Diurnal Encounter‐Based Size Distribution, Nesting Sites and Habitat Characteristics of the Mugger Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) in Beeshazari Lake Complex, Nepal
ABSTRACT Mugger crocodiles are the apex predator species of the wetland ecosystem in Nepal, and their conservation could safeguard the entire ecosystem. However, studies on their population status and habitat characteristics are limited, with no scientific research conducted on their nesting ecology...
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Wiley
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71486 |
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| author | Nikita Phuyal Nishan KC Bijaya Neupane Bijaya Dhami Mahamad Sayab Miya Thakur Silwal Gunjan Adhikari Shraddha Pudasaini Bishal Bhandari Hari Adhikari |
| author_facet | Nikita Phuyal Nishan KC Bijaya Neupane Bijaya Dhami Mahamad Sayab Miya Thakur Silwal Gunjan Adhikari Shraddha Pudasaini Bishal Bhandari Hari Adhikari |
| author_sort | Nikita Phuyal |
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| description | ABSTRACT Mugger crocodiles are the apex predator species of the wetland ecosystem in Nepal, and their conservation could safeguard the entire ecosystem. However, studies on their population status and habitat characteristics are limited, with no scientific research conducted on their nesting ecology to date. Therefore, we selected muggers as a representative species to better understand their daytime sightings, nesting characteristics, and the fine‐scale anthropogenic and environmental factors influencing their occurrence in five lakes of the Beeshazari Lake complex (BLC; Beeshazar Lake, Kumal Lake, Tikauli Lake, Kingfisher Lake, and Batuli Pokhari) of Chitwan National Park, Nepal. We conducted a preliminary survey, followed by a daytime sightings survey, a nesting site survey, and a habitat assessment survey in March 2023. A generalised linear model under binary logistic regression was used to analyse the factors influencing the habitat characteristics of muggers. During the research period, 50 detections of muggers were recorded, 66% of which were observed basking and 34% were submerged in the lakes. The Relative Abundance Index of the muggers in the BLC was 3.29 km−1. Nesting sites (two from Tikauli Lake and three from Beeshazar Lake) were recorded during the study period. The probability of sighting a mugger was significantly influenced by the slope (moderate slope), substrate type (clay, grass, and sand), mid‐lake depth, presence of anthropogenic threats, and presence of invasive species. We recommend that future researchers employ more robust models, such as N‐mixture models, to provide up‐to‐date information on the population abundance of muggers in the BLC. Furthermore, a comprehensive multi‐seasonal study focusing on ecological and behavioural aspects of nesting sites alongside environmental aspects influencing nest success rates is critical. Such research will be crucial in guiding the development of targeted conservation strategies aimed at protecting and preserving essential nesting sites. Moreover, we recommend conducting robust studies on the carrying capacity of wetlands in Nepal to provide insights into the sustainable population size that a wetland can support. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-328d66444b794b3f9b8ecae1775cedf2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj-art-328d66444b794b3f9b8ecae1775cedf22025-08-20T03:33:31ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582025-06-01156n/an/a10.1002/ece3.71486Diurnal Encounter‐Based Size Distribution, Nesting Sites and Habitat Characteristics of the Mugger Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) in Beeshazari Lake Complex, NepalNikita Phuyal0Nishan KC1Bijaya Neupane2Bijaya Dhami3Mahamad Sayab Miya4Thakur Silwal5Gunjan Adhikari6Shraddha Pudasaini7Bishal Bhandari8Hari Adhikari9School of Forestry and Natural Resource Management, Institute of Forestry Tribhuvan University Kathmandu NepalWWF Nepal Kathmandu NepalInstitute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, Tribhuvan University Pokhara NepalDepartment of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta CanadaDepartment of Biological Sciences Western Kentucky University Bowling Green Kentucky USAInstitute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, Tribhuvan University Pokhara NepalInstitute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, Tribhuvan University Pokhara NepalSchool of Forestry