A Study on the Population Ecology of Waterbirds at the Karaivetti Lake, Ariyalur District, Tamilnadu, South India
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A STUDY ON THE POPULATION ECOLOGY OF WATERBIRDS AT THE KARAIVETTI LAKE, ARIYALUR DISTRICT, TAMILNADU, SOUTH INDIA. Thesis submitted to BHARATHIDASAN UNIVERSITY, TIRUCHIRAPPALLI for the award of the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN ZOOLOGY By N. KARTHI, M.Sc., M.Phil. B.Ed., (Reg. No. 21679/Ph.D.1/Zoology/Full Time/October 2010) Under the Guidance of Dr. G. SRIDHARAN, M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D., POST GRADUATE AND RESEARCH DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY RAJAH SERFOJI GOVT. COLLEGE, (AUTONOMOUS), THANJAVUR – 613 005, TAMIL NADU, INDIA. APRIL - 2014 Dr. G. SRIDHARAN, M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D., Associate Professor, PG and Research Department of Zoology, Rajah Serfoji Govt. College, (Autonomous) Thanjavur – 613 005, Tamil Nadu, India. Cell: +91-94421 56238 e-mail : [email protected] Date: CERTIFICATE This is to certify that the thesis entitled “A STUDY ON THE POPULATION ECOLOGY OF WATERBIRDS AT THE KARAIVETTI LAKE, ARIYALUR DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU, SOUTH INDIA” submitted to Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirapalli, for the award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology is a record of original research work done by Mr. N. Karthi, M.Sc., M.Phil., B.Ed., during his period of study in PG and Research Department of Zoology, Rajah Serfoji Govt. College (Autonomous), Thanjavur, Tamilnadu, India – 613 005, under my supervision and guidance. This work has not been previously formed the basis for award of any Degree/Diploma/Associate ship/Fellowship or other similar title to any candidate of any other University. Thanjavur Dr. G. SRIDHARAN April - 2014 (Research Supervisor) DECLARATION I hereby declare that the thesis entitled “A STUDY ON THE POPULATION ECOLOGY OF WATERBIRDS AT THE KARAIVETTI LAKE, ARIYALUR DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU, SOUTH INDIA” submitted to Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu has been carried out by me under the supervision of Dr. G. Sridharan, M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Zoology, Rajah Serfoji Govt. College, Thanjavur – 613 005, for the award of Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN ZOOLOGY. I also declare that this work has not been submitted earlier in whole or part for any other degree of diploma. Place: Date: (N. KARTHI) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT First I wish to thank my Maatha, Pitha, Guru and Dheivam Almighty for blessing on me to complete this work successfully. I am deeply indebted to Dr. G. Sridharan, M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D., Associate Professor, Dept. of Zoology, Rajah Serfoji Govt. College, Thanjavur, for suggesting the problem, scientific freedom, scholarly advice, constant guidance and encouragement throughout the study. Without him I could not have completed this research work. I can’t express my thanks to him. I am grateful to Dr. K.Anbu, M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D., Principal, Rajah Serfoji Govt. College (Autonomous) Thanjavur, for his help in both academic and administrative tasks during the