Faunal Diversity Richness Of Ecological Institute In The Village Landscape Of The Thar Eco-Region Ra

International Journal of Engineering, Management & Sciences (IJEMS) ISSN-2348 –3733, Volume-2, Issue-6, June 2015

Faunal Diversity Richness Of Ecological Institute In The Village Landscape Of The Thar Eco-Region Rajasthan, India G.R. Parihar  Abstract— The Thar desert is very rich in biodiversity with arid climatic condition of the faunal and floral region suitable for adaptation of different species in the region. In the Thar desert faunal diversity in ecological institution in different villages are represent different ecosystems in it and are excellent repositories of diversity, they are represented by Orans lands, Gauchers, Sand desert, Parat (Wastland or Banjar), River bed and others. These different villages ecological institution governed by the community and local Panchayat. These sites represent excellent Floral and Faunal communities which constitute complex ecosystem in the Thar desert ecoregion. Thar desert region of India, which extends in more than 2.0 lakh sq. km area, experiences variable rainfall from 100 mm to 450 mm in a year. Frequent drought, which occurs once in 2 or 3 years in the region, cause extreme stress to fauna in Thar desert is subjected to extreme diurnal and seasonal variation in temperatures, more demand for water and will be significant driver of biodiversity with changing life cycles, migration and invasion of new habitat in Thar desert region. Faunal diversity in includes 50 mammalian species, 41 reptiles species, 180 birds species, 80 fish species and floral diversity in 175 plant species recorded in from in and around these common property resources. The floral and faunal diversity richness and abundance which contribute more to regional biodiversity and support a large section of the society. No doubt that the faunal diversity along with some exotic plant species has increased in the Thar desert in recent past, but some of the native desert dwelling floral and faunal species are stirring hard.

Index Terms— Thar desert , Village institution, Diversity, Orans land, Gauchers, Sand dunes, Agores.

I. INTRODUCTION Being a large arid region of the north western part of Indian.

It is the world’s 9th or 10th largest subtropical desert, covering an area of about 208, 110 km2 between 24030’-300N latitude and 69030’-760E longitude with its major part (61%) in the state of Rajasthan. The present study were differ with earlier studies in its approach, because here the whole village was covered through village institutions for its biodiversity while the earlier investigations were primarily meant scan the area in respective of social and institutional setup. The animal life in the Thar desert extraordinary from feunal resources point of view. It is estimated that more then 50 mammalian species Manuscript received June 09, 2015.

G.R. Parihar, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, J.N.V. University, Jodhpur

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in habitat in Thar Desert (Ghosh, 1996). We have to understand the social fabric or the people and physiological and ecological profiles of the region. The profiles of animals and plants influence the life of the people as they are the stakeholder’s (Bhandari, 1991, Bilgrami, 1995 and Pandy, 1995).

The animal life in the Thar is extraordinary from faunal research point of view. It is estimated that about 50 mammalian species in habitat Thar desert (Ghosh, 1996). We have to understand the biodiversity of a region we have to understand the social fabric or the people and physiological and ecological profiles of the region. The profile of animals and plants influence the life of the people as they are the stakeholder’s (Bhandari, 1991, Bilgrami, 1995 and Pandy, 1995). Biological observations of different animals on different trees in the Thar desert species like Prosopis cineria, Capparis deciduas, Salvodera oleodes and Zizipus nummelaria, have the vital role for biodiversity and supporting biological activities of many animals speices foe their survival in this region, Parihar and Rajpurohit (2010). A critical insight of for centuries local population have been exploiting nature’s products in very systemic and judicious way by developing through understanding of animals and plants and society’s profile based on nature’s support system.

Parihar GR 2011 suggest that some species in the arid forest like capparis deciduas, Lasiarus sindicus, in small groups of 2,3,5 species determines the presence of desert fox, Jackal, mongoose, desert cats and hedgehogs. These animals in spite of their shrinking habitats have not shown any sign of shift in their habitat preference irrespective of their presence in any of the village institutions.

Parihar, GR 2010 this feature of desert have influenced the total social fabric of the native population and economy of the region. The biodiversity of Thar has been maintenance and replenished over the centuries by the people themes. Parihar and Mohonot (1998) have clearly demonstrated that the survival of animals depends on specific plants and animals small to large any alteration in these shall lead to survival problems for all these who occupy that niches.

