Nesting habitat and nest directionality of the Indian Giant Squirrel Ratufa indica maxima (Schreber, 1784) (Mammalia: Rodentia: Sciuridae) in the Nelliyampathy Reserve Forest, Western Ghats, Kerala, India
Main Article Content
Abstract
The information on selection of nesting habitat and nest directionality for arboreal species is crucial in developing conservation and management plan for the species. We studied the factors which affect the nesting habitat selection and the nest orientation by using the quadrat sampling method in Nelliyampathy Reserve Forest, Kerala. A total of 119 nest sites were observed on 26 different tree species in four different habitat types. Around 56.30% and 36.13% of the nests were sighted in contiguous forests and plantation with native tree shade, respectively. Of the 119 nests, 112 were in trees of height up to 30 m. Cullenia exarillata, Mesua ferrea, Actinodaphne malabarica, and Schleichera oleosa accounted for 45.4% of the nest with 15.9%, 11.8%, 9.2% and 8.4% nests, respectively. About 24.4% of the nests were directed towards the north-east direction (n = 29) whereas least preferred direction was the south (n = 05). This shows that the nests are oriented towards sun rise and to avoid wind and rainfall of monsoon which is foreseen from the south-west direction.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors own the copyright to the articles published in JoTT. This is indicated explicitly in each publication. The authors grant permission to the publisher Wildlife Information Liaison Development (WILD) Society to publish the article in the Journal of Threatened Taxa. The authors recognize WILD as the original publisher, and to sell hard copies of the Journal and article to any buyer. JoTT is registered under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY), which allows authors to retain copyright ownership. Under this license the authors allow anyone to download, cite, use the data, modify, reprint, copy and distribute provided the authors and source of publication are credited through appropriate citations (e.g., Son et al. (2016). Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of the southeastern Truong Son Mountains, Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam. Journal of Threatened Taxa 8(7): 8953–8969. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.2785.8.7.8953-8969). Users of the data do not require specific permission from the authors or the publisher.
References
Agrawal, V.C., & S. Chakraborty (1979). Catalogue of mammals in the Zoological Survey of India. Rodentia. 1. Sciuridae. Records of the Zoological Survey of India 74(4): 333–481.
Albano, D.J. (1992). Nesting mortality of Carolina Chickadees breeding in natural cavities. The Condor 94(2): 371–382. https://doi.org/10.2307/1369210
Ardia, D.R., J.H. Pérez & E.D. Clotfelter (2006). Nest box orientation affects internal temperature and nest site selection by tree swallows. Journal of Field Ornithology 77(3): 339–344. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1557-9263.2006.00064.x
Arockianathan, S. (2020). Nesting Behavior of Indian Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica Erxleben, 1777) in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Western Ghats, Southern India, pp. 1–13. In: Loth, S.M. (ed.). Rodents. IntechOpen, 80 pp. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.83079
Austin, G.T. (1974). Nesting success of the Cactus Wren in relation to nest orientation. Condor 76(2): 216–217. https://doi.org/10.2307/1366737
Babu, S., H.N. Kumara & E.A. Jayson (2015). Distribution, abundance and habitat signature of the Indian Giant Flying Squirrel Petaurista philippensis (Elliot, 1893) in the Western Ghats, India. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 112(2): 65–71.
Bekoff, M., A.C. Scott & D.A. Conner (1987). Non-random nest-site selection in Evening Grosbeaks. The Condor 89(4): 819–829. https://doi.org/10.2307/1368530
Bergin, T.M. (1991). A comparison of goodness-of-fit tests for analysis of nest orientation in Western Kingbirds (Tyrannus verticalis). The condor 93(1): 164–171. https://doi.org/10.2307/1368619
Borges, R.M. (1989). Resource heterogeneity and the foraging ecology of the Malabar Giant Squirrel Ratufa indica. PhD Thesis, University of Miami.
Borges, R.M. (2015). The Indian Giant Squirrel Ratufa indica, pp. 483–500. In: Johnsingh, A.J.T. & N. Manjrekar (eds.). Mammals of South Asia. Vol. 2. University Press, Hyderabad, India.
