Chaudhry et al., The Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences, 29(1): 2019, Page:The J.316 Anim.-324 Plant Sci. 29(1):2019 ISSN: 1018-7081 MAPPING HISTORIC AND CURRENT DISTRIBUTION OF MARBLED TEAL (Marmaronetta angustirostris) IN PAKISTAN H. Chaudhry1*, Z. Ahmad2, H. Ali3, M. Atiq-ur-Rahman4, N. Nisar1 and A. Tahir1. 1Environmental Science Department, 4City and Regional Planning Department, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan; 2College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan 3Department of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department, Dera Ghazi Khan Region 32200, Pakistan. *Corresponding Author’s email: [email protected] ABSTRACT There are deficiencies regarding status, distribution, seasonal movements and habitat use by birds, and this is particularly evident in case of wetland species. In order for developing action plans necessary to safeguard species threatened by human pressure, availability of data on distribution, breeding and population trends is imperative. Population of Marbled Teal has drastically reduced as a result of degradation, destruction and fragmentation of its habitat, worldwide. Marbled Teal population, therefore, qualifies vulnerable status in IUCN Red List. There is a dire need to develop a national conservation and management plan to protect Marbled Teal and its wetland habitat in Pakistan. In order for the conservation plans to be effective the spatial distribution of species in question needs to be accurately estimated. Only in this way the conservationists can assess the species distribution in response to climate change and anthropogenic alterations. The present study provides historic records and current distribution status of Marbled Teal in Pakistan. GIS mapping of distribution data gives added advantage and information necessary for planning conservation strategies for Marbled Teal. A careful scrutiny of the results revealed that Marbled Teal is a species of special concern as its habitat has undergone major devastations due to destruction and fragmentation. Comparisons made on the historic, fairly recent and recent distributions of Marbled Teal unfolded the fact that the species has a restricted geographical distribution which has become even more restricted in the recent times in Pakistan. Key words: Marbled Teal, GIS, conservation, wetlands, historic and current distribution data. INTRODUCTION (Marmaronetta angustirostris) was selected for mapping its historic and current distribution in Pakistan. Species Marbled Teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris). occurrence data was collected from the field and other belongs to class Aves, order Anseriformes and family repositories of records can be extrapolated to the entire Anatidae. Five duck species are resident in Pakistan and potential range of the species with the help of distribution Marbled Teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris) is one of maps. There are number of applications of these maps those. It is vulnerable specie (Bird Life International, such as identification of previously unknown populations, 2017) and lacks information on its population status, determination of sites for reintroductions, guidance on migration pattern and other requisite information which is additional surveys and selection and management of necessary to formulate a national recovery plan for this protected areas (Graham et al., 2004). A comprehensive species in order to protect its wetland habitat in Pakistan. knowledge of the current distribution of a species is a Marbled Teal is considered as rare, vulnerable and precondition for rehabilitation of species in an ecosystem biome-restricted species (BirdLife International, 2017). (Franklin, 2009; Barik and Adhikari, 2011). Wetlands of Pakistan are found in close vicinity of Indus River basin and its adjacent flood plains. MATERIALS AND METHODS Pakistan has around six hundred and seventy species of birds, among which one third are water birds such as Species sighting data with longitude and latitude teals, swans and geese which flourish in these wetlands were gathered by field surveys carried out under wetland and lakes (Li and Mundkar, 2004). Biological resources project expanded over three years duration, funded by of wetlands in Pakistan are at risk of habitat loss, WWF- Pakistan as well as from the literature. Collection fragmentation, contamination and climate change. It is, of historic distribution records of Marbled Teal was therefore, imperative to map distribution of threatened achieved by extensive review of literature and collection species in these wetlands in order to assess their of available data regarding the confirmed sightings of distribution, by employing the breakthrough technique of Marbled