ID1200: Ecology and Environment

Jul-Nov-2014
Campus Ecology - I
10 AUG 2014
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Acknowledgement
Discussions with and suggestions from Prof. Abhijit
Despande have helped shape this presentation.
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Ecosystem Services
The Millenium ecosystem assessment by UN 2001-2005
by >1500 scientists
The central premise of MEA: all the constituents of
well-being, including security, basic materials for
prosperity, health, good social relations and even freedom
of choice and action are directly dependent upon
ecosystem services
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Whether we and our politicians know it or not, Nature is
party to all our deals and decisions, and she has more
votes, a longer memory, and a sterner sense of justice
than we do.
Wendell Berry
Berrys work demonstrates that a farmer must have an
intimate relationship with his land and its secrets to
sustainably reap its harvests. A project site occupies a
specic place in the ecosystem. The site may be
characterized as belonging to a biome, ecoregion and
watershed, but also the site itself has dening
characteristics relative to its contribution to the ecosystem.
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Ecosystem Functions
Regulating Functions
Production Functions
Habitat Functions
Information functions
Regulating Functions
Gas regulation
Climate regulation
Disturbance regulation
Water regulation
Water supply
Soil retention
Soil formation
Nutrition
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Production Functions
Food
Raw Materials
Genetic Resources
Medicinal resources
Ornamental
Habitat functions
Refuge function
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Information function
Aesthetic information
Recreation
Cultural and artistic information
Spiritual and historic
Science and education
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Impact of biodiversity on ecosystem services
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
The life around us has a vital meaning. We have to be fully
alive to it and establish a consious connection to it. This is not
impelled by the greed of material advantage or arid scientic
curiosity, but by realizing it in the spirit of empathy with a feeling
of joy.
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Only a few cities are as blessed as Chennai is with varied
geographical features - rivers, sea front, hills, lakes,
backwaters, swamps and an estuary. And few have
squandered such a heritage as we have done in a frenzied and
unbalanced urbanization.
Theodore Bhaskaran - a well known
wild life conservationist
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
The Campus Ecosystem
The beginning: Governors Country retreat!
The earliest information on this land is that it was carved
out of the Guindy forest by a Governor of Madras, William
Langhorne between 1671 and 1678 [2]
After changing hands several times, it was acquired by the
British government in 1821. The Governors estate (The
Guindy Lodge) was originally 1300 acres.
In 1910 it came under the supervision of the forest
department and was declared a reserve forest.
By 1978 forest reserve dwindled to about 680 acres and
was declared a national park.
In 1958, IIT Madras was carved out of the original reserve
forest : a lovely 628-acre campus.
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Campus Ecosystem
It has the rarest vegetation type - the tropical dry evergreen
vegetation [6].
The terrain slopes slightly towards the south and
south-east.
Mini Ecosystems:
open grasslands:
wetlands:
thick forest patches:
patches of scrub jungle:
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Open Grasslands
The ideal open grasslands with original vegetation is no
more seen in IITM campus.
The open areas with some features of grasslands are
mostly found in and around the academic zone and the
hostel zone. These are patches of open land between
buildings, along the road sides and playgrounds.
The blackbuck favors this type of ecosystem.
The Blackbuck live in habitats which are essentially dry in
nature and feed on short grass, various herbs and shrubs,
owers, leaves primarily seen in open spaces. Their water
needs are met from the dew on found on grass. Many plant
species required for the blackbuck have disappeared from
the campus due to un-witting cleaning and clearing
programmes.
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Wetlands (the lake and surrounding marshy region)
The campus lake is located towards the Eastern boundary
wall. The lake is source of fresh water supply to the
campus residents. It is also the only natural source of
water for the wild animals and birds.
On the other side of the lake are two oxidation ponds for
waste water treatment. These articially created oxidation
ponds and the surrounding marsh form a wonderful
wetland ecosystem
Figure : The Lake
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Wetlands
The oxidation ponds attract a large number of water birds:
little grebe, cormorants, herons, ducks, lapwings to the
ponds.
The surrounding marsh has very good growth of water
reeds which also acts as a natural water cleaning system.
The marsh also caters to birds like white breasted water
hen, Indian Moor Hen, a large number of pond and night
herons, reed warblers etc. The marsh also has a good
population of crabs, Flap shell and star shaped tortoises,
jackals, mongooses etc. The deer and blackbuck use the
surrounding forest area during the hot day time and feed
on the pods of Prosopis which is rich in proteins.
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Wetlands
The surroundings of these marshy area as well as the
marsh have a thick growth of Prosopis juliora or
velikkathan trees which give ideal roosting ground for
birds like open-billed stork and white ibis, night and pond
herons, black, yellow and chestnut bitterns. IIT Campus is
the only roosting site in the city for open billed storks and
white ibis. These birds might have chosen this habitat due
to: Sturdy trees which can carry their weight and
temperature control by the marsh and the water reeds.
Prosopis (velikkathan) forms an ideal one at that.
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Thick forest patches
There are a few areas on the campus with forest patches.
These areas show a typical three/multi storied forest
structure with tall trees forming the canopy, an intermediate
layer of bushes and climbers smaller plants at the ground
level.
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Patches of scrub jungle
It is estimated that today only one per cent of this forest
remains worldwide. More endangered than the rainforests !
Isolated patches of scrub jungles are visible through out
the length and breadth of the campus except some heavily
constructed and fenced off areas.
These scrub jungles are rich with a variety of plants and
other life forms which are native and wild.
