Distribution and relative abundance of mountain ungulates in Pindari Valley, Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

We assessed the distribution and relative abundance of mountain ungulates in Pindari Valley (ca. 110 km 2), Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Uttarakhand, India, from June, 2007 to July, 2009. We used trail sampling, and scan counts to estimate the distribution and relative abundance of mountain ungulates such as Blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) and Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus). For Himalayan musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster), we used indirect evidences also to determine presence/absence and relative abundance. We prepared habitat maps of the study area on the GIS domain and plotted the locations of sightings and signs to show the distribution pattern of mountain ungulates. Data on presence of human, livestock and other disturbances were also recorded and analyzed to investigate their effects on ungulate distribution. While Blue sheep and Himalayan tahr were mostly encountered in the alpine regions, the Himalayan musk deer were often sighted in the krummholtz region. The overall encounter rates (#/hr+SE) for blue sheep and Himalayan tahr were 4.13/hr±1.00 and 1.38/hr±0.45 respectively. The overall encounter rate (#/km+SE) for Himalayan musk deer based on trail walks was 0.26+0.04. The overall relative density estimates (#/km 2 +SE) for blue sheep and Himalayan tahr were 0.35+0.09 and 1.38±0.45 respectively. There was seasonal variation in the encounter rates for blue sheep and Himalyan tahr. Most of the mountain ungulates were sighted between 3,500 m and 4,500 m, but Blue sheep were sighted up to 5,500 m. Eastern, southeastern and western aspects of mountain slopes were mostly used by these mountain ungulates. Most of the sightings of Blue sheep and musk deer were in 30 o-40 o slope, whereas for Himalayan tahr, it was 50 o-60 o slope. We compare the relative abundance estimates of mountain ungulates of the Pindari region with the estimates from the Nanda Devi National Park, (Core Zone) and other localities in the buffer zones of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. Livestock grazing and anthropogenic pressures are the main concerns for the conservation and management of these mountain ungulates and their habitats in the Pindari Valley region.