Ecological Dynamics of Vultures, Blackbuck Antelope, Khejeri Trees, and the Bishnoi People in Western Rajasthan, India

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Ecological Dynamics of Vultures, Blackbuck Antelope, Khejeri Trees, and the Bishnoi People in Western Rajasthan, India Ecological Dynamics of Vultures, Blackbuck Antelope, Khejeri Trees, and the Bishnoi People in Western Rajasthan, India DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Jonathan Clarence Hall Graduate Program in Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology The Ohio State University 2011 Dissertation Committee: Ian Hamilton, Advisor Elizabeth Marschall Mark Moritz Maria Miriti Kendra McSweeney Copyright by Jonathan Clarence Hall 2011 Dissertation Abstract In the last half century Western Rajasthan has experienced dramatic changes in resource availability, climate, species abundance, livestock populations, and human development. Human population growth and development drives these changes as an increase percentage of land area is put to human use. Understanding the dynamics of this human dominated landscape are important if other species are to survive and coexist with human populations. I pursue a novel approach in this research and examine the interplay between human beliefs and practices and the abundance of keystone species that share this landscape. I performed a comparative study of two set of villages in Western Rajasthan to investigate the dynamics that drive abundance of Indian vultures (Gyps indicus), blackbuck antelope (Antilope cervicapra), and Khejeri trees (Prosopis cineraria) incorporating the presence of the Bishnoi people. The Bishnoi are a caste of Indians who’s religion mandates that they protect Khejeri trees and antelope with their lives. The results of this study show that Bishnoi populations are positively associated with all study species. Indian vulture dynamics are driven by La Niña induced drought, synchronizing population dynamics across a wide region, but may be partially mitigated in one particular village by the presence of Bishnoi. Khejeri trees were found in greater abundance in villages with Bishnoi and their abundance appears to be influenced differently by ii household income and livestock populations in Bishnoi areas than in other areas. Blackbuck antelope were also found in greater abundance in areas with Bishnoi populations despite being present in less than half of the villages in the study. Finally, this study highlights important influences on household income, namely livestock populations, that captures the ecological complexity of human capitalization and development in this region. This research is the first to systematically investigate the ecological impact of the Bishnoi people on keystone species and one of the few studies that seeks to understand the intersection among human cultural practices and the coexistence of humans and other species in a human dominated landscape. iii Dedication For my wonderful parents, Clarence and Ester Hall, who have always encouraged me to follow my curiosity and pushed me to achieve more than I thought I was capable of. In loving memory of my sister Alicia who left us too soon and was one of my best friends. iv Acknowledgments I’d like to thank my advisor, Ian Hamilton, for his sharp insight, extensive comments, blazing fast turn-around times, patience, and enthusiasm during my research. I have learned so much about how to think as scientist from him. I am grateful to my committee, Libby Marschall, Mark Moritz, Maria Miriti, and Kendra McSweeney, for their diverse perspectives that have made this an interdisciplinary body of work. I am especially grateful to Libby Marschall for her support, suggestions, patience, and perspective during my transition to another lab. Libby is the perfect example of what a graduate advisor should be. I’d also like to thank Tom Waite for facilitating the start of this work and for being one of the most interesting and awesome people I know. I am beyond grateful to Anil Chhangani for sharing his knowledge, giving his time and resources, opening up his home, and welcoming me into his family. He is both a scientific and a humanitarian role model. Rajuji and Bhughji, my partners in the field, made work in villages possible and fun. I’d like to thank Ramesh, Bunti, and the Rathore brothers, particularly Bharat Singh, for teaching me some Hindi and for the enthusiastic exchange of culture and ideas. From the bottom of my heart I thank my mother and father, Clarence and Ester Hall, for always supporting and believing in me. I could not have asked for better parents. I thank my dear friends, Anthony, Nichole, Nadine, and Bennett for also being there, protecting my sanity, challenging my thinking, and always making me laugh. I’d like to thank The Ohio State University, the College of Biological Sciences, the department of EEOB, James Moore and the Bell Resource Center, Larry Williamson and the Hale Black Cultural Center, and the Office of International Affairs for their support and guidance. Thank you all! v Vita June 2001 ................................................................ Howard High, Ellicott City, MD 2005 .......................................................................... B.S. Biology, Morehouse College 2006 to present ................................................... Graduate Teaching Associate, Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University Publications Hall JC, Chhangani AK, Waite TA, and Hamilton IM (in press) The impacts of La Niña induced drought on Indian vulture Gyps indicus populations in Western Rajasthan. Bird Conservation International. Fields of Study Major Field: Evolution, Ecology and Organizmal Biology vi Table of Contents Chapter 1: General Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2: The impacts of La Niña induced drought on Indian vulture Gyps indicus populations in Western Rajasthan ................................................................................................... 4 Abstract .................................................................................................................................................. 4 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 4 Methods .................................................................................................................................................. 7 Results ................................................................................................................................................. 11 Discussion .......................................................................................................................................... 13 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................................ 17 Chapter 3: Distribution of Prosopis cineraria on agricultural farmland in Western Rajasthan: influence of the Bishnoi people on tree abundance ......................................... 18 Abstract ............................................................................................................................................... 18 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 19 Methods ............................................................................................................................................... 21 Results ................................................................................................................................................. 25 Discussion .......................................................................................................................................... 27 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................................ 30 vii Chapter 4: Patterns of blackbuck distribution on village lands in Western Rajasthan ..................................................................................................................................................................... 31 Abstract ............................................................................................................................................... 31 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 32 Methods ............................................................................................................................................... 34 Results ................................................................................................................................................. 40 Discussion .......................................................................................................................................... 40 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................................ 42 Chapter 5: Patterns of economic variation among villages in Western Rajasthan .... 44 Abstract ............................................................................................................................................... 44 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 45 Methods ..............................................................................................................................................
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