Journal of Threatened
Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 February 2024 | 16(2): 24694–24706
ISSN 0974-7907
(Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.8766.16.2.24694-24706
#8766 | Received 05 October 2023 | Final received 16 January 2024 |
Finally accepted 26 January 2024
Distribution status and roost
characteristics of Indian Flying Fox Pteropus
medius Temminck, 1825
(Mammalia: Chiroptera: Pteropodidae)
in Kurukshetra district, Haryana, India
Ritu Devi 1 &
Parmesh Kumar 2
1,2 Department of Zoology, Institute
of Integrated and Honors Studies, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana
136119, India.
1 ritudevi8508@gmail.com
(corresponding author), 2 parmesh@kuk.ac.in
Editor: Bhargavi Srinivasulu,
Osmania University, Hyderabad, India. Date of publication: 26 February
2024 (online & print)
Citation: Devi,
R. & P. Kumar (2024). Distribution status and roost characteristics
of Indian Flying Fox Pteropus medius Temminck, 1825
(Mammalia: Chiroptera: Pteropodidae)
in Kurukshetra district, Haryana, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 16(2): 24694–24706. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.8766.16.2.24694-24706
Copyright: © Devi & Kumar 2024. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
License. JoTT
allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and distribution of this article in any
medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of
publication.
Funding: The research is funded by CSIR in the form of SRF to one of the authors i.e., Ritu Devi.
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Author details: Dr. Parmesh Kumar is
professor of Zoology, Department of Zoology, Institute of Integrated & Honors Studies, Kurukshetra University Kurukshetra. He has published dozens of papers in the journals of national and international repute, and a few book chapters on biodiversity. His field of research includes wildlife ecology and animal behaviour. Ritu Devi is a research scholar and pursuing her PhD from Department of Zoology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra.
Author contributions: PK conceived and designed the study as well as wrote the final draft of the manuscript. RD performed the field surveys, analysed the data and prepared the rough draft of the manuscript. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Acknowledgements: We are highly thankful to the Department of
Zoology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra for providing the requisite
facilities. One of the authors, Ritu Devi is thankful
to the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, India
for providing financial support in the form of JRF to conduct this research
work.
Abstract: The Indian Flying Fox Pteropus medius plays a major
role in the maintenance of a healthy ecosystem and is very specific in
selecting roosting sites. The present study was conducted from January 2021 to
March 2022 to document the occurrence of roosting colonies, the roosting sites
and the population characteristics of P. medius
in Kurukshetra district, Haryana. Of the 10 roosting sites identified in four
tehsils of Kurukshetra district, 60% were located close to water sources, 20%
were near agricultural fields, and the remaining sites were in roadside
plantations. Eight roosting sites were observed to be permanent and two were
temporary. A total of 233 trees belonging to seven families, eight genera, and
nine species were identified as roost trees for this species. Our survey results
show that P. medius preferred (77.42%)
roosting majorly on trees of the Myrtaceae family (Eucalyptus),
while very few individuals (0.5%) were recorded on Phoenix dactylifera. A positive Pearson correlation between the
population of the roosting bats and the roost tree characteristics such as
height (r = 0.320, p <0.001), dbh (r = 0.226, p
<0.001), and circumference (r = 0.293, p <0.001) was also observed. The
findings of the current study revealed that P. medius
prefers to roost on tall trees with large diameters at breast height, located
near water bodies and agricultural fields. Protecting such large and tall trees
would benefit the conservation of roosting sites of this species and its
populations.
Keywords: Bats, circumference, colony,
correlation, diameter at breast height, habitat, height, population, trees,
water bodies.
INTRODUCTION
Bats belong to the order Chiroptera, which is the main contributor to mammalian
diversity with over 1,455 species distributed all over the World (Simmons &
Cirranello 2023) except for the Arctic, Antarctic,
extreme desert areas, and a few isolated oceanic islands. Chiropterans are
unique in being the only mammals capable of powered flight like Aves (Anderson
& Ruxton 2020; Mishra et al. 2020). The order Chiroptera
is divided into two suborders – Yinpterochiroptera (Pteropodidae and Rhinolophoidae)
and Yangochiroptera (Microchiroptera
excluding Rhinolophoidae) (Simmons & Cirranello 2023). Pteropodidae is
the only one of them that lacks laryngeal echolocation capacity (Nojiri et al. 2021) and instead relies on eyesight and
smell detection abilities to locate food (Teeling et
al. 2002). The latest checklist enumerated 136 species of bats in India (Srinivasulu et al. 2023) accounting for more than 90%
of the overall diversity of bats in South Asian countries (Mishra et al. 2020).