course of my research work. I express my deep sense of gratitude to Dr. S. S. Rajendran, M.Sc., M.Ed., M.Phil., Ph.D., Head, Dept. of Zoology, Rajah Serfoji Govt. College, Thanjavur, for providing the necessary facilities in the Department to carry out the research work and for his encouragement. I am thankful to all the Staff Members and all the Lab Assistants of Department of Zoology, Rajah Serfoji Govt. College, Thanjavur, for their valuable suggestions for the improvement of the thesis. I express my sincere thanks to Dr. S. Raveendran, Associate Professor of Zoology, K.M. College, Adirapattinam, for his help and support in carrying out my work. I extend my deep sense of gratitude to Dr. S. Asokan, Associate Professor of Zoology, A.V.C.College, Mannampandal, Mayiladuthurai, for his advices, guidance and encouragement throughout the research work. I am grateful to Dr. R. Nagarajan, Assistant Professor of Zoology, A.V.C.College, Mannampandal, Mayiladuthurai, and Mrs. Prof. Rajathi Assistant Professor of Zoology, Holy cross college, Tiruchirappalli, Dr. P. Mariyappan, Assistant Professor of Zoology, Mr. Krishnamohan, Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Mr.V.Murugeson, Assistant Professor of Statistics, for his help in statistical analysis and for the preparation of the thesis. I am very much thankful to The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden who have given me permission to do the research work in Karaivetti Lake of bird sanctuary. I would like to extend my thanks to Forest Guard, Mr.Palanivel, Pilot Watchers, Mr.Kalaivanan, Anti Poaching Watchers of Karaivetti birds sanctuary, Karaivetti VAO and Thirumanur PWD Engineer, who rendered help in sample, data collection and for their encouragement. My hearty thanks to My Sister Ms. P.Ramya, Research scholar and his Family are due strenuous work in the preparation of my thesis. I thank Mr.G.Sathishkumar, Research scholar, Department of Zoology and My Brothers Mr.N.Dinesh, Department of Physics, Mr.V.Vijay, Mr. M. Chandhrasekar, Mr.A.Thavaselvam, Mr. G.Anand and Mr.K.Udhaya who helped me initially identifying the birds and also for the collection of samples. I express my sincere thanks to Mr. M.C. Vachanth, Mr. A. Elavarasan, Research scholars and Mr.Vigneshkumar, who evinced keen interested in this research and helped in Photography. I thank to our Rajah Serfoji Govt. College Office Staffs for their help for preparation of my thesis. I am very much thankful to Mr.Madhavan, Dr.Ravichelvan, Dr.Ravichandran, Mr. Dandraj, Mr. Sabarinathan, Mr. Mariyappan, Mr.Rajmohan, Mr. Bakiyaraj, Mrs. C. Lalitha, and Ms. Rajeswari for their valuable suggestion for the improvement of the thesis. I would like to extend my thanks to Mr.Rengarajan, Mr.T.Prabu, Mr. S.R Manikandan, Mr.Dhanapal, Ms. Roopavathi, Ms.Papitha, Ms.Sangeetha, Mr.Kalai, Mr.Dass, Mr.Gnanamuthu, and Mr.Raju Research scholar for their valuable suggestion for the improvement of the thesis. I express my sincere thanks to Dr. Ambethkar Hostel Warden, Mr. P. Mayavel, Mr. V. Palayan and Students for their help for preparation of my thesis. I am extremely grateful to AmphiGene Laboratory, for their help in water sample analysis and identification of vegetations. Dr. Murugesan, and Mr. Muthuvel, Central for Marine Research Institute, Parangipettai, for helping me in the identification of the biological