Burton, N.H. (2006). Nest orientation and hatching success in the Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis. Journal of Avian Biology 37(4): 312–317. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2006.0908-8857.03822.x
Burton, N.H. (2007). Intraspecific latitudinal variation in nest orientation among ground-nesting passerines: a study using published data. The Condor 109(2): 441–446. https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/109.2.441
Corbet, G.B. & J.E. Hill (1992). The Mammals of the Indomalayan Region: A Systematic Review (Vol. 488). Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Datta, A. & S.P. Goyal (1996). Comparison of forest structure and use by the Indian Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica) in two riverine forests of Central India. Biotropica 28(3): 394–399. https://doi.org/10.2307/2389203
Datta, A. (1998). The anti-predatory response of the Indian Giant Squirrel Ratufa indica to predation attempts by the Crested Hawk Eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus limnaetus. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 95: 332–335.
Erinjery, J.J., T.S. Kavana & M. Singh (2015). Food resources, distribution and seasonal variations in ranging in Lion-tailed Macaques, Macaca silenus in the Western Ghats, India. Primates 56: 45–54. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-014-0447-x
Erinjery, J.J., M. Singh & R. Kent (2018). Mapping and assessment of vegetation types in the tropical rainforests of the Western Ghats using multispectral Sentinel-2 and SAR Sentinel-1 satellite imagery. Remote Sensing of Environment 216: 345–354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2018.07.006
Filliater, T.S., R. Breitwisch & P.M. Nealen (1994). Predation on Northern Cardinal nests: Does choice of nest site matter? The Condor 96(3): 761–768. https://doi.org/10.2307/1369479
Haggerty, T.M. (1995). Nest-site selection, nest design and nest-entrance orientation in Bachman’s Sparrow. The Southwestern Naturalist 40(1): 62–67.
Hartman, C.A. & L.W. Oring (2003). Orientation and microclimate of Horned Lark nests: the importance of shade. The Condor 105(1): 158–163. https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/105.1.158
Heltshe, J.F. & N.E. Forrester (1983). Estimating diversity using quadrat sampling. Biometrics 39(4): 1073–1076. https://doi.org/10.2307/2531340
Hooge, P.N., M.T. Stanback & W.D. Koenig (1999). Nest-site selection in the Acorn Woodpecker. The Auk 116(1): 45–54. https://doi.org/10.2307/4089452
Kumara, H.N. & M. Singh (2006). Distribution and relative abundance of giant squirrels and flying squirrels in Karnataka, India/Distribution et abondance relative des espèces d’écureuils géants et volants à Karnataka, Inde. Mammalia 70(1–2): 40–47. https://doi.org/10.1515/MAMM.2006.006
Kumara, H.N. & R. Suganthasakthivel (2011). Predicting the potential distribution and conservation needs of Travancore Flying Squirrel, Petinomys fuscocapillus, in Peninsular India and Sri Lanka, using GARP. Tropical Conservation Science 4(2): 172–186.
Lloyd, J.D. & T.E. Martin (2004). Nest-site preference and maternal effects on offspring growth. Behavioral Ecology 15(5): 816–823. https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arh085
Maclean, G.L. (1984). Avian adaptations to the Kalahari environment: a typical continental semi-desert. Koedoe 27(2): 187–193. https://doi.org/10.4102/koedoe.v27i2.579
Martin, T.E. (1988). Nest placement: implications for selected life-history traits, with special reference to clutch size. The American Naturalist 132(6): 900–910. https://doi.org/10.1086/284896
Martin, T.E. & J.J. Roper (1988). Nest predation and nest-site selection of a western population of the Hermit Thrush. The Condor 90(1): 51–57. https://doi.org/10.2307/1368432
Mennill, D.J. & L.M. Ratcliffe (2004). Nest cavity orientation in Black‐capped Chickadees Poecilea tricapillus: do the acoustic properties of cavities influence sound reception in the nest and extra‐pair matings? Journal of Avian Biology 35(6): 477–482. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0908-8857.2004.03351.x
Mezquida, E. T. (2004). Nest site selection and nesting success of five species of passerines in a South American open Prosopis woodland. Journal of Ornithology 145(1): 16–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-003-0002-9
Molur, S., C. Srinivasulu, B. Srinivasulu, S. Walker, P.O. Nameer & L. Ravikumar (2005). Status of South Asian non-volant small mammals: Conservation Assessment and Management Plan (C.A.M.P) Workshop Report. Zoo Outreach Organization/CBSG-South Asia, Coimbatore, India, 618 pp.