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Faunal Diversity Richness Of Ecological Institute In The Village Landscape Of The Thar Eco-Region Rajasthan, India

Parihar GR 2011, studies carried out on utilization of biodiversity and its management by ethic people of this region and the important role play by them in the Thar desert. Its products utilization with its proper management. Concomitant decline in patureland and follow lands along with good biodiversity are also expected to take place (Venkatewarla et al. 1990). As the pressure on the marginal land is increasing there is more of over grazing and deforestation in the Thar desert these teaching are still alive and preached by people.

For example “Oran and Gaucher” are such potential religious and community taboos. A parallel situation is described by Gadgil and Vartak (1975, 1976) worked on sacred groves of western ghats in the with highlighting the important factor of biodiversity if conservation and protection in that region.

II. CASE STUDY Recording and understanding the general formate of animals in the study village, it was felt that village institutions vary considerably in their topography, physiography and biota. Keeping this in view it was attempted to uncover rather more accurately the quality of animals found in 8 types of village institutions. These institutions are: 1. Gaucher : defined a gram panchayat controlled grazing lands.

2. Oran : defined as area where tree-cutting is banned by community consent and divine control and where such restraint is actively observed.

3. Fallow lands : defined as khatedari (private agricultural) lands with usually kharip crops. At least 2-3 year in fallow, managed as closed fodder fields during the growing season and thereafter as community wise open grazing.

4. Plough field : these are of two typesa) Traditional – these in which ploughing is done by animals to avoid destruction of useful species in the field during tilling. b) Disc – in which mechanical methods are used where in massacre of species takes place.

5. Sand dunes : defined as natural sand masses either stationary or stabilized or shifting, usually with good moisture.

6. Forest enclosure : defined as land under the present control of the forest department for plantation.

7. Gravel lands : defined as low productive area with little soil cover and moisture.

8. Wastelands : defined as areas provided with mixture if characterstics with low productivitiy.

In each institution area, larger then 4 hectares was selected.

A central point was indentified randomly and using transect method 100 sq m. of area was covered in which 10 quadrates of 10 sq m. each were examined for the availability of animals. Taxa were recorded as sighted in these plots. The taxa were also randomly selected. For example among mammals chinkara, Desert fox and the rodent were considered. Any type of bird one or more in numbers were takes as unit under birds while among reptiles only Uromastrix was considered. However, under arthropods any

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animal belonging to any class or order was clubbed together and considered under one head arthropods. These examinations yielded very interesting result.

From the point of view of biodiversity the ‘Oran’ (village sacred land forest) is the richest where all kinds of animals were sighted 1. This was followed by fallow land (2-3 years) where animals like that of orans were spotted except for the desert fox. Interestingly the traditional plough land where tracters are not used, fairly good animal life exists. It is close to ever 2 year fallow lands. In both these cases desert fox and Uromastix was missing (2ab). Compared to this the disc plough land where tractor and other agricultural implements are used only few forms survive. Here, only rodents and arthropods were sighted (2c). Even the ‘gauchers’ (village grazing ground) are better placed compared to disc-plough land where some life still exists except for the desert fox and rodents(1).

Sanddunes support Chinkara and maximum number of birds and fairly large number of arthropods (3a). While the forest department enclosures in spite of quite a bit of input dosen’t have any appreciable taxa (3b). The gravel land taxa are also not rich (3c),but the minimum number of taxa were found in wastelands where desert fox, rodents, birds and uromastix were totally absent.

III. RESULT AND DISCUSSIONS The biodiversity of Thar villages seems to survive in the village institution predominantly because of unwritten code of comduct operating for different village institutions. This study reveals that ‘orans’ (village forests) still continue to be the most potential sites for the survival of varied desert taxa because of variety of plant forms on the one side and minimum human interference on the other. Fellow lands are equally rich in biota and it is perhaps because of this reason that the tradition of fallow in Thar has became a tradition institutionalized. The sanddunes are also good habitats supporting life, but in contrast forest department enclosures are poor in life inspite of inputs. The loss of taxa due to disc ploughing is emerged out in this study.

