Elsevier Editorial System(tm) for Perspectives in Science Manuscript Draft Manuscript Number: Title: Shifting of birds in satellite areas due to some environmental implications in Keoladeo National Park (KNP), Bharatpur Article Type: SI: ICEMS-2016 Keywords: Keoladeo National Park; Ecology; Satellite wetland; Birds. Corresponding Author: Mr. Neeraj Sharma, M. TECH Corresponding Author's Institution: Govt. Polytechnic College Bharatpur,Rajasthan India First Author: Neeraj Sharma, M. TECH Order of Authors: Neeraj Sharma, M. TECH; Yogesh Ph.D.; Ajay S Jethoo, M. Tech., Ph.D.
P Mathur, M. Tech.,
Abstract: Keoladeo National Park is the world heritage bird sanctuary and is well known for hosting a wide range of bird's variety. The present work is undertaken to understand the environmental implications due to which the bird's attraction is detaching from the KNP. An adequate and timely water supply is necessary in the KNP for the sustainable attraction of migratory birds. Currently the scenario of the KNP is changing due to environmental issues mainly water alteration. Previously, the main available water sources to feed water in the KNP were Gambhiri and Banganga River but from the last decade the water supply from these sources has been interrupting due to the construction of many large and small dams for fulfilling drinking and irrigation requirement. These dams serve as a system of satellite wetland. From 2005 onwards, the amount of water has been supplied to KNP, is not satisfying Park's ecological requirement. Growth rate of several species, such as fishes, waterfowl and the carrying capacity of the wetland are decreasing with excessive growth of wild grasses such as Paspalum distichum and alien species Prosopis juliflora. As water supplement, the Chambal pipe line project are being utilized in KNP but the water quality is not serving the proper needs of the Park. The study investigated significant changes in quantum and quality of supply of water in last four years in the KNP and status of migratory birds. As a consequence, migratory birds arrived in the KNP in 2011, 2013 and 2014 moved to other nearby satellite wetlands such as Talabshai, Bund Baretha, Kalakoh, and Redia as confirmed through field survey study. This continuous shifting of birds in the satellite areas is reducing glory of the park for attracting tourists. Human activities are also increasing around the KNP which are increasing the noise level and hence may annoy the birds.
Manuscript
International Conference on Recent Trends in Engineering and Material Sciences (ICEMS-2016), March 17-19,2016,JNU Jaipur
Shifting of birds in satellite areas due to some environmental implications in Keoladeo National Park (KNP), Bharatpur Neeraj Sharma Department of Civil Engineering Government Polytechnic College, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract— Keoladeo National Park is the world heritage bird sanctuary and is well known for hosting a wide range of bird’s variety. The present work is undertaken to understand the environmental implications due to which the bird’s attraction is detaching from the KNP. An adequate and timely water supply is necessary in the KNP for the sustainable attraction of migratory birds. Currently the scenario of the KNP is changing due to environmental issues mainly water alteration. Previously, the main available water sources to feed water in the KNP were Gambhiri and Banganga River but from the last decade the water supply from these sources has been interrupting due to the construction of many large and small dams for fulfilling drinking and irrigation requirement. These dams serve as a system of satellite wetland. From 2005 onwards, the amount of water has been supplied to KNP, is not satisfying Park’s ecological requirement. Growth rate of several species, such as fishes, waterfowl and the carrying capacity of the wetland are decreasing with excessive growth of wild grasses such as Paspalum distichum and alien species Prosopis juliflora. As water supplement, the Chambal pipe line project are being utilized in KNP but the water quality is not serving the proper needs of the Park. The study investigated significant changes in quantum and quality of supply of water in last four years in the KNP and status of migratory birds. As a consequence, migratory birds arrived in the KNP in 2011, 2013 and 2014 moved to other nearby satellite wetlands such as Talabshai, Bund Baretha, Kalakoh, and Redia as confirmed through field survey study. This continuous shifting of birds in the satellite areas is reducing glory of the park for attracting tourists. Human activities are also increasing around the KNP which are increasing the noise level and hence may annoy the birds.
Keywords— Keoladeo National Park; Ecology, Satellite wetland; Birds.
