Yellow-browed Bulbul feeding on Callicarpa fruits
School for Science and Conservation

Fruit-eating Birds of Rainforests

Title - How do avian frugivores coexist in the tropical evergreen forests in India?

PhD Student: Rintu Mandal

Program: CEROS

Guide: Dr. Rohit Naniwadekar and Dr. Anand Osuri

What is the project looking at 

One of the primary goals of community ecology is to understand how species coexist in natural systems. There are multiple mechanisms that can facilitate coexistence of sympatric species in a community. However, one of the most important mechanisms that can facilitate coexistence is by increasing niche differentiation, where sympatric species use the available resource in a way that reduces competition between them.

My research project focuses on understanding coexistence of sympatric avian frugivores in the Indian tropics by examining the partitioning of fruit resources by them. Tropical forests harbour a high diversity of both avian frugivores and fleshy-fruited plants, therefore, ideal to study niche differentiation by sympatric avian frugivore species. Sympatric frugivores can achieve niche partitioning by partitioning fruit resources in space, time, or traits. For instance, sympatric frugivores can track a particular fruit resource at the same time, but at different spatial scales - from within a fruiting tree to a large geographic area. In addition, different species of frugivores can feed on the same fruit resource in the same space but at different temporal scales. Furthermore, they can track different fruit traits in the same space and time - thereby avoiding direct competition and facilitating coexistence. Species may adopt one or more strategies to avoid competition with other species in the community. My study design involves comparing different plant-frugivore communities in the Indian tropics that have different avian frugivore species richness but are otherwise comparable in terms of environmental conditions and phylogenetic composition to understand the responses of avian frugivores in response to changes in interspecific competition strength, and thereby species coexistence.

Great Hornbill feeding on a Ficus drupacea
Wreathed Hornbill feeding on Persea
A seven year old Rufous-necked male.
Brown Hornbills looking for a potential nest
Long-tailed Sibia munching on Schefflera fruits
Beautiful Sibia on an Indian Coral tree
Grey-fronted Green-Pigeon feeding on Ficus drupacea
Lovely plumage of a male Asian Fairy-Bluebird
Malabar Grey Hornbill on a transect in Anamalai

Research Implications 

Apart from answering some key ecological questions, my research can help predict the responses of interacting plant and frugivore species in a changing world, such as species loss. In addition, many of the species in our study system are threatened and this study can highlight their role in the natural world and highlight their need for conservation.

Noa Dihing river in monsoon
Deban Forest Camp in Namdapha
Noa Dihing river
Our multipurpose water source inside Namdapha
The beautiful Anamalai Tiger Reserve
Our "Tharvati" inside Anamalai

Meet Rintu 

Rintu is a simple and reserved fellow hailing from West-Bengal. He did his bachelors (from Krishnath College, Murshidabad) and masters (from Visva-Bharati University) in Zoology.

He is known for his special knack in art and literature. His artwork is something to lookout for. He is an avid cook and loves to play the harmonica and flute. But he claims to be the most passionate in sleeping.

Team

Researchers: Himanshu Lad, Natasha Desai, Rasika Kadam, Vignesh C

Field Collaborators: Gopi, Laiphong, Wanggao, Sathiyaraj, Krishnakumar

Volunteers & Interns: Maya, Mandar, Siddhant, Prabhav, Tamoghna

Captain Rintu in Namdapha
Captain is always at work
I am not sleeping!
Wanggao, Laiphong, Japang, Captain, Gopi, Himanshu (L-R)
Sathiyaraj, Captain and Krishnakumar (L-R)
Sathiyaraj, Krishnakumar, Maya, Rasika, Natasha and Captain (L-R)
Carrying provisions for camping inside Namdapha
Our traditional makeshift kitchen at Hornbill Camp, Namdapha
Gopi making chai for everyone

Read Rintu's latest blog 

https://www.ncf-india.org/blog/an-encounter-in-the-elephant-hills