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SPECIES SPECIFIC HABITATS:
Some Special and unique habitats like tree hollows, fallen logs, snags, burrows, cliffs, overhangs, cavities and caves in the rocks are very important. Specie that use these habitats are many times very sensitive to the change brought about in these habitats. So any sort of disturbance is very harmful. These habitats their importance, use and also recommendations are discussed below.
SNAGS:
Snag is a standing dead tree from which the leaves and most of the limbs have fallen if the dead tree is broken off and mort than 5 M. in height it will still be called as sang. This dead tree should have 10cm minimum dia. at breast height.
TABLE – 1 SHOW SNAGS HELP LIFE FORMS
Forms of Life |
Use of Snags |
Examples |
Fungi |
Dead wood support |
Agariucus |
Mosses |
Growth acting as |
Vanda |
Lichens Orchids |
Substrate |
- |
Invertebrates |
Space under bark serves as cover & feeding place |
Spiders, Ants, Beetles. |
Birds |
Tree hollows & cavities are used for shelter & for nesting. Also as perches. |
Woodpeckers, Barbets, Tits, Owls etc. |
Reptiles |
Under barks, cavities & snag itself serves as feeding place, escape & breeding cover |
Snake, Lizard, Gecko & Monitor |
Mammals |
Cavities serve as dense or as resting & escape cover. Areas under bark used as resting-place. |
Bats, Rats, Palm & Flying squirrel, Mouse deer. |
Sang provides a portion of life support system for many species of plants, invertebrates, birds and mammals. (Please refer table1). In this sanctuary about 25 birds species use snags for nesting, shelter or perching site, Some species can excavated their own cavities and some use readymade cavity or enlarge them to suit to determine which species will use it for nesting. The size of the species dictates the minimum diameter of the snag that can provide a large enough nesting site. For example common Grey-Hornbill will require large diameter snag whereas pigmy woodpecker will occupy smaller diameter snag.
At present we have very little knowledge about the territorial requirement of each species, potential maximum population of each species using snags & such other important information. One thing is definite that large snags can be substituted for smaller one but reverse is not true. We have to provide snags of sufficient size to ensure long term welfare of dependent species. Snags are developed naturally and over the time they get converted into “Dead and Down Woody Material”
Keeping in mind the points discussed above and the species which are dependent on snags for various purposes that occur in the area following recommendations are made.
- All the snags in the area will be kept except snags of Tectona grandis (Teak) and Pterocarpus marsupium (Bija) because these are commercially important species and people tend to cut them illicitly. However when it is observed that they are being used by birds or animals they should be kept.
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