Range expansion of Indian Grey Hornbill population: a case study based on land use, land cover, and vegetation changes in Vadodara, Gujarat, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9523.17.6.27098-27109Keywords:
Anthropogenic pressure, Bucerotidae, environmental changes, green canopy, LULCC, NDVI, Ocyceros, urbanizationAbstract
The Indian Grey Hornbill Ocyceros birostris, commonly known to occur in dry deciduous forests and open woodlands, has seen a notable population rise in urban areas of Gujarat, including Vadodara, over the past 14 years. Prior to 2010, no Grey Hornbills were observed amidst the green canopy of the city, but the species has since established a thriving breeding population within city limits. This study attempts to link this shift to land use and land cover change (LULCC), where urban expansion and altered vegetation seem to have created suitable habitats. Traditionally, urbanization is known to lead to biodiversity loss, and habitat degradation, but as far as Vadodara City is concerned, it has offered a unique case of species adaptation. The presence of the Grey Hornbill in urban areas highlights the complex interactions between species distribution and environmental changes, particularly as altered vegetation structures, and food availability could have driven its appearance in city environs. This study explores how the LULCC, normalised difference vegetation index, and climate change are influencing Grey Hornbill’s dependency on urban spaces, offering insight into the resilience of species amidst anthropogenic pressures, and changing landscapes.
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