Among the 12 species of fruit bats occurring in India, three species occur
commonly and are distributed throughout the country: Pteropus
medius, Rousettus leschenaultii
and Cynopterus sphinx (Srinivasulu et al. 2023).
The Indian Flying Fox Pteropus medius is one of the
largest fruit bats in the world and belongs to the family Pteropodidae
(Mishra et al. 2020). This species is largely found in southern Asia and widely
distributed in India. P. medius is a
social species that typically roosts in large colonies of hundreds to thousands
of individuals on large and tall trees ( Roy et al.
2020). Fruit bats display insightful selection of roosting site exhibiting a
preference for particular biotic, abiotic, and geographical factors, their
roosting choices are intricately linked to both flora and various environmental
variables exhibiting a strong association with specific ecological conditions (Gulraiz et al. 2015). Bat roosting sites in both rural and
urban areas are found in a variety of habitats, viz., close to agricultural
fields, ponds, temples, and human habitats such as public parks, home gardens,
industrial areas, and by the sides of roads (Raza & Ilyas 2018; Madala et al. 2022). The roosting locations range from
dense foliage to open areas with large trees which may help in ease of flight,
providing shelter from strong winds and support in thermoregulation ( Pandian & Suresh 2021). They are animals of
considerable economic importance and are crucial for the survival of more than
114 plant species in the world (Aziz et al. 2021). Indian Flying Foxes are
integral to ecosystem functioning, performing crucial role such as pollination,
seed distribution, and nutrient cycling (Fujita & Tuttle 1991; Goveas et al. 2006; Kumar & Elangovan
2019; Madala et al. 2022). Globally, P. medius has been listed as ‘Least Concern’ in the IUCN
Red list of Threatened Species (Tsang 2020) and is included in Schedule II
under the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2021 of India. However, the
numbers of individuals are decreasing constantly (Dey
et al. 2013; Raza & Ilyas 2018) due to the loss of habitat, felling of
trees, electrocution, scarcity of food sources, expansion of highways,
construction of buildings, public disturbances, and hunting (Chakravarthy &
Yeshwanth 2008; Ali 2010), and its role as seed
disperser, pollinator and forest regenerator is ignored (Gulraiz
et al. 2015).
To survive successfully, all
animals require food and shelter, which means the bats need to find an
appropriate place to roost. Diurnal roost site selection is a part of habitat
selection that affects an animal’s ability to survive and reproduce. The
daytime roost site is where P. medius spends
about half of its life for activities like copulation, rest, maternal care,
social interactions, and to escape from adverse weather and predators (Kumar
& Elangovan 2019). Hence, a study on the bat’s
ecology, their habitats, and diurnal roosting requirements is the first step
toward their effective conservation. No detailed research studies have been
carried out on the roosting habits and habitats of P. medius
in Haryana; hence, to fill up this research gap, the current study was
conducted to identify P. medius roosting
colonies and to document the roost tree characteristics in the Kurukshetra
district of Haryana.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study area
The study was conducted in all
the four tehsils/blocks (Pehowa, Thanesar,
Ladwa, and Shahbad) of
Kurukshetra district in Haryana state, northern India. Kurukshetra is situated
at 29.969° N and 76.878° E at an elevation of 260 m and has an area of
1,530 km² (Figure 1). Kurukshetra is one of the agriculturally advanced
districts of the state of Haryana, India. Agricultural activities of the
district are dependent on tube wells and canals. Rice-wheat cropping system
dominates with the consequent marginalization of pulses and oilseed. Sugarcane
is also being grown in the study area as a cash crop. The district is devoid of
any perennial river. The river Markanda flows in the
northwestern part of the district which originates in Nahan
hills. The Yamuna River flows along the eastern and northern boundaries,
respectively. The popular Sutlej-Yamuna-Link canal joining the Sutlej and
Yamuna flows across Kurukshetra. Narwana canal which
is a branch canal of Bhakra passes through Kurukshetra and is considered as the
lifeline of the Haryana state. The soil is generally alluvial loam and clay
does not constitute the average texture of the soil. The district has rich
potential for the development of horticulture. Major fruit varieties grown in
the district are mango, guava, citrus, ber, sapota,
and pear/plums. The study area experiences a sub-tropical climate and has three
distinct seasons: Rainy (July–September), cool and dry (October–February), and
hot dry (March–June). The normal annual rainfall of the district is 582 mm
which is unevenly distributed over the area and temperature ranges 3–45 °C.