samples. Words are inadequate to express my gratitude to my father Mr.K.Narayanan, mother Mrs. N. Saroja, and my brothers of Mr.N.Elayaraja and Mr. N.Dinesh for their patience and kind co-operation which enabled me to complete my research work. (N. KARTHI) CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION 1 2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE 15 3 STUDY AREA 26 3.1 The Karaivetti lake 26 3.2 Regions of the lake 27 3.2.1. A Region 27 3.2.2. B Region 27 3.2.3. C Region 27 3.3 Meteorological factors of the study area 28 4. METHODS 29 4.1 Study period 29 4.2 Population Studies 29 4.2.1 Diving birds 29 4.2.2 Swimming birds 29 4.2.3 Large waders 29 4.2.4 Small waders 30 4.2.5 Aerial foragers 30 4.3 Determination of water quality factors 30 4.3.1. Physical factors 30 4.3.1.1 Water depth 30 4.3.1.2 Surface water temperature 30 4.3.2 Chemical factors of water sample 30 4.3.2.1 pH 31 4.3.2.2 Dissolved oxygen 31 4.3.2.3 Salinity 31 4.3.2.4 Silicate 31 4.3.2.5 Nitrite 32 4.3.2.6 Nitrate 32 4.3.2.7 Phosphate 32 4.3.2.8 Sulphate 33 4.3.2.9 Calcium 33 4.3.2.10 Chloride 33 4.4 Bottom soil analysis 34 4.4.1 Depth of Soil 34 4.4.2 Soil textural 34 4.4.3 Macro-nutrient analysis of Soil 34 4.5 Analysis of plankton 34 4.6 Analysis of benthic fauna 34 4.7 Threats and conservation issues 35 4.8 Analyses of Data 35 4.8.1 Waterbirds population calculations 35 4.8.1.1 Density of waterbirds 35 4.8.1.2 Diversity 35 4.8.1.3 Richness 36 4.8.2 Statistical tools 36 4.8.2.1 Difference between / among means 36 4.8.2.2 Multiple regression equation 37 4.8.2.3 Continuous variation 37 4.8.2.4 Dummy variables 37 5. OBSERVATIONS AND RESULTS 38 5.1 Waterbirds of Karaivetti lake 38 5.1.1 Phenology of waterbirds visitations to the Karaivetti lake 39 5.1.1.1 Month-wise visitations 39 5.1.1.2 Season-wise visitations 39 5.1.1.3 Category-wise comparison of visitations 40 5.1.1.3.1 Diving birds 40 5.1.1.3.2 Swimming birds 40 5.1.1.3.3 Large waders 41 5.1.1.3.4 Small waders 41 5.1.1.3.5 Aerial foragers 41 5.1.1.4 Fluctuations in the density of waterbirds species 41 5.1.1.4.1 Little Grebe 42 5.1.1.4.2 Little Cormorant 42 5.1.1.4.3 Indian Shag 42 5.1.1.4.4 Darter 42 5.1.1.4.5 Common Coot 43 5.1.1.4.6 Spotted - billed Pelican 43 5.1.1.4.7 Gadwall 43 5.1.1.4.8 Bar-headed Goose 43 5.1.1.4.9 Northern Pintail 44 5.1.1.4.10 Common Teal 44 5.1.1.4.11 Spot-billed Duck 44 5.1.1.4.12 Northern Shoveller 44 5.1.1.4.13 Garganey 45 5.1.1.4.14 Little Egret 45 5.1.1.4.15 Large Egret 45 5.1.1.4.16 Median Egret 45 5.1.1.4.17 Cattle Egret 46 5.1.1.4.18 Grey Heron 46 5.1.1.4.19 Purple Heron 46 5.1.1.4.20 Black-crowned Night -Heron 46 5.1.1.4.21 Indian Pond- Heron 47 5.1.1.4.22 Painted Stork 47 5.1.1.4.23 Asian Openbill - Stork 47 5.1.1.4.24 White Ibis 47 5.1.1.4.25 Black Ibis 48 5.1.1.4.26 Glossy Ibis 48 5.1.1.4.27 Eurasian Spoonbill 48 5.1.1.4.28 Common Moorhen 48 5.1.1.4.29 Purple Moorhen 49 5.1.1.4.30 White - breasted Waterhen 49 5.1.1.4.31 Pheasant - tailed Jacana 49 5.1.1.4.32 Little Ringed Plover 49 5.1.1.4.33 Black -Winged Stilt 50 5.1.1.4.34 Red- watt led Lapwing 50 5.1.1.4.35 Yellow -wattled Lapwing 50 5.1.1.4.36 Wood Sandpiper 50 5.1.1.4.37 Common Sandpiper 51 5.1.1.4.38 Little Stint 51 5.1.1.4.39 Whiskered Tern 51 5.1.1.4.40 Little Tern 51 5.1.1.4.41 Small Blue Kingfisher 52 5.1.1.4.42 Lesser Pied Kingfisher 52 5.1.1.4.43 White-breasted Kingfisher 52 5.1.1.5.