Murphy, M.T. (1983). Nest success and nesting habits of Eastern Kingbirds and other flycatchers. The Condor 85(2): 208–219. https://doi.org/10.2307/1367258
Nelson, K.J. & K.A.T.H.Y. Martin (1999). Thermal aspects of nest-site location for Vesper Sparrows and Horned Larks in British Columbia. Studies in Avian Biology 19: 137–143.
Norment, C.J. (1993). Nest-site characteristics and nest predation in Harris’ Sparrows and White-crowned Sparrows in the Northwest Territories, Canada. The Auk 110(4): 769–777. https://doi.org/10.2307/4088632
Ojeda, V., A. Schaaf, T.A. Altamirano, B. Bonaparte, L. Bragagnolo, L. Chazarreta & N. Politi (2021). Latitude does not influence cavity entrance orientation of South American avian excavators. The Auk 138(1): ukaa064. https://doi.org/10.1093/ornithology/ukaa064
Pascal J.P. (1988). Wet evergreen forests of the Western Ghats of India: Ecology, structure, floristic composition and succession. Institut de Francais de Pondicherry, Pondicherry.
Pradhan, A.K., S. Shrotriya & S.D. Rout (2012). Observation on nest–site selection by Indian Giant Squirrel in Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha. Zoo’s Print Journal 4(2): 12–13.
Pradhan, A.K., S. Shrotriya, S.D. Rout & P.K. Dash (2017). Nesting and feeding habits of Indian Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica) in Karlapat wildlife sanctuary, India. Animal Biodiversity and Conservation 40(1): 63–69. https://doi.org/10.32800/abc.2017.40.0063
Ramachandran, K.K. (1988). Ecology and behaviour of Malabar Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica maxima) Schreber. Kerala Forest Research Institute Report No. 55, Peechi.
Ramachandran, K.K. & R. Suganthasakthivel (2010). Ecology and behaviour of the arboreal mammals of the Nelliyampathy forests. Kerala Forest Research Institute Report No. 382, Peechi.
Rathod, G., E. Bharucha & K. Yardi (2022). Population density and nesting behaviour of Indian Giant squirrel Ratufa indica (Erxlebeln, 1777) in Bhimashankar wildlife sanctuary, Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 14(9): 21786–21796. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.7816.14.9.21786-21796
Rauter, C.M., H.U. Reyer & K. Bollmann (2002). Selection through predation, snowfall and microclimate on nest‐site preferences in the Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta. Ibis 144(3): 433–444. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1474-919X.2002.00013.x
Rendell, W.B. & R.J. Robertson (1994). Cavity-entrance orientation and nest-site use by secondary hole-nesting birds (Orientación de la Entrada de Cavidades y UsoSecondario de lasMismaspor Aves que no lasExcavan). Journal of Field Ornithology 65(1): 27–35.
Tarvin, K.A. & K.G. Smith (1995). Microhabitat factors influencing predation and success of suburban Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata nests. Journal of Avian Biology 26(4): 296–304.
Viñuela, J. & C. Sunyer (1992). Nest orientation and hatching success of Black Kites Milvus migrans in Spain. Ibis 134(4): 340–345. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1474-919X.1992.tb08013.x
Walsberg, G.E. (1981). Nest-site selection and the radiative environment of the Warbling Vireo. The Condor 83(1): 86–88. https://doi.org/10.2307/1367612
Webb, D.R. & J.R. King (1983). An analysis of the heat budgets of the eggs and nest of the White-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys, in relation to parental attentiveness. Physiological Zoology 56(4): 493–505.
Webb, D.R. (1987). Thermal tolerance of avian embryos: a review. The Condor 89(4): 874–898. https://doi.org/10.2307/1368537
With, K.A. & D.R. Webb (1993). Microclimate of ground nests: the relative importance of radiative cover and wind breaks for three grassland species. The Condor 95(2): 401–413. https://doi.org/10.2307/1369363
Yanes, M., J. Herranz & F. Suárez (1996). Nest microhabitat selection in larks from a European semi-arid shrub-steppe: the role of sunlight and predation. Journal of Arid Environments 32(4): 469–478. https://doi.org/10.1006/jare.1996.0040