ISSN 0975 – 2595 PRAJÑ Volume 17, 2009 Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences SARDAR PATEL UNIVERSITY VALLABH VIDYANAGAR Gujarat – 388 120, INDIA www.spuvvn.edu PRAJÑ - Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences (Abbreviation: PRAJÑ - J. Pure & Appl. Sci. ) Patron Prof. B. G. Patel Vice-Chancellor Managing Editor Prof. T. V. Ramana Rao B. R. D. School of Biosciences Sardar Patel University Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat – 388 120 [email protected] Editorial Board Prof. S. J. Bhatt Prof. Rema Subhash Prof. D. K. Raval Dept. of Mathematics Dept. of Home Science Department of Chemistry [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Prof. K. N. Joshipura Prof. Satish Manocha Prof. D. Lakshminarayana Dept. of Physics Dept. of Material Science Department of Electronics [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Prof. K. S. Rao Prof. Darshan Choksi Prof. Ashok Shanubhogue Dept. of Biosciences Dept. of Computer Science Department of Statistics [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Since 1991 Sardar Patel University has been regularly publishing the PRAJÑ - Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences with an aim of providing a platform to Academicians, Researchers and Scientists for the rapid dissemination of original scientific work carried out in the University departments, Affiliated Colleges and Research Laboratories located in Gujarat. All articles published in PRAJNA are deemed to reflect the individual views of the authors and not the official points of view of the Sardar Patel University. A Peer Reviewed Journal Indexed in Indian Science Abstracts Published by the Registrar, Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat – 388 120 Printed at Sardar Patel University Press, Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat – 388 120 PRAJÑ - Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Volume 17, December 2009 An Official Publication of Sardar Patel University Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat – 388 120, INDIA www.spuvvn.edu E-mail: [email protected] Sardar Patel University is grateful to Prof. Vithalbhai A. Patel, Humboldt State University, Arcata, Califonia, USA, whose generous donation to organize academic activities in the name of Shri Ishwarbhai Ambalal Patel (Shertha) helped to meet a part of the publication cost of PRAJÑ Journal. * * * * * * * * * * * The Editorial Board of PRAJÑ is grateful to all those experts who rendered their valuable services as referees for reviewing the papers received for this volume of the Journal. * * * * * * * * * * * The computational assistance received from Mr. Prakash R. Patel, a Doctoral Research Student of Biosciences Department, for making of this volume of PRAJÑ Journal is also gratefully acknowledged. PRAJÑ - Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol. 17: 001-006, 2009 ISSN 0975 - 2595 AVIFAUNAL DIVERSITY IN AND AROUND VALLABH VIDYANAGAR - A SHORT TERM SURVEY Mukesh H. Koladiya 1 and Narasimhacharya A. V. R. L * Department of Biosciences, Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat – 388 120 1Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology, Post Box-83, Mundra Road, Bhuj, Gujarat – 370 001 ABSTRACT In view of increasing population and urbanization of Vallabh Vidyanagar, a time bound short-term survey was conducted in Vallabh Vidyanagar and its environs to study the avifaunal diversity. Several sites- approach roads to four major villages near Vallabh Vidyanagar i.e., Lambhvel, Vadtal, Bakrol and Karamsad and Shastri Maidan within Vallabh Vidyanagar were selected. The study sites except Shastri Maidan, included both residential and commercial areas, besides the open areas. A total of 210 visits were made during the morning and evening hours comprising of 105 rounds between Dec 23, 2007 and April 12, 2008. In this study period 44 species of birds belonging to 24 families were encountered. Our observations indicate that 15 species of birds are abundant in frequency while 10 common, 7 frequent and 5 rare. These observations indicate that despite the rapid urbanization of Vallabh Vidyanagar, it is still rich in avian biodiversity. Keywords : avifauna, diversity, density, evenness, vallabh vidyanagar, species richness. INTRODUCTION Presence of large numbers of birds and their and Karamsad Road. Bird counts were carried out variety indicate the health of an ecosystem. from 23 December 2007 to 12 April 2008, Vallabh Vidyanagar, an educational township in approximately for four months, routinely in the Anand district in the State of Gujarat (22 o 5 a to mornings (0600-0900 h) and evenings (1700- 23 o 5a N and 72 o 5a to 73 o 5aE) is famous for its 1900 h). For counting birds at each of the sites, educational institutions, is also aptly called three rounds were decided each with seven “Vrikshanagar” as it is endowed with rich consecutive days. Each site has been divided into vegetation in spite of an ever increasing seven different sub-study areas with each covering population as well as concrete constructions. As 70 meter