Do grassland burning practices affect the distribution of the Hispid hare, Caprolagus hispidus (Pearson, ۱۸۳۹)? A study at the Shuklaphanta National Park, Nepal

Few researches have been conducted on the hispid hare Caprolagus hispidus, an endangered small mammal native to the southern foothills of the Himalayas. In major protected areas of Nepal, grassland burning has been considered as one of the most important habitat management tools however its effects on grassland dependent species such as hispid hare has been less explored. Thus, this study was conducted to determine the grassland burning practices and its effect on distribution pattern of hispid hare at Shuklaphanta National Park, western Nepal. A total of ۹۰ plots were laid in unburned (n= ۴۵) and burned areas (n= ۴۵) from November ۲۰۱۷ to May ۲۰۱۸. Two different approaches of grassland burning were observed: alternate and complete burning. Grassland burns are conducted from November to April each year, which coincides with the prime breeding season of hispid hares. A total of ۸۹ pellet groups were observed in ۲۲ plots out of ۴۵ unburned plots while a total of ۵۶ pellet groups were found in ۱۷ plots out of ۴۵ burned plots, both showing clumped type of distribution pattern of hispid hare in the study site. Higher number of fresh pellets was observed in the unburned plot. In contrast, higher number of old pellets was found in the burned plots. Thus, it is suggested that alternate year burning practices might have more positive effects on distribution and survival of this endangered species, rather than every year.

کلیدواژه ها:

Alternate burning ، breeding season ، clumped distribution ، grassland fire ، strip transects