I. INTRODUCTION Keoladeo National Park is a habitat oasis situated within a human populated landscape in the middle location of Central
Y.P. Mathur, A. S. Jethoo Department of Civil Engineering, Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur Jaipur, India
Asian Migratory Flyway. This landscape is designated as World Heritage site by UNESCO due to the availability of suitable areas including wetland grassland, swamps and woodlands, which attracts congregations of Migratory (long distant winter staging birds) and Resident birds (short distant breeding birds) [1]. According to Mitch and Gosselink, 80% of Migratory birds use wetlands as a stopping ground in their travels [2]. The KNP was designed with dykes and sluices areas of varying water depths to attract various avifaunal species. Presence of adequate amount and quality of water is needed for the sustainability of this park. Traditionally, in KNP, the water was supplied from Ajan Dam which further receives water from Banganga and Gambhiri Rivers [3]. 56 species of fish had been observed in 1995 [4]; thereafter the number has been decreasing as Prusty et al. [5] recorded about 30 species in the park. The highest number of fish species was found in open water with sparse vegetation and the lowest was found in Paspalum (a kind of grass) dominated areas of wetland. The water supply from Ajan dam is reduced due to the construction of many projects (i.e. dams, reservoir and anicuts) in the flow ways of Banganga and Gambhiri rivers and due to the erratic rainfall. Reduced water supply to the park affected the vegetation and other aspects of the wetland of the KNP. It was investigated that the population of Whinchats (bird species) in Britain declined by 57% between 1995 and 2008 and confined to upland [6]. For instance, the KNP had been the only wintering ground for the central population of the endangered Siberian Crane (Grus leucogeranus) but 2002 afterward the Siberian Crane was completely absent from the park [4]. The wetlands are susceptible to the amount of water and its quality [7]. To overcome the water scarcity in the KNP, it was planned to supplement water from two other water projects viz. Goverdhan Dam and Chambal pipe line project (which is mainly the drinking water project for Bharatpur city). However, the water quality of these sources is not satisfying
the ecological needs of the park thereby the vegetation of the park is affected significantly. The water inadequacy, in KNP, is still continued and as a consequence the variety and number of the birds are continuously decreasing in this world heritage site. Potential environment changes not only affected physical components such as increased water temperatures, droughts and extreme floods but also affected the biotic characteristics of the park such as productivity of vegetation and abundance diversity [8]. Human activities around the KNP are also continuously increasing which may annoy the KNP’s fauna. In this study, the consequences of the water scarcity on the bird population in KNP have been studied. The study revealed that a number of different birds are shifting in the basin areas of Banganga and Gambhiri rivers. Such areas are designated as satellite wetland areas for the KNP [9, 10]. Due to the shifting of the birds to these nearby satellite wetlands, the parks glory is lowering down.
B. Study Methods The population of the birds in KNP and in Bund Baretha has recorded during the study period. The identification of birds was done with the help of foresters, guides, supporting staff of KNP and available pictorial guides [11, 12]. III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION A. Environmental implications in the KNP The aquatic blocks of the park are the most attracting sites for the Migratory and Resident birds. Adequate and timely supply of water in these aquatic blocks needed for the proper growth of vegetation. In these blocks, the fish rich water is also important for the piscivorous (the birds which eat fishes). Different species of birds has been recorded in different aquatic block. Ferruginous Pochard Duck (Migratory bird) and Painted Storks (prime breeding Resident bird) has been recorded in the K and D blocks, respectively and are shown in the Fig. 2
II. METHODS A. Study Area The main bird population in KNP is found in the aquatic blocks viz. K, L, D, E and F. KNP features including the aquatic blocks are shown in the Fig. 1.
(a) (b)
Fig.1 Various salient features and aquatic blocks in the Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur.
Nearby wetland areas which are serving as satellite areas for KNP namely Talabshai, Bund Baretha, Kalakoh, and Redia have also been surveyed. Mainly the satellite area, Bund Baretha which is about 60 km away from the KNP, has been selected to record the shifted bird population. Bund Baretha is lying in the drainage areas of Gambhiri river. This is one of the bird populated satellite area in which the presence of birds has been recorded earlier [10].