III. FUTURE FINDINGS That, orans land must be revived to protect the desert germplasm and to enhance biomass for sustainability through native multi species plantation.

Displough land should be maintained as sandduner planting be done without altering the character of dunes.

Gaucher be revived keeping in view pressure of livestokes.

Visionary approach of our naturalistic that village institutions in Thar were strengthened by means of protection and conservation of biodiversity using the laurels of local heros and locals gods and raising and high lighting. Their principles emphasizing nature’s conservations in simple and lucid way. In the Thar desert these teachings are still alive and preacher by people. For example “orans land and gaucher land are such potential habitats which retain biodiversity in situ by social, religious and community taboos. It is now amply clear that the village institutions particularly the oran

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International Journal of Engineering, Management & Sciences (IJEMS) ISSN-2348 –3733, Volume-2, Issue-6, June 2015 [6] Parihar, G.R. 1997. Thesis; Study on the biodiversity of some land, gaucher land, fallow lands, anddunes and like are selected area important repositories of biodiversity of Thar incidently they [7] Parihar, G.R. and Rajpurohit, L.S. 2010. Biodiversity: Used as are also the major land masses of common property resourse weather indicator and coindicator by people through perception and long experience in Thar desert. J. Natcon., 22 (1): 107-113.

(CPR) in the Thar desert. The economics of desert has several [8] Parihar, G.R. 2010. Studies in biodiversity of Vishnoi and non based on village ecology and village institutions.

Vishnoi village in the Thar desert, National Symposium on A. Tables “Desert: It’s biodiversity and Conservation”, Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur, 9th February, Abstracts, p.48.

[9] Parihar, G.R. 2010. A case study on economic aspect of common property resource and share in the Thar Desert of Western Rajasthan. In : Bio-resource for food security and rural livelihood. (Eds. By G.K. Kulkarni and B.N. Pandey), Narendra Publishing House, New Delhi.

[10] Parihar, G.R. and Mohnot, S.M. 2011. Nutrition banks of biodiversity- Gaucher land which has often taken as barren and degraded village environment in the Thar Desert. National Conference on Animal Innovation and prospctives, Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur, 29th January. Abstracts, p.27.

[11] Parihar, G.R. 2011. Biodiversity Utilisation and its management : important role play by ethic people of the Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India. World Congress for Man and Nature (WCMANU)- 2011 going to be organized in the Department of Zoology & Environment Science, Gurukula Kangari Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar, India during 11th- 13th November, (Accepted for Oral presentation).

[12] Parihar, G.R. and Bania H.R. 2011. An overview on association in between plant and animals in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan,India. National Conference on Animal Innovation and prospctives, Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur, 29th January.

Abstracts, p.60.

[13] Parihar, G.R. 2011. Habitat ecology and village ecosystem play an important role in biodiversity conservation in the thar desert of Rajasthan, India. J. Env. Bio-Sci, Haridwar, (accepted).

[14] Parihar, G.R. and Bania H.R. 2011. Biocological observations of different animals on different trees in the thar desert of Rajasthan.

[15] H.R. Bania*, F.S. Poonia and Parihar, G.R. 2011. Potential threat to khehari (Prosopis cineraria 1. druce) by termites (Isoptera) in the thar desert, Rajasthan, India.

[16] Bania, H.R., Poonia, F.S. and Parihar, G.R. 2011. Termite infestation on different plants/trees in arid and semi arid region of Rajasthan- a big menace to biodiversity.

REFERENCES [1] Gadgil, M. and Vartak, V.D. 1975. Sacred groves of India : A plea for continued conservatios. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 72(2): 312-20.

[2] Gadgil, M. and Vartak, V.D. 1976. The society of groves of western Ghats in India. Economics Botany, 30: 152-160.

[3] Ghosh A.K. 1996. The thar desert ecosystem : In faunal diversity in the Thar desert, Gaps in research. Pp. 1-18, Sci publishers, Jodhpur.

[4] Bhandari, M.M. 1991. Evolution of desert vegetation in Thar (ebs.

Dhir et. al.) Geol, soc. India, 73-78.

[5] Bilgrami, K.S. 1995. Concept and conservation of biodiversity taxonomy and biodiversity, CBC Pub. Dehli. Pp. 1-8.

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