Avian Ecology and Behaviour

Kidwai Z.   Effect of anthropogenic factors on the abundance of Galliformes in Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, India

In press.

Effect of anthropogenic factors against encounter rates of the five species of Galliformes was analyzed in the Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, NW India, from February to May 2009. Sixteen transects, ranging from 1.8 to 2 km in length, were laid throughout the 80 km² study area covering all the available habitat types. At each sighting of the target species, 10 m radius circular plots were laid to enumerate degree of various anthropogenic factors making a total of 706 plots throughout the study period. These factors were quantified at each plot in a scale of 0 to 4 (0-none and 4-very high). Multivariate regression was used to estimate the probable relation amongst various anthropogenic factors with the target species on all transects in Software R. The models for each species were selected based on lowest AIC value. It was found that the variables show significant relation with the target species and explain 79%, 67%, 66%, 62%, and 55% of variability in Peafowl, Grey Francolin, Painted Spurfowl, Rain Quail and Jungle Bush Quail, respectively.

Anthropogenic factors; encounter rate; Galliformes; Sariska; transects