Fig. 2 The recorded birds in KNP (a) Ferruginous Pochard Duck (Migratory bird) in K block and (b) Painted Storks (prime breeding Resident bird) in D block.
Initially, when the water supply to these aquatic block was fully through Banganga and Gambhiri rivers (through Ajan dam), the blocks were affluent with a variety of fishes. However, the supply from these natural sources interrupted greatly due to erratic rainfall and other constructions in the flow areas of these rivers. As a consequence, the number/variety of birds is decreasing from 2005 onward. To fulfill the water requirements into the aquatic blocks, the KNP administration managed water supply though two other alternative sources viz. Goverdhan drain and Chambal pipe line [13]. Despite the adequate amount of supplied water, the ecological conditions of the park are not being satisfied yet. It may be due to the lower biological values (fish richness, insects, invertebrate etch) in the other alternatives sources than that in the traditional sources. According to the previous studies, the richness of the fishes has been decreasing continuously.
Mallard are also becoming vulnerable in the KNP. As a result, the interest of tourists is detaching from the park [13]. However, this is the matter of relief for the KNP and Rajasthan state that these birds from Central Asian Flyway are attracting to the basing areas (i.e. satellite areas) of Banganga and Gambhiri rivers, which were the traditional sources for water to KNP. The presence of bird’s are also recorded in the satellite areas in the basin of Chambal and Yamuna rivers. The positions of the satellite areas are sown in the Fig. 3 within 100 km and 200 km around KNP.
The other probable reason that could make the birds to shift in the nearby satellite areas is the increasing noise level due to the passing of highway along the 5 km periphery of KNP. The noise level generating along the KNP is varied from 35 dBA (Lmin) to 85 dBA (Lmax). A car horn and vehicle engine produces sound as high as 110 and 120 dB may irritate human and biota [14]. According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) 1998, the ambient noise level is 50 dBA in the day time whereas 40 dBA during night for silence (eco-sensitive) zone [15, 16]. The recorded Leq around KNP was 69 dBA which is much above than the maximum limit set by permission limit. Such high level is generating due to the horn and hauling of the vehicles.
0
1
2 3
4
Northern Pintail
Common Teal Spot-Billed Duck
8
Gadwall
7
Eurasian Wigeon
5 6
Cotton Pygmy Goose
50
Comb Duck
100
Ruddy Shelduck
150
Red Crested Pochard
200
Lwseer Whistling-Duck
250
Bar-Headed Goose
300
Eurasian Spoonbill
During the study, it has been found that due to the water problems and the increased sound level, the bird’s attraction is detaching from the park which is not good for the park’s future. Initially the park is known for hosting the world famous Siberian Cranes, but, unfortunately, 2002 afterwards this species is extinct in the park. Other water bird species namely Flamingo, Cotton Pygmy Goose, White Eyed Pochard,
Recorded in KNP Recorded in Bund Baretha
350
Greylag Goose
B. Effects on bird population.
A comparative population of 14 bird species in KNP (average) and in the Bund Baretha is presented in the Fig. 4. The recorded birds to some nearby satellite areas are also presented in the Tables 1.
Black-Ibis
So there is a combined effect of decreasing water quality and increasing sound level in the park which may make the birds to shift in other suitable areas.
Fig. 3 Positions of satellite wetland areas around Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur. The areas falling under small circle (100 km radius) are most dominating however the presence of birds has been also recorded in the areas falling under second circle (up-to 200 km radius).
Recorded Numbers
The bird’s behavior may change due to the high level of noise, for example, K. M. Parris and Angela Schneider [17] reported important effects of traffic noise on birds in roadside habitat on the Mornington Peninsula. The results pointed out that the noise affects differently to different kinds of birds. As reported, the lower singing Grey Shrike-thrush sings at a higher frequency in traffic noise, but the higher singing Grey Fantail does not. The noise level also affects the population persistence in the habitats which is supported by the result that the Grey Fantail was not changing its song in the presence of noise, but was less likely to be found at sites with high traffic noise and volume. Traffic noise and traffic volume may act in synergy to exclude birds from habitats next to noisy, busy roads.
