Description
The Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) in Islamabad, Pakistan, is an important site for the conservation of many plants and animals. The present study aimed to determine the status of fauna diversity and richness, and environmental threats to the animals. A field study was conducted and the point count method was used to determine vertebrate diversity. The survey showed that the MHNP is home to 117 species of birds, 27 reptiles – including species such as the saw-scaled viper, Russell’s viper and the Indian cobra - and 30 mammalian species, such as barking deer, wild boar, golden jackal, red fox, Asiatic leopards, monkeys, fruit bats, and pangolins. The results showed a maximum count of 9,076 birds of 117 species belonging to 48 families. According to the Islamabad wildlife management board, one of the unique species, the grey goral (Nemorhaedus goral), has become extinct at the MHNP as no single specimen has been recorded since 2018. It was also been observed, however, that the numbers of the endangered species of common leopard (Panthera pardus) and pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) have increased, possibly due to the wildlife management board’s strategy for conservation. Nevertheless, greater conservation and protection of wild fauna at the MHNP is still needed. During the visits, threats such as habitat degradation, climate change, and over hunting were recorded, but focus on the implementation of approved legislation and better managerial practices to protect the unique diversity was observed.
Data Records
The data in this checklist resource has been published as a Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A), which is a standardized format for sharing biodiversity data as a set of one or more data tables. The core data table contains 185 records.
This IPT archives the data and thus serves as the data repository. The data and resource metadata are available for download in the downloads section. The versions table lists other versions of the resource that have been made publicly available and allows tracking changes made to the resource over time.
Versions
The table below shows only published versions of the resource that are publicly accessible.
How to cite
Researchers should cite this work as follows:
Aslam I, Yasmeen R (2022): Vertebrate diversity at Margalla Hills National Park, Pakistan. v1.3. Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona. Dataset/Checklist. https://doi.org/10.15470/hf1s9i
Rights
Researchers should respect the following rights statement:
The publisher and rights holder of this work is Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY 4.0) License.
GBIF Registration
This resource has been registered with GBIF, and assigned the following GBIF UUID: bb5e0679-e20d-431c-a5c3-a6f3c578c99c. Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona publishes this resource, and is itself registered in GBIF as a data publisher endorsed by GBIF Spain.
Keywords
Biodiversity; Margalla Hills; Habitat; Threats; National Park; Checklist
Contacts
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Geographic Coverage
The study was carried out in Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