Jun 23 2014 : Mirror (Pune)
Each species has its own niche in caves
Mayuri.Phadnis @timesgroup.com TWEET @ThePuneMirror
|
After researching 80 caves in the state, city-based environmentalist says dwelling animals live in peaceful co-existence; study will help in building artificial habitats
In an ideal ecosystem, each species has its own niche what it does, what it eats, where it sleeps, and more. To find out how animals coexist without conflict in caves, live in the same spot, yet not overlap in some of their roles or needs, a city-based environmentalist has studied over 80 caves across the state, including Western Ghats and Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. In a span of eight years, entomologist Dr Rahul Marathe, who visited 10 big caves and 35 small to medium caves, said the most commonly found cave animals are bandicoots, rats, bats and porcupines.Even though many different animals coexist in caves, Marathe observed that these noctural animals have their own marked territories.
While the bandicoots and rats take shelter in deep crevices, bats use the roof of caves. Even porcupines live deep within the cave interior, but unlike other rodents they do not make burrows. They also chew on bone and tree root to keep their teeth sharp.
“Even though these animals use the same entrance, they have different timings so that they do not come in close contact with each other. Bats generally move out immediately after the sunset. A little later the porcupines move out, and around midnight, the rats and bandicoots go out.
Since all these animals are nocturnal they use the cave for resting throughout the day,“ said Marathe.
According to the study, few of the caves in Tadoba are also used by tigers. “Usually, tigers live at the mouth of the cave and do not go deeper into the cave. They are not cave animals, but use the cave to hide, ambush and attack prey.
Tigers also use caves for resting,“ Marathe added.
For tigers the caves are more of hideouts, while hyenas use the caves to reside, said Marathe. Like tigers, hyenas use the mouth of the cave, where are remnants of its prey can be found.
Besides the regular bats, porcupines and bandicoots, the caves in Konkan and Tamhini Ghat have frogs, which use it as a breeding ground and lay their eggs in water puddles.
“It is like a live-in relationship amongst animals, without crossing each other's paths. Each animal uses these caves in their own `niche' ways.
Considering habitat destruction, this research study can be used to create artificial habitats for them,“ he said.
Saying that artificial habitats, with more crevices, can be build as “natural“ as possible, Marathe said the animals will feel secure in such habitats, and chances of breeding will increase too.
“As the localities change so do the caves and the creatures that reside there. In the caves in Dive Ghat, greyhound owl can be found in the crevices, and at other places Gecko can be seen. These caves and the life that dwells in it needs to be identified and a centralised data should be compiled. Once the data is available, a district level conservation plan can made to protect such caves,“ said Anuj Khare, the honorary wildlife warden of Pune.
While the bandicoots and rats take shelter in deep crevices, bats use the roof of caves. Even porcupines live deep within the cave interior, but unlike other rodents they do not make burrows. They also chew on bone and tree root to keep their teeth sharp.
“Even though these animals use the same entrance, they have different timings so that they do not come in close contact with each other. Bats generally move out immediately after the sunset. A little later the porcupines move out, and around midnight, the rats and bandicoots go out.
Since all these animals are nocturnal they use the cave for resting throughout the day,“ said Marathe.
According to the study, few of the caves in Tadoba are also used by tigers. “Usually, tigers live at the mouth of the cave and do not go deeper into the cave. They are not cave animals, but use the cave to hide, ambush and attack prey.
Tigers also use caves for resting,“ Marathe added.
For tigers the caves are more of hideouts, while hyenas use the caves to reside, said Marathe. Like tigers, hyenas use the mouth of the cave, where are remnants of its prey can be found.
Besides the regular bats, porcupines and bandicoots, the caves in Konkan and Tamhini Ghat have frogs, which use it as a breeding ground and lay their eggs in water puddles.
“It is like a live-in relationship amongst animals, without crossing each other's paths. Each animal uses these caves in their own `niche' ways.
Considering habitat destruction, this research study can be used to create artificial habitats for them,“ he said.
Saying that artificial habitats, with more crevices, can be build as “natural“ as possible, Marathe said the animals will feel secure in such habitats, and chances of breeding will increase too.
“As the localities change so do the caves and the creatures that reside there. In the caves in Dive Ghat, greyhound owl can be found in the crevices, and at other places Gecko can be seen. These caves and the life that dwells in it needs to be identified and a centralised data should be compiled. Once the data is available, a district level conservation plan can made to protect such caves,“ said Anuj Khare, the honorary wildlife warden of Pune.
