Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
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Rao, R. J. , Impact assessment of turtle habitats in the ganga river, india. Paper presented at Turtle Survival Alliance 2006 Annual Meeting.
Added by: Admin (13 Dec 2008 22:23:51 UTC) |
| Resource type: Proceedings Article BibTeX citation key: Rao2006 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Habitat = habitat, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises, Südasien = Southern Asia Creators: Rao Collection: Turtle Survival Alliance 2006 Annual Meeting |
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| Abstract |
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The riverine habitat of freshwater turtles studied in the Ganga River from Rishikesh to Kanpur in north India is under constant threat due to many human activities like construction of barrages, agriculture practices on the river banks, discharge of pollutants etc. Turtle distribution in Ganga River is very much influenced by various factors like habitat suitability and protection to the turtles and their habitat. The hydrological conditions of the river at various stations helped largely for the distribution of different species of turtles. The fast flow of the river in upper stretch of the Ganga River from Rishikesh to Haridwar down has little value for occurrence of turtle. The feeding, basking and nesting sites are available throughout the study stretch except in upper stretch where the river current is very high. Assessment for both beneficial and adverse impacts was calculated through Impact matrix method. The impact matrix points show that large stretches of sandy and muddy banks on either side of the river provide good nesting sites (4950) as well as basking sites (4950) for different species of turtles. The deep pools at various stretches of Ganga River (5100) provide large quantities of food for turtles. The turtles are protected in the upper stretch of the Ganga River where both religious as well as wildlife sanctuaries exist. The turtle habitat is well protected at various religious sites/ghats where the local religious people do not allow catching of turtles as well as disturbance to habitat. Interestingly, the departments of irrigation and police have major role in protecting the turtle habitat (2100). The police at different riverside towns and ghats regularly patrol on the river bank to check any illegal activities including catching of turtles and other aquatic animals. Although habitat is not very much suitable in the upper Ganga River the turtles and the available habitats are very well protected. The turtle habitat is very much suitable in lower stretch of Ganga River but the turtles as well as their habitat received negligible protection. Water development schemes were in operation at four stations in the study stretch of the Ganga River. A total of four barrages are present in North Ganga River between Rishikesh and Narora. River pollution is also one of the factors for turtle distribution in different stretches of Ganga River in the study area. The agricultural discharge is less (800) than domestic pollution (1600) and industrial pollution (2550). The industrial pollution is more in South Ganga River under study. The major adverse impact on turtle distribution is poaching (3150) followed by fishing activity (2250). Although mining operation on the riverbank has little impact (1125), the agricultural practices (1700) have adversely effected the turtle distribution. The lower Ganga is much exploited for agriculture than north Ganga River. It is emphasized that site specific conservation measures have to be taken for turtle protection in the Ganga River.
Added by: Admin |