Data collection
Initially, field surveys were
conducted in the study area from January 2021 to March 2021 in Kurukshetra
district to identify the roosting sites of P. medius.
Initial information regarding the roosting sites was collected through direct
interaction/oral inquiry with villagers, and people from the surrounding areas
of the study area were also consulted. The identified roosting sites were
surveyed every month from April 2021 to March 2022 to collect data on roost
characteristics and colony size of P. medius. The
number of bats at each roosting site was counted by direct roost count method
(Kunz et al. 2009) with the help of field binoculars (Nikon 8 x 40) and
photographed with a Canon SX-70 camera. The geo-coordinate of each roosting
site was recorded using Garmin Etrex 30x GPS
(hand-held device). Arc GIS 10.8 was used to prepare the roost distribution map
of P. medius in the study area. Various
parameters of the roosting tree such as species of the tree, origin (exotic or
native), circumference, diameter at breast height (dbh)
and tree height were recorded early in the morning/before the arrival of Indian
Flying Fox at the roost. The trees used for roosting were identified to species
level. The circumference of the roost tree was measured using a measuring tape.
To measure the dbh of the trees, the girth (g) of the
tree at breast height was measured with a measuring tape, and then the diameter
at breast height (dbh) was calculated by the formula dbh = g/π. The height of the roost tree was measured by
using a clinometer (Hahn et al. 2014). Data on the number of the trees used by
bats at a roost, type of the roost (permanent/ temporary), habitat of each
roosting site (i.e., near water bodies, agricultural fields or roads), and the
status of the roost were also recorded.
Statistical Analysis
The information regarding the
number of bats, number of trees, height of roost tree, dbh,
and circumference of trees were compiled in MS-Excel followed by data analysis
and interpretation. Roost tree characteristics (height, circumference, and dbh) were considered as independent units for statistical
analysis and thus Pearson correlation analysis was carried out to check the
relationship between (SPSS 2007):
The bat abundance (colony size
per tree) and height of the roost tree
The bat abundance and dbh of the roost tree
The bat abundance and
circumference of the roost tree
All the analyses were performed
in the statistical package for social science (SPSS software version 26.0).
RESULTS
A total of 10 roosting sites of P.
medius were identified during the study period in
Kurukshetra district, Haryana. The location, geo-coordinates, elevation,
distance from nearest water bodies, number of roost trees, colony size, type of
the roost, habitat and status of the roosting site are given in Table 1. Six
roosting sites (Thana, Bhor Saidan,
Jyotisar, Amin, Sthaneshwar Mahadev temple, and Badarpur) were located near to the water bodies (pond n =
1; water channel n = 3; and canal n = 2) (Image 1), two roosting sites (Naisi and Vijay Colony) were close to agricultural fields
(Image 2) and the remaining two (Jirbari and Haripur)
were located in road-side plantations (Image 3). Among the recorded roosting
sites, two roosting sites (Amin and Sthaneshwar
Mahadev temple) were used by bats as temporary roosts because the bats were
found to use these roosts only during certain months of the year (April–July,
November–March at Amin; August–November, February and March at Sthaneshwar Mahadev temple) and the remaining eight
roosting sites were used as permanent roost during the study period. Bats
undertook local migration during peak mating season at Amin roosting site, and
in peak summer and winter months at Sthaneshwar Mahdev temple to more favorable roosts where large
aggregation of individuals occurred. Migration during peak summer and winter
season may be due to unfavorable temperature and weather conditions in this
region. In the study area P. medius was found
to use both single (aggregation of individuals on a single tree) and
dispersed/scattered roosts (aggregation of individuals on different trees at a
roosting site). Of the total identified roosts, the Amin was a single roost on
the tall Ficus religiosa
whose well-spread crown accommodated a modest number (minimum colony size)
of Indian Flying Foxes, whereas nine roosts (Thana, Bhor
Saidan, Naisi, Jyotisar, Sthaneshwar Mahadev temple, Jirbari,
Haripur, Vijay Colony, and Badarpur) were dispersed
roosts (Table 1).