area. The data on sunrise and sunset the vegetation is rich, a large number of birds are timings, minimum and maximum temperatures for found in and around Vallabh Vidyanagar the study period were obtained from Sardar Patel throughout the year. However, there is no specific Renewable Energy Resources Institute (SPRERI), document referring to the distribution or Vallabh Vidyanagar. population of bird species in this township and its environs. Therefore the present work was (1) Lambhvel Road (LR) undertaken to investigate and measure the This area was selected with the following sub- population of birds in Vallabh Vidyanagar and its study areas: (a) Opposite to Munshi Nature Cure surroundings for approximately four months Hospital; (b) Near Vaishnav Township; (from December 2007 to April 2008). The (c) Opposite and near Siddharth Kutir; (d) Anand- objectives of the study are (1) to find out various Nadiad Road; (e) Near Indian Gas Agency; bird species in and around Vallabh Vidyanagar (f) Near Khodiyar Temple and (g) Behind S. K. and (2) to measure the Density, Diversity Index Cinema. (H a) and Evenness Index (EI or J a) of different bird species in and around Vallabh Vidyanagar. (2) Vadtal Road (VR) On this site the bird counts were carried out in the MATERIALS AND METHODS following sub-study areas: (a) Behind Vaibhav Selection of sites Cinema; (b) Near Astha Bunglow; (c) Shantikunj For the present study five main sites were selected Society; (d) Near Sewage canal; (e) On the way to for counting the bird populations in surroundings Rampura area; (f) Back side of the B. R. Doshi of Vallabh Vidyanagar. The sites are Lambhvel School of Biosciences and (g) Bakrol Colony Road, Vadtal Road, Bakrol Road, Shastri Maidan area. * Corresponding author – [email protected] 2 PRAJÑ – Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences 17 : 001-006 December (3) Bakrol Road (BR) The numerical data generated out of the bird This site was demarcated into the following sub- counts at various sites has been subjected to study areas: (a) Bakrol gate area; (b) Opposite logarithmic transformation [3]. Pramukhswami Computer Institute; (c) Behind Tirth Bunglow; (d) Area near Madhav Gurukul; RESULTS (e) Bakrol Village; (f) Left side area of canal and Bird counts (g) Area behind Bakrol village. As mentioned in methodology, the bird counts were recorded on regular basis and tabulated. (4) Shastri Maidan (SM) Table 1 shows the habitats of the study areas in For counting the birds in this site the following Vallabh Vidyanagar. All these areas could be seen teeming with a variety of birds. When the were the sub-study areas: (a) Area near main gate; species of birds were counted during 105 rounds (b) Area near and opposite to Apna bazaar; (210 visits) over a period of time (Dec 23, 2007 to (c) Area near basket ball court; (d) Area near B. April 12, 2008) for their numbers in different V. M. College; (e) Area adjacent to Polytechnique localities, out of total of 44 species, 15 were found College; (f) Area near V. P. Science College and to be abundant, 7 frequent, 10 common and 5 rare (g) Area adjacent to Bus stand. (Table 2). The total counts for three rounds (R 1-3) / visits (both during morning and evening (5) Karamsad Road (KR) hours) for each site are recorded, average number In Karamsad Road, the following sub-study areas of each species was calculated and species status were selected: (a) H. S. Buildcon Ground; was ranked for respective sites. Additionally, total (b) Right side of the Railway track ; (c) Left side counts of birds for each study site during each visit were also calculated and tabulated. The data of the Railway track ; (d) Area behind Shivdham from all sites was finally pooled, total number of Tenement; (e) Area opposite to Hindustan petrol birds and average were calculated and ranking pump; (f) Area behind Hindustan petrol pump and status was given to species for all sites and (g) Ground near Ganesh Bunglow. tabulated. Among the species Rose-ringed parakeet occupies first rank as its number was the Quadrate method was adopted in order to observe highest and Pea fowl, 44 th rank as its number was the birds during the study period. This method the lowest (Table 3). Based on this data, species was used to count; measure the density, diversity richness, density, diversity and evenness were and frequency of species. computed and recorded for all the sites. While the Vadtal road area was found to be species rich, highest species density was found in Shastri Data Analysis maidan, maximum diversity species evenness in From the collected data, density, species diversity Karamsad road area (Table 4). and species evenness were calculated using the Table 1: Habitat of the selected sites. following formulae: Sr. Area/ Site LR VR BR KR SM No. 1. Density [1]: n/ Ur2 where n= total number 1 Residential area ! ! ! ! X of birds; r = radius 2 Road area ! ! ! ! X 3 Large Trees ! ! ! ! ! 2. Diversity Index [1]: (H a) H a = Pi x ln (Pi), 4 Water bodies X ! ! X X where Pi = the v Proportion of ith species; 5 Scrub area ! ! ! ! X Commercial/ 6 ! ! ! ! X ln= natural log.