Diversity and Dynamics of the <i>Terai</i> Grassland Communities of Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Bihar, India

Krishna Murari; Gautam Talukdar; Yadvenradev V. Jhala; Bivash Pandav; Qamar Qureshi; Gopal Singh Rawat

doi:10.36808/if/2025/v151i8/170683

Diversity and Dynamics of the Terai Grassland Communities of Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Bihar, India

Authors

Krishna Murari Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Chandrabani, Dehradun (248001), Uttarakhand
Gautam Talukdar Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Chandrabani, Dehradun (248001), Uttarakhand
Yadvenradev V. Jhala Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Chandrabani, Dehradun (248001), Uttarakhand
Bivash Pandav Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Chandrabani, Dehradun (248001), Uttarakhand
Qamar Qureshi Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Chandrabani, Dehradun (248001), Uttarakhand
Gopal Singh Rawat Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Chandrabani, Dehradun (248001), Uttarakhand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2025/v151i8/170683

Keywords:

Community, Floodplain, Grassland, Terai, TWINSPAN

Abstract

Grasslands are important habitats since they support a high density of ungulates and increase the potential carrying capacity for carnivores within a protected area. An understanding of their community structure is essential for their management. Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) has the only relic of the Terai grassland remaining in Bihar. By sampling 304 plots, the authors identified 60 plant species belonging to 54 genera classified into 32 families within the grasslands of VTR. Seven grassland communities, namely (i) Saccharum munja, (ii) Imperata - Vetiveria - Typha - S. spontaneum (iii) Typha S. arundinaceum -S. spontaneum (iv) Scleostachya S. ravennae - S. spontaneum - Carex (v) Phragmites S. arundinaceum - Typha Carex (vi) Phragmites karka and (vii) Phyllanthus Carex Ficus were identified by TWINSPAN. Unlike other Terai regions, relatively dry site associates comprising Narenga porphyrocoma and Themeda arundinacea, and hygrophilous Arundo donax were absent. A successional model of floodplain grassland communities is also provided, which will guide managers in managing the grasslands. Thus, the study findings will help in restoring the unbalanced prey population which are dependent on the grassland's successional dynamics.

References

References Champion H. and Seth S. (1968). A revised study of the forest types of India Government of India Press, New Press, New Delhi, 404 pp

Dinerstein E. (2003). The return of the unicomis the natural history and conservation of the greater one-homed rhinoceros. Biology and Resource Management Series. World Wildlife Fund, Washington DC, 320pp

HIII М.О. (1979). TWINSPAN, FORTRAN program for two-way indicator species analysis. Comell University, Ithaca, New York

Kumar H. (2002). An ecological assessment of forest spatial heterogenity species diversity and grassland burning practices in teral conservation area. Doctor of Philospy Thesis. Saurashtra University, Rajkot, Gujrat 72pp

Lahkar B.P. (2008). Ecology and management of grassland with special reference to grassand bird communities in Manas National Park Ph.D. Thesis Assam: Gauhati University, Guwahati

Lehmkuhl J.F. (1989). F. (1989). The ecology of a South Asian tall-grass community. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Washington, Seattle.

Lehmkuhl J.F. (1994). A classification of subtropical riverine grassland and forest in Chitwan National Park, Nepal Vegetation, 111:29-43

Mathur P.K., Kumar H. and Lehmkuhl J.F. (2003). Terai grasslands diversity, management, and conservation perspective. ENVIS Bulletin. Grassland Ecosystems and Agro forestry. Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal, 1(1): 1 -28

Maurya K.K. and Borah J. (2013). Status of tigers in Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Terai Arc Landscape, Bihar, India. WWF-India

Mccune B., Grace J.B. and Urban DL (2002) Analysis of ecological communities (Vol. 28), Gleneden Beach, OR: MJM software design

Moe S.R. and Wegge P. (1997) The effects of cutting and buming on grass quality and axis deer (Axis axis) use of grassland in lowland Nepal. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 13(2) 279-292

Muran K. (2017). Assessment of grassland communities, its use by mammals, and mapping the potential habitat of Rhinoceros unicornis in Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Bihar Master of Science Thesis. Saurashtra University, Gujrat

Murari K., Talukdar G., Pandav B., Jhala Y.V. and Rawat G.S. (2024) Fate by Food Planning for reintroduction and designating refugium refugium for Indo-Nepal migratory Rhinoceros unicomis Linn, in Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Bihar, India. The Indian Forester 150(10)-940-949

Odden M., Wegge P and Storaas T. (2005). Hog deer Axis porcimus need threatened tallgrass floodplains: a study of habitat selection in lowtand Nepal Animal Conservation, 8(1): 99-104

Peet N.B. (1997). Biodiversity and management of tall grasslands in Nepal. Ph.D. Thesis, University of East Anglia,

Norwich Peet N.B. Watkinson A.R., Bell D.J. and Kattel B.J. (1999).. Plant diversity in the threatened sub tropical grasslands of Nepal. Biological Conservation, 88.193-206,

Peet N.B., Watkinson A. R., Beš D.J. and Sharma UR. (1996). The conservation management of Imperata cylindrica grassland in Nepal with fire and cutting an experimental approach. Joumal of Applied Ecology, 36(3).374-387.

Pokharel S.K. (1993). Floristic composition, biomass production and biomass harvest in the grassland of the Royal Bardia National Park, Nepal. Doctoral dissertation, MSc Thesis, Agricultural University of Norway, As, Norway

Rahmani A.R., Narayan G., Rosalind L. and Sankaran R. (1988). Bengal florican Houbaropsis bengalensis status and ecology. Bombay Natural History Society, Bombay (India)

Rahmani A.R., Bhargava R. and De R. (2015). Avifaunal Studies at Sohagibarwa Wildlife Sanctuary. Final Report. Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai Pp. 77

Sawarkar V.B. and Hussain S.A. (1995). Conservation Status of Taral Grasslands in Valmiki Tiger Reserve. Project. Integral land use approach for the conservation of biological diversity of Taral grasslands. Wildlife Institute of India

Singh J.S. and Joshi M.C. (1979). Primary production. In: R.T Coupland (ed.) Grassland Ecosystems of the World. IBP Cambridge University Press, London, pp. 197-218.

Kaul Sinha S., Bahera S.K., Bodhankar S., Chaudhary B.C R. (2016). Ecology and management of grasslands in Valmiki Tiger Reserve in the himalayan foothills, India. In Rawat G.S. and Adhikari BS. (Eds) Ecology and management of grassland habitats in India. Envis Bulletin. Wildlife and protected areas, Wildlife Institute of india, Dehradun - 248001, India, Vol. 17:240pp

Sreenivasan J. and Sreenivasan TV (1984) In vitro propagation of a Saccharum officinarum (L) and Sclerostachya fusca (Roxb.) A. Camus Hybrid. Theor Appl Genet. 67:171-174

Subedi N., Jnawali S.R., Dhakal M., Pradhan N.M., Lamichhane B.R, Malla S., Amin R. and Jhala Y.V. (2013). Population status, structure and distribution of the greater one-horned rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis in Nepal. Oryx, 47(3), pp.352-360

Thwari (1999). Trouble in tiger territory, Sulabh India.

Tripathi S. and Shukla R.P. (2007). Effect of clipping and grazing on various vegetational parameters of grassland communities of Gorakhpur. UP. Tropical Ecology, 48(1), pp.81-70

Vishwanath B. and Ukil A.C. (1943), Soil map of India Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi

Wegge P. Shrestha A.K. and Moe S.R. (2006). Dry season diets of sympatric ungulates in lowland Nepal: competition and facilitation in alluvial tall grasslands.