9 10 11 12 13 14
Fig. 4 A comparative bird population recorded in KNP (average during study period) and in Bund Baretha.(in 2013).
TABLE 1. Prime migratory birds shifted and observed in nearby satellite area of KNP during 2011-14
Satellite Wetland Species
Bund Baretha Karoli
Talab -shai Dholpur
Ram Sagar Dholpur
Urmila Sagar Dholpur
Abua Nangla Mathura
Mansarovar, Dausa
Redia Bandh Alwar
Black-Ibis
–
–
–
1
–
–
–
Eurasian Spoonbill
12
19
50
26
4
–
12
Greylag Goose
183
300
–
–
–
–
3
Bar-Headed Goose
298
–
–
245
–
136
136
Lwseer Whistling-Duck
42
–
–
–
–
–
–
Ruddy Shelduck
42
–
–
–
–
–
–
Red Crested Poachard
578
27
–
–
–
–
–
Comb Duck
82
–
–
–
–
–
–
Cotton Pygmy Goose
103
–
–
–
–
–
–
Gadwall
3386
–
–
119
625
–
265
Eurasian Wigeon
847
–
–
76
–
–
112
Spot-Billed Duck
197
–
–
–
17
20
23
Common Teal
2192
–
–
369
321
3
66
Northern Pintail
1303
–
26
28
13
3
60
According to the study and the data recorded in the KNP and the satellite areas, it is revealed that a large number of birds are shifting from the KNP to the satellite areas. The bird’s shifting pollution is dominant in the Bund Baretha satellite area. Bund Baretha is situated in the drainage area of Gambhiri river whereas other wetlands are situated in the drainage areas of Chambal and Yamuna rivers. The higher richness of the shifted birds suggests that the water of Gambhiri river is more biologically suitable for the birds arrive in KNP. The results and the discussion suggests that the birds are shifting to the satellite areas due to the environmental implications which include water scarcity, deteriorating water quality and the increasing noise level around the KNP. However, after the identification of these environmental issues, the KNP administration can take some measures to restore the KNP’s original ecology. Simultaneously, the KNP administration should also monitor the nearby satellite areas so as to provide the adequate environment to the birds; for keeping them attracted to this zone. The UNESCO, under the project –WII “Enhancing our heritage- Monitoring and
Managing for Success in Natural World Heritage Sites” also attempted the identification, documentation and monitoring of satellite wetlands for water-birds in Keoladeo National Park [9]. This again highlights the importance of the satellite areas and their conservation for environmentalists.
IV. CONCLUSION The KNP’s integrity is affecting adversely due to the environmental issues such as water problems and increasing noise pollution around the park. As a result, the birds are also using other nearby wetlands for breeding and staging, these satellite areas are having water with better biological values than that in KNP. Hence, in addition to water quantity, KNP administration should also focus on the water quality in the park. The water quality can be improved again by supplying more water from Ajan dam instead from other alternative sources. The KNP administration should also take some measures to restrict the human activities around the park which are increasing the noise level so far. It is also needed to
conserve the nearby satellite areas so that the bird’s attraction could not detach from this zone.
[12] J.R.B.Alfred, A. Kumar, P.C.Tak, and J.P.Sati, In: Waterbirds of Northern India, Zoological Survey of India. Kolkata, 2001.
Acknowledgment
[13] N. Sharma, Y. P. Mathur, and A. S. Jethoo, “Effects of hydrological changes on the biodiversity at Keoladeo National Park and their impact on Ecotourism”. International Journal of Civil, Structural, Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering Research and Development (IJCSEIERD) Vol. 5 (6), pp. 1-10, December 2015.
Authors are grateful to Prof. A.B. Gupta, Prof. Gunwant Sharma, Dr.. Mahendra Chaudhary and others staff of MNIT Jaipur for their help, motivation and comments on this manuscript. Thanks are also due to Dr. P. K. Sain, GPC, Bharatpur for his critical comments. Special thanks to the management of wild life and Keoladeo National Park Bharatpur for providing necessary help and cooperation in study.
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