These scrub jungles form the life line of the major
herbivores like blackbuck and deer and home to smaller
animals like wild hare, mongoose, large number of
butteries etc.
Some of the unique herbs, shrubs, climbers, grass etc.
It is critical that we refrain from destroying/cutting these
plants and trees on campus.
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Birds on Campus
Residents and Migrants.
About 100 species of birds are seen on campus.
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Golden Oriole Paradise Fly Catcher
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Magpie Robin Copper Smith Barbet
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
An Activity
M. Krishnan, a well known wildlife photographer, writer and
naturalist, was unhappy with the Indian system of school
education. In a 1947 essay, he wrote,
The average educated adult knows little or nothing of the
teeming plant and animal life of the country, and cares less.
Livestock does not interest him, and the world is to him a place
which holds only human beings. He can never make friends
with a hill or a dog, and if he has no one to talk to, no book to
read, and no gadget to turn and unturn, he is quite lost. School
education is solidly to blame for all this.
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Identify these bird calls
Call 1:
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Call 2:
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Call 3:
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Call 4:
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Call 5:
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Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Blackbuck
Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) is the only representative
of genus antilope found in India. (Kala Hiran or Krishna
Mrig)
Used to be seen in thousands at the beginning of this
century all throughout the plains of India except the
Western coast.
Due to extensive poaching and habitat loss, blackbuck
numbers have nosedived. Now they are only seen in a few
protected areas.
Blackbuck require open grass lands with intermittent tall
grass or bushes. This is unlike the spotted deer, which can
survive in dense forests and bush jungles.
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Akbar hunting with Cheetahs A Brass blackbuck from Bihar
From: Life at court From: Everyday Art of India
by Vishakha Desai by Bussabarger and Robbins
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Blackbuck are also very territorial and sensitive to
environmental pressures. An adult male blackbuck tries to
maintain his territory by marking it and defending it in the
breeding season.
Figure : Hiran Minar: constructed by Jahangir in memory of his
blackbuck Mansraj
Source: www.wikepedia.com
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Blackbuck
The female blackbuck requires tall grass or small bushes to
rear the young. The fawn stays hidden during the rst one
week in tall grasses/bushes. The blackbuck fawns are
quite weak during the rst few weeks and can be easily
prey for dogs. Therefore it is essential to have undisturbed
open areas with small bush/tall grass cover for the healthy
survival of young blackbuck. The fawn joins the mother and
other group members when it is about two weeks old.
Their capability to run at speeds of 70 kmph makes them
the fastest surviving species on the subcontinent and
protects them against most predators alive today.
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Figure : Juvenile hiding in tall Grass
Source: http://www.arkive.org/blackbuck/antilope-cervicapra/image-G37088.html
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
According to some estimates there were once 4 million
blackbuck on the Indian subcontinent [1].
Figure : Blackbuck range: Historial and present(1976)
Source: Elizabeth Mungall: The Indian Blackbuck Antelope: A Texas View
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Blackbuck of IIT Madras
The blackbuck are native inhabitants of this region [4]. It
appears that white Blackbuck were introduced by the
Maharaja of Bhavnagar [4]
Older surveys of Blackbuck numbers on the IIT Madras are
much higher than today [2]. Today there are 31 on campus.
White blackbuck with black eyes, are not true albinos,
since true albinos lack even eye pigmentation.
Unlike the antlers of deer, the horns of black buck are not
deciduous, that is, they do not fall off once a year to grow
again - they are permanent.
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Blackbuck
Due to shrinkage and fragmentation of habitat everywhere,
the pressure on existing habitats is quite high.
This also tells us that it is inappropriate to think of shifting
and relocating them elsewhere.
In addition, the casualities asssociated with such
processes are quite high [1] . It is important to protect them
in distributed and more number of habitats, where ever
possible.
Today, blackbuck is included in the endangered species list
in India (included in Schedule I of Indian Wildlife Act,
1972).
Therefore we at IIT Madras have an important role in
protecting the blackbuck in the campus which is their
original and native habitat.
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Problems for Blackbuck
Destruction of native wild plants, grass and herbs without
realizing their role in sustaining a species like blackbuck by
creating lawns or just by clearing plants annually
Introduction of non-edible, exotic grass species, sprayed
with pesticides in the name of lawns is shrinking vital
space of the blackbuck further
Speeding vehicles and increasing number of vehicles in
the campus.
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
REFERENCES
Mungall, E.C. The Indian blackbuck antelope:A Texas view.
Cesar Kleberg Studies in Natural Resources, 1978.
Menon, R. K. G. (1986) The Guindy National Park: its
history and physiogeography. Blackbuck 2(1): 14-21.
Muthiah: Madras Rediscovered
Ecology and management of chital and blackbuck in
Guindy national park, Madras, T. R. Shankar Raman, R. K.
G. Menon and R. Sukumar, Journal of the Bombay Natural
History Society, Vol 93, 1996.
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/
accounts/information/Macaca_radiata.html
http://www.forests.tn.nic.in/wildbiodiversity/
np_gnp.html
Trees of Delhi, Pradip Krishen
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014
Book of Indian birds, Salim Ali, BNHS.
http://window2nature.wordpress.com/
category/other-animals/monkeys/
Population Dynamics and Conservation of Commensal
Bonnet Macaques Mewa Singh and N. Raghunatha Rao,
International Journal of Primatology, Vol. 25, No. 4, 2004
Less than wild? Commensal primates and wildlife
conservation, S Radhakrishna and A Sinha, J. Biosci.
36(5), December 2011, 749-753
Campus Ecology - I ID1200: Ecology and Environment Jul-Nov-2014