ECOLOGY AND DIVERSITY OF WILDLIFE IN DHAKA UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, BANGLADESH

Abstract

Nowadays urbanization continues, and poses a serious threat to wildlife
globally. A survey-based study on wildlife was conducted for three years from
March 2017 to February 2020 in Dhaka University campus. Data was collected
through direct visual encounter observations. A total of 94 species of wildlife
under 20 orders and 52 families were observed. Of the documented wildlife, 5
(5.32%) species belongs to amphibians, 10 (10.64%) reptiles, 70 (74.47%) birds and
9 (9.57%) mammals. The highest species richness (72, 76.60%) was observed in
the third year (March 2019 to February 2020), particularly in winter season.
Although the lowest richness was (63, 67.02%) found in the first year (March 2017
to February 2018), but the evenness was the highest this year, particularly in
summer season. We counted the highest number of individuals (n=5227, 35.73%)
in the first year (March 2017 to February 2018) but these counts have gradually
decreased with the lowest in the third year (March 2019 to February 2020).
Among 94 species, 44 species (46.80%) were very common, 3 (3.19%) common,
17(18.09%) uncommon and 30 (31.91%) were few. Duttaphrynus melanostictus was
the most abundant (66.89%) among amphibians, Hemidactylus frenatus (40.82%)
for reptiles, Psittacula krameri (18.73%) for birds and Mus musculus (28.68%) for
mammals. Rampant human movements and sound pollution were frequent
inside the campus that might affect wildlife. Therefore, long-term systematic
monitoring is necessary to understand the species diversity and population trend
of wildlife in the campus. Moreover, this baseline information may help urban
policymakers to take proper management measures for the protection of wildlife
in the study area.