and Natural Resource Management, Institute of Forestry Tribhuvan University Kathmandu NepalCollege of Natural Resource Management Agriculture and Forestry University Udayapur NepalDepartment of Geosciences and Geography University of Helsinki Helsinki FinlandABSTRACT Mugger crocodiles are the apex predator species of the wetland ecosystem in Nepal, and their conservation could safeguard the entire ecosystem. However, studies on their population status and habitat characteristics are limited, with no scientific research conducted on their nesting ecology to date. Therefore, we selected muggers as a representative species to better understand their daytime sightings, nesting characteristics, and the fine‐scale anthropogenic and environmental factors influencing their occurrence in five lakes of the Beeshazari Lake complex (BLC; Beeshazar Lake, Kumal Lake, Tikauli Lake, Kingfisher Lake, and Batuli Pokhari) of Chitwan National Park, Nepal. We conducted a preliminary survey, followed by a daytime sightings survey, a nesting site survey, and a habitat assessment survey in March 2023. A generalised linear model under binary logistic regression was used to analyse the factors influencing the habitat characteristics of muggers. During the research period, 50 detections of muggers were recorded, 66% of which were observed basking and 34% were submerged in the lakes. The Relative Abundance Index of the muggers in the BLC was 3.29 km−1. Nesting sites (two from Tikauli Lake and three from Beeshazar Lake) were recorded during the study period. The probability of sighting a mugger was significantly influenced by the slope (moderate slope), substrate type (clay, grass, and sand), mid‐lake depth, presence of anthropogenic threats, and presence of invasive species. We recommend that future researchers employ more robust models, such as N‐mixture models, to provide up‐to‐date information on the population abundance of muggers in the BLC. Furthermore, a comprehensive multi‐seasonal study focusing on ecological and behavioural aspects of nesting sites alongside environmental aspects influencing nest success rates is critical. Such research will be crucial in guiding the development of targeted conservation strategies aimed at protecting and preserving essential nesting sites. Moreover, we recommend conducting robust studies on the carrying capacity of wetlands in Nepal to provide insights into the sustainable population size that a wetland can support.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71486baskingBeeshazari Lake complexhabitat characteristicsrelative abundance indexsubmerged |
| spellingShingle | Nikita Phuyal Nishan KC Bijaya Neupane Bijaya Dhami Mahamad Sayab Miya Thakur Silwal Gunjan Adhikari Shraddha Pudasaini Bishal Bhandari Hari Adhikari Diurnal Encounter‐Based Size Distribution, Nesting Sites and Habitat Characteristics of the Mugger Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) in Beeshazari Lake Complex, Nepal Ecology and Evolution basking Beeshazari Lake complex habitat characteristics relative abundance index submerged |
| title | Diurnal Encounter‐Based Size Distribution, Nesting Sites and Habitat Characteristics of the Mugger Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) in Beeshazari Lake Complex, Nepal |
| title_full | Diurnal Encounter‐Based Size Distribution, Nesting Sites and Habitat Characteristics of the Mugger Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) in Beeshazari Lake Complex, Nepal |
| title_fullStr | Diurnal Encounter‐Based Size Distribution, Nesting Sites and Habitat Characteristics of the Mugger Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) in Beeshazari Lake Complex, Nepal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diurnal Encounter‐Based Size Distribution, Nesting Sites and Habitat Characteristics of the Mugger Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) in Beeshazari Lake Complex, Nepal |
| title_short | Diurnal Encounter‐Based Size Distribution, Nesting Sites and Habitat Characteristics of the Mugger Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) in Beeshazari Lake Complex, Nepal |
| title_sort | diurnal encounter based size distribution nesting sites and habitat characteristics of the mugger crocodile crocodylus palustris in beeshazari lake complex nepal |
| topic | basking Beeshazari Lake complex habitat characteristics relative abundance index submerged |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71486 |
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