Teal in Pakistan. In order to map historic and GIS modelling. For the present study Marbled Teal current distribution of Marbled Teal, extensive literature 316 Chaudhry et al., The J. Anim. Plant Sci. 29(1):2019 review was carried out (Marshall, 1903; Baker, 1908; Sindh Province provide the wintering grounds of this Aitken, 1914; Waite, 1922; Wright and Dewar, 1925; species (Fig. 1). After going through an extensive Hickie, 1935; Christison, 1942; Ali, 1943; Waite, 1948; literature a list having all the sightings of Marbled Teal in Savage, 1965; Koning and Walmsley, 1972; Koning and Pakistan was compiled (Table 1). Fig. 2, 3 and 4 show the Konning-Raat, 1975; Ahmad, 1983;Ahmad, 1987;Scott, spatial distribution according to historic, fairly recent and 1989; Roberts, 1991; Green, 1993a b; Khan, 1998; recent records of Marbled Teal in Pakistan. BirdLife International, 2001; Gabol et al., 2005 and Over the period of time, there has been a trend Chaudhry et al., 2012). In addition to this, field survey of shrinking of the preferred habitat for Marbled Teal. reports of Pakistan Wetlands Programme were explored Historic sightings of Marbled Teal (Fig. 2) were recorded to collect the recent sighting data of Marbled Teal. The at Dost Ali, GhaibiDero, Hamal Lake, Larkana, Rohri, collected data was processed in MS Excel whereby the Sehwan, Karachi, MorPati, Khushdil Khan Lake, geographical coordinates along with the localities were Qambar, Manchar Lake, Peshawar, Pithoro Eastern added in the data. Moreover, the habitat information of Narra, Siranda Lake, Kallar Kahar, Near Jhelum, Near Marbled Teal was synced for further processing. These Bahawalpur, Sheikhupura, Jajjah-Abbasian and Zangi geographic points helped in delimiting the areas of Nawar Lake (Table 1). Marbled Teal was found in all Marbled Teal presence in Pakistan. four provinces prior to 1960. While between 1961 to Most of the sighting locations were in the 1990 its sightings (Fig. 3) were more restricted to Sindh, geographical coordinates of Degrees Minutes Seconds Southern Balochistan and Southern Punjab in localities (DMS) format which were converted into Degrees like TandoMasti Khan, Khushdil Khan Lake, Khairpur, Decimals (DD) using MS Excel. Sighting data table was Ghauspur Lake, Kandhkot, Lang (Lungh) Lake, Sunari further modified to make it compatible for GIS analysis Lake, Siranda Lake, Seer Chandialakes, Mirpur Sakro, by adding the latitude and longitude of the localities Taunsa barrage, Akri lake (Akridhand), Mangla reservoir, mentioned in the table, as very few coordinates of the ZangiNawar Lake, Taunsa barrage, Akara dam, Hamal sighting records were available in the literature. Further, Lake, Pugri, Bridge lake and Chashma Barrage (Table 2). the data was categorized into historic, fairly recent and Recently, Marbled Teal has been sighted at recent categories on the basis of their sighting years. All Bolahi, Drigh Lake, Hamal Lake, KharRoo Lake, the sighting records up to year 1960 were given the Loonkhann, Morakho, Allahno Wari, Hab dam, Hamal ‘historic’ status while the sightings between the years Lake, Karud Wah, Mahboub Shah Lake, Seer Chandia 1961 to 1990 were given the ‘fairly recent’ and all the lakes, Lulukdan, Rangala Wetland Complex, Bridge lake, records after the year 1991 were classified as recent Lung Lake, Saji Dam, and Dangewari Lake (Fig. 4). sightings (Table 2). The geocoded sighting point datasets Declines in water bird population can therefore be were retrieved in the ArcGIS 9.3 as event theme for attributed to loss of habitat and also this rate of decline displaying Marbled Teal existence in order to map its was exacerbated due to uncontrolled hunting and distribution. Relevant attributed information of Marbled disturbance experienced throughout Indus watershed. Teal was added in the attribute tables. The spatial data This duck is heavily exploited at the breeding places and layers were created using ArcGIS 9.3 software. its eggs are collected. This practice of egg collection and hunting has been a major threat at Lulukdan in RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Balochistan as well. Egg collection practices have been seen at Zangi Nawar lake and Siranda jheel too. Intensive Roberts (1991) described the Marbeld Teal as hunting at Khushdil Khan lake has not been controlled by breeding resident at some parts of Balochistan and Sindh authorities. During winters extensive netting operation Province which include Zangi Nawar Lake, Bund can be seen in different lakes in Sind. Marbled Teals are Khushdil Khan, Sonmiani and Drigh Lake while the areas caught and then supplied in the market of various towns. adjacent to these localities like wetlands of DehAkro, There is huge subsistence on duck meat by the local Hammal Lake, Nara Canal, Chutiari