A total of 233 trees belonging to
seven families, eight genera and nine species were used as roost trees by P.
medius in the study area. The roost tree
species in the study area included Neem Azadirachta
indica, Peepal Ficus religiosa, Banyan Ficus benghalensis, Jamun Syzygium cumini,
Red Silk Cotton Bombax ceiba, Flame Tree Delonix
regia, Date Palm Phoenix dactylifera,
Indian Elm Holoptelea integrifolia,
and Forest Red Gum Eucalyptus tereticornis
(Image 4). The roost sites of Indian Flying Fox in the study area comprised a
minimum of one tree species (Amin) to a maximum of eight tree species (Bhor Saidan). As far as the
number of trees in a diurnal roost is concerned, a minimum of one tree was
observed at Amin roost whereas a maximum of 45 trees were recorded in the roost
at Vijay Colony, Shahabad. Thus, P. medius did
not maintain any consistency in roost tree selection in the Kurukshetra
district. Among the nine tree species identified as
roost trees of P. medius, seven are of native
origin and two of exotic origin (Table 2). Of the 233 roost trees, Eucalyptus
tereticornis of Myrtaceae
family was used as roost predominantly (n = 163), followed by Holoptelea integrifolia
(n = 32), Syzygium cumini
(n = 14), Azadirachta indica
(n = 6), Ficus religiosa
(n = 6), Phoenix dactylifera (n = 5), Bombax
ceiba (n = 3), Delonix regia
(n = 2), and Ficus benghalensis (n = 2) (Figure 2).
The height of the roost trees
varied from 5.4 m (Azadirachta indica) to 34.6 m (Eucalyptus) with a mean height of
25.72 m. The mean dbh of the roost tree was found to
be 53.58 cm ranging from 40.0 cm (Delonix regia) to 201.13 cm (Ficus
benghalensis). The Pearson correlation analysis
showed significant positive correlation between bat abundance (colony size per
tree) and the characteristics of the roost tree such as height (r = 0.320, N =
233, P <0.001) (Figure 3), dbh (r = 0.226, N =
233, P <0.001) (Figure 4) and circumference of the roost tree (r = 0.293, N
= 233, P <0.001) (Figure 5). Thus, the height, dbh
and circumference of the roost trees influence the roosting habits of P. medius.
All the identified permanent roosts
of P. medius in the study area were comprised
of only one tree species except at Bhor Saidan roosting site. Hence, data on seasonal variations in
preference of roosting tree species were collected only at Bhor
Saidan roosting site (Figure 6). In summer, P.
medius was observed roosting underneath the
canopy of the thick foliage of Syzygium cumini roosting trees, flapping their wings, while in
the winter P. medius was observed
roosting with closed wings at the edge of the branches of Azadirachta
indica roosting trees.
A total of 42,892 individuals of P.
medius were observed across 10 roosting sites in
the Kurukshetra district during the study period. The maximum colony size
comprising 10,591 individuals was recorded at Vijay Colony, Shahbad,
and the minimum colony size (234 individuals) was observed at Amin roosting
site (Figure 7). The colony size of P. medius fluctuated
between seasons and was recorded to be higher in winter than summer at all
roosting sites (Figure 8).
DISCUSSION
In the present study, 10 roosting
sites of P. medius were recorded from
Kurukshetra district, Haryana. The observed colonies of bats are comparable to
the earlier studies in different regions of India. For instance, Gaikwad et al.
(2012) recorded 16 colonies of the Indian Flying Fox in Maharashtra, Talmale (2014) recorded 27 roosting sites in Madhya
Pradesh, and Madala et al. (2022) recorded 11
roosting sites in the midland laterite hillocks of northern Kerala. Flying
foxes usually have either a permanent diurnal roost (bats are always present
although in variable numbers) or a temporary roost (sites that are used only
occasionally) (Jenkins et al. 2007). Likewise in the
present study, two sites out of the 10 were temporary roosts and eight were
permanent roosts. In India and Nepal, the colonies of P. medius
mostly preferred to choose trees for roosting near human settlements
(Chakravarthy et al. 2009; Krystufek 2009; Katuwal et al. 2019) but in the present study, the majority
of roosting sites (60%) were observed near water bodies. Rest of the roosting
sites were observed near agricultural fields (20%) and on the roadside
plantations (20%). These results are in confirmation with previous studies that
in Uttar Pradesh (Kumar et al. 2017), 49% of the colonies of P. medius were observed near human habitation and 41% of
the colonies near water bodies in Tamil Nadu (Dhivahar
& Isaac 2018), 90% of the roosting sites were observed near water bodies
and the rest 10% were located near agricultural land and residential area, and
in the urban areas of Lahore, Pakistan (Gulraiz et
al. 2015), the roosting sites were observed near water bodies. The presence of
roosting sites near water bodies facilitates the water requirement and thermal
balance of bats during hot seasons (Welbergen et al.
2008; Russo & Ancillotto 2015). In our study we
observed the bats hovering above the water’s surface, dipping their bodies in
water to drink, cool themselves, and lick their body hairs for water (Image 5).
It has also been reported that certain species, like P. livingstonii
and P. alecto favor roosts next to
waterbodies because they provide a humid atmosphere (Granek
2002).
In the present study the Indian
Flying Fox roosted on nine species of trees which reflect their flexibility to
occupy diverse habitat conditions. These results are consistent with previous
records that P. medius roost on different
species of trees in India (Chakravarthy & Yeshwanth
2008; Bhatnagar & Salvi 2011; Timalsina &
Ghimire 2011; Dey et al. 2013; Ali 2014; Manandhar et al. 2018; Mishra et al. 2020; Madala et al. 2022). P. medius
has been known to use 22 species of trees as their roost in 20 districts of
Uttar Pradesh (Kumar & Elangovan 2019), nine
species of avenue trees in Delhi (Mishra et al. 2020) and seven species of
trees in Baghnadi village of district Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh.
Pteropus species often choose larger
trees for roosting (Gulraiz et al. 2015; Kumar & Elangovan 2019) which provide better protection against
unfavorable environmental conditions and updrafts for easier flight (Pierson
& Rainey 1992; Granek 2002; Dey
et al. 2013). In India, P. medius has been
reported to prefer Ficus spp. for roosting (Srinivasulu & Srinivasulu
2004; Goveas et al. 2006; Chakravarthy et al. 2009; Maruthupandian & Marimuthu
2013; Raza & Ilyas 2018; Mishra et al. 2020). However, in the present study
area, Eucalyptus was found to be the preferred roosting tree species for
P. medius. It might be due to the reason that
the Eucalyptus tree is branched and taller than other tree species in
the area which provided more exposure to sunlight for warming the body. The
preference of flying foxes in taller trees may be due to the aerodynamic
advantages offered by larger trees, facilitating smoother take-off and landing.
Additionally, towering trees may serve as a protective refuge, shielding the
flying foxes from human-induced threats (Granek 2002;
Gulraiz et al. 2015). The results of the present
study support previous observations made elsewhere that P. medius prefers to roost in trees with increased dbh (Hahn et al. 2014; Kumar & Elangovan
2019; Madala et al. 2022) and increased height (Kumar
& Elangovan 2019; Madala
et al. 2022). Trees with increased height normally develop increased dbh (Metzger 1893). Trees with increased dbh and circumference are long-lasting, and have more
ability to resist heavy rain, wind, and drought conditions (Madala
et al. 2022).
Among the nine
tree species used as roosts, seven species were native and two species
were exotic, clearly depicting the preference toward native trees for roosting
by P. medius. Earlier studies also
reported that Pteropus spp. prefer native
trees for roosting and feeding (Granek 2002; Gulraiz et al. 2015; Madala et
al. 2022).
The number of individuals of P.
medius per colony was found to vary in different
areas. In Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat a
colony of 11,000 individuals was observed (Vyas & Upadhyay 2014), in
Odisha the colony size of Indian Flying Fox ranged 43–6,141 individuals (Rao
& Poyyamoli 2017), in Delhi the peak colony size
of 1,660 individuals were recorded (Mishra et al. 2020) and in the present
study area the colony size of Indian Flying Fox ranged 234–10,591 individuals.
CONCLUSION
The current study revealed the
occurrence of various roosting sites, roost characteristics, and populations of
P. medius in Kurukshetra district. A total of
10 roosting sites were observed in four tehsils of Kurukshetra district. The
majority of roosting sites (60%) were located near water bodies. The wide
distribution of P. medius showed that
Kurukshetra district has suitable habitats for its continued survival. The
result of the present study showed that P. medius
roost on open tree branches of different types of roosting trees which reflects
their flexibility to occupy diverse habitat conditions that provide many
advantages to the bats like protection from human interference,
thermoregulation, and enable them to take-off and land more easily. The highest
colony size of bats was observed in Vijay colony, Shahbad
which showed the presence of maximum number of roost trees compared to other
roosting sites. Thus, the population of P. medius
was also linked with the number of roost trees which provides better protection
for their survival and reproduction. It can be concluded from the present study
that P. medius prefers to roost near water
bodies, on tall trees with relatively larger diameters and these are the key
factors affecting their distribution. For long-term protection of P. medius, further research needs to be undertaken in the
study area along with creating awareness among the public on the ecological and
economic significance of bats. Future studies on the distribution and
conservation of P. medius in Kurukshetra area
may benefit from the findings of the current study.
Table 1. Distribution of
roosting sites and average population size of Indian Flying Fox Pteropus medius in
Kurukshetra district, Haryana.
|
|
Tehsil |
Location of the roosting site |
Coordinates |
Elevation (m) |
Distance from nearest water
body |
Colony size (M ± SE) |
No. of roost trees |
Type of roost |
Habitat of roost |
Status |
|
1. |
Pehowa |
Bhor Saidan |
N 29.920284 E 76.492825 |
248 |
5.01 m |
529±20.15 (410–642) |
44 |
Permanent & dispersed |
At the edge of crocodile
breeding center pond in village Bhor Saidan |
Relatively safe, rarely
disturbed by visitors |
|
2. |
Pehowa |
Thana |
N 29.920121 E 76.495768 |
258 |
6.36 m |
232.0 ±20.5 (138–369) |
22 |
Permanent & dispersed |
At the edge of pond in village
Thana |
Highly disturbed by human
activities |
|
3. |
Pehowa |
Naisi |
N 30.079287 E 76.644301 |
258 |
730.9 m |
356.5±24.9 (198–450) |
28 |
Permanent & dispersed |
Near agricultural fields in
village Naisi |
Relatively disturbed |
|
4. |
Thanesar |
Jyotisar |
N 29.962274 E 76.780665 |
253 |
4.10 m |
174.1±19.9 (78–297) |
17 |
Permanent & dispersed |
Between Sutlej Yamuna link
canal and Narwana branch |
Disturbed by moving traffic |
|
5. |
Thanesar |
Amin |
N 29.907035 E 76.870809 |
258 |
43.61 m |
19.5±4.07 (12–39) |
1 |
Temporary & single |
At the edge of surajkund in village Amin |
Disturbed by villagers |
|
6. |
Thanesar |
Jirbari |
N 29.936747 E 76.900876 |
258 |
695.21 m |
308.6±22 (176–430) |
21 |
Permanent & dispersed |
At road-side plantation on
national highway-44 |
Disturbed by moving traffic |
|
7. |
Thanesar |
Sthaneshwar Mahadev temple |
N 29.981198 E 76.827961 |
258 |
9.1 m |
25.5±7.07 (29–61) |
3 |
Temporary & dispersed |
In the premises of temple |
Religious site, disturbed by
visitors |
|
8. |
Shahbad |
Haripur |
N 30.086299 E 76.968970 |
336 |
663.02 m |
297.0±15.9 (192–391) |
19 |
Permanent & dispersed |
At road-side plantation on Shahbad-Ladwa road |
Highly disturbed by moving
vehicles |
|
9. |
Shahbad |
Vijay colony |
N 30.176264 E 76.868887 |
267 |
471.23 m |
882.5±46.6 (660–1238) |
45 |
Permanent & dispersed |
Near agricultural fields in
Vijay Colony |
Undisturbed, relatively safe |
|
10. |
Ladwa |
Badarpur |
N 29.957700 E 77.097949 |
257 |
89.23 m |
748.9±31.4 (562–893) |
33 |
Permanent & dispersed |
At the edge of West Yamuna
canal in village Badarpur |
Undisturbed, safer |
Table 2. Roost tree and
roost characteristics of Indian Flying Fox Pteropus
medius in Kurukshetra district, Haryana.
|
|
Roosting site |
Roost tree species |
Origin |
Circumference (cm) |
DBH (cm) |
Height (m) |
No. of bats |
||
|
Family |
Scientific name |
Common name |
|||||||
|
1. |
Bhor Saidan |
Meliaceae |
Azadirachta indica |
Neem |
Native |
190.39±5.10 |
60.63±1.62 |
21.06±0.84 |
137.5±16.5 (52–215) |
|
Moraceae |
Ficus religiosa |
Peepal |
Native |
188.05±12.25 |
59.89±4.09 |
17.90±0.37 |
57.75±3.82 (35–76) |
||
|
Moraceae |
Ficus benghalensis |
Banyan |
Native |
414.02 |
131.85 |
17.20 |
32.91±4.22 (13–60) |
||
|
Myrtaceae |
Syzygium cumini |
Jamun |
Native |
136.85±3.69 |
43.58±0.85 |
16.70±1.10 |
141.3±10.6 (86–210) |
||
|
Bombaceae |
Bombax ceiba |
Red Silk Cotton |
Native |
132±0.80 |
42.06±0.94 |
24.60±2.90 |
55.25±7.08 (21–90) |
||
|
Fabaceae |
Delonix regia |
Flame Tree |
Exotic |
130.31±4.71 |
41.50±1.50 |
19.10±0.30 |
34.41±6.31 (12–79) |
||
|
Arecaceae |
Phoenix dactylifera |
Date Palm |
Native |
131.37±2.88 |
41.84±0.91 |
18.90±0.60 |
19.83±5.22 (5–64) |
||
|
Ulmaceae |
Holoptelea integrifolia |
Indian Elm |
Native |
160.3±18.2 |
42.58±1.02 |
15.70±0.70 |
51.33±6.72 (12–80) |
||
|
2. |
Thana |
Ulmaceae |
Holoptelea integrifolia |
Indian Elm |
Native |
185.90±1.36 |
59.20±0.43 |
8.17±1.45 |
232.0±20.5 (138–369) |
|
3. |
Naisi |
Myrtaceae |
Eucalyptus tereticornis |
Forest Red Gum |
Exotic |
180.57±1.23 |
57.29±0.34 |
30.05±2.46 |
356.5±24.9 (198–450) |
|
4. |
Jyotisar |
Myrtaceae |
Eucalyptus tereticornis |
Forest Red Gum |
Exotic |
161.91±3.21 |
51.56±1.02 |
29.37±3.35 |
174.1±19.9 (78–297) |
|
5. |
Amin |
Moraceae |
Ficus religiosa |
Peepal |
Native |
240.79 |
76.50 |
13.24 |
19.5±4.07 (12–39) |
|
6. |
Jirbari |
Myrtaceae |
Eucalyptus tereticornis |
Forest Red Gum |
Exotic |
176.55±1.49 |
56.22±0.47 |
29.10±1.93 |
308.6±22.0 (176–430) |
|
7. |
Sthaneshwar Mahadev temple |
Meliaceae |
Azadirachta indica |
Neem |
Native |
212.8 |
67.51 |
5.40 |
1.25±0.42 (1–4) |
|
Moraceae |
Ficus religiosa |
Peepal |
Native |
214.4 |
68.15 |
6.40 |
9.25±2.49 (12–21) |
||
|
Moraceae |
Ficus benghalensis |
Banyan |
Native |
216.2 |
68.71 |
14.63 |
18±4.75 (16-41) |
||
|
8. |
Haripur |
Myrtaceae |
Eucalyptus tereticornis |
Forest Red Gum |
Exotic |
157.54±3.12 |
50.17±1.00 |
28.30±1.72 |
297±15.95 (192–391) |
|
9. |
Vijay Colony |
Myrtaceae |
Eucalyptus tereticornis |
Forest Red Gum |
Exotic |
163.53±1.82 |
52.08±0.58 |
29.07±3.47 |
882.5±46.6 (660–1238) |
|
10. |
Badarpur |
Myrtaceae |
Eucalyptus tereticornis |
Forest Red Gum |
Exotic |
164.65±1.63 |
52.17±0.52 |
25.90±3.31 |
748.9±31.4 (562–893) |
For
figures & images - - click here for full PDF
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