Ecological Dynamics of Vultures, Blackbuck Antelope, Khejeri Trees, and the Bishnoi People in Western Rajasthan, India
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2011
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ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-osu13131718192021-08-03T06:03:33Z Ecological Dynamics of Vultures, Blackbuck Antelope, Khejeri Trees, and the Bishnoi People in Western Rajasthan, India Hall, Jonathan Clarence Ecology Bishnoi vultures antelope Khejeri Rajasthan In the last half century Western Rajasthan has experienced dramatic changes in resource availability, climate, species abundance, livestock populations, and human development. Human population growth and development drives these changes as an increase percentage of land area is put to human use. Understanding the dynamics of this human dominated landscape are important if other species are to survive and coexist with human populations. I pursue a novel approach in this research and examine the interplay between human beliefs and practices and the abundance of keystone species that share this landscape. I performed a comparative study of two set of villages in Western Rajasthan to investigate the dynamics that drive abundance of Indian vultures (Gyps indicus), blackbuck antelope (Antilope cervicapra), and Khejeri trees (Prosopis cineraria) incorporating the presence of the Bishnoi people. The Bishnoi are a caste of Indians who’s religion mandates that they protect Khejeri trees and antelope with their lives. The results of this study show that Bishnoi populations are positively associated with all study species. Indian vulture dynamics are driven by La Niña induced drought, synchronizing population dynamics across a wide region, but may be partially mitigated in one particular village by the presence of Bishnoi. Khejeri trees were found in greater abundance in villages with Bishnoi and their abundance appears to be influenced differently by household income and livestock populations in Bishnoi areas than in other areas. Blackbuck antelope were also found in greater abundance in areas with Bishnoi populations despite being present in less than half of the villages in the study. Finally, this study highlights important influences on household income, namely livestock populations, that captures the ecological complexity of human capitalization and development in this region. This research is the first to systematically investigate the ecological impact of the Bishnoi people on keystone species and one of the few studies that seeks to understand the intersection among human cultural practices and the coexistence of humans and other species in a human dominated landscape. 2011-09-27 English text The Ohio State University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1313171819 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1313171819 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws. |
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NDLTD |
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English |
| sources |
NDLTD |
| topic |
Ecology Bishnoi vultures antelope Khejeri Rajasthan |
| spellingShingle |
Ecology Bishnoi vultures antelope Khejeri Rajasthan Hall, Jonathan Clarence Ecological Dynamics of Vultures, Blackbuck Antelope, Khejeri Trees, and the Bishnoi People in Western Rajasthan, India |
| author |
Hall, Jonathan Clarence |
| author_facet |
Hall, Jonathan Clarence |
| author_sort |
Hall, Jonathan Clarence |
| title |
Ecological Dynamics of Vultures, Blackbuck Antelope, Khejeri Trees, and the Bishnoi People in Western Rajasthan, India |
| title_short |
Ecological Dynamics of Vultures, Blackbuck Antelope, Khejeri Trees, and the Bishnoi People in Western Rajasthan, India |
| title_full |
Ecological Dynamics of Vultures, Blackbuck Antelope, Khejeri Trees, and the Bishnoi People in Western Rajasthan, India |
| title_fullStr |
Ecological Dynamics of Vultures, Blackbuck Antelope, Khejeri Trees, and the Bishnoi People in Western Rajasthan, India |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Ecological Dynamics of Vultures, Blackbuck Antelope, Khejeri Trees, and the Bishnoi People in Western Rajasthan, India |
| title_sort |
ecological dynamics of vultures, blackbuck antelope, khejeri trees, and the bishnoi people in western rajasthan, india |
| publisher |
The Ohio State University / OhioLINK |
| publishDate |
2011 |
| url |
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1313171819 |
| work_keys_str_mv |
AT halljonathanclarence ecologicaldynamicsofvulturesblackbuckantelopekhejeritreesandthebishnoipeopleinwesternrajasthanindia |
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1719430164824195072 |