag), Sesamum (Til), Cluster bean (Gavar), Wheat

(Ghau), Mustard (Rai), Cumin (Jira), Sorghum (juvar), Pearl millet (Bajara), fruits

etc. The people of this area are famous for their embroidery and handicraft

cottage industry. Some of the nomadic communities also live in this area who

move from place to place along with their livestock and camel herds.

3.7 Kachchh Bustards Sanctuary, Naliya Grassland

Kachchh Bustards sanctuary is probably the smallest sanctuary of the

country, which is located in the Abdasa Taluka. This sanctuary has been declared

for the protection of the critically endangered species, Indian Bustards (Ardeotis

nigriceps) in July 1992. It covers very small area i.e. 202.86 ha (Meena et al.

2005). Covering two village boundaries, Jakhau and Budiaya village of Abdasa

Taluka. This is the only protected area under the Forest Department located in

the study area. However Government is planning to expand the Protected Area.

Naliya grassland is one of the best grassland of Gujarat State. Though Naliya

grassland supports the excellent biodiversity it is not fully protected by Forest

Department. This grassland is situated roughly between 220 50’ to 230 15’ North

Latitudes and 680 32’ to 690 91’ East (Pandey et al., 2009). It encompasses more

than 100 sq. km. of the Taluka (Pandey et al., 2009). It is mainly dominated by

Cymbopogon, Chrysopogon and Dicanthium species. Gujarat Institute of Desert

Ecology has recently conducted an ecological study on Great Indian Bustard

Sanctuary with a management perspective (Joushua et al. 2001). As per studies

more than 40% area under grass cover. Main grass species and their

approximate percentage are (a) Cymbopogon martini – 80% (b) Aristida

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adenemsoidis – 13% (c) Dicanthium annulatum – 3% (d) Sporobolus foronos – 1%

(e) Daefylanetenium aegiptium – 1% (f) Other Mixed Sp. - 2%.

Fig. 3.1: Map of the Study area [Abdasa Taluka, southwestern province of

Kachchh District, Gujarat, India]

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Fig. 3.2: Geographical condition of Abdasa Taluka (Source: Google earth)

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Plate 2

A: Study area after rainfall

B: Grassland with few scattered bushes

C: Plain grassland

D: Open land habitat

C

A B

D C

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Plate 3

Glimpse of Biodiversity of the area

A: Spiny tailed Lizard (a key tone species of study area) B: Great Indian Bustard (an endangered bird species) C: Indian Courser (an endemic species) D: Long-lagged Buzzard (a migratory Raptor)

A

A B

D C

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Plate 4

Glimpse of Biodiversity of the area

A: Common Kestrel (a Raptor)

B: Jackal

C: Hyena

D: Common Mongoose

A B

D C

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Plate 5 Local people in the study area

Documents

Chapter 3 Study Area - INFLIBNETshodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/9171/9/09... · 2015-12-04 · 3 Study Area Indian Coursers (Cursorious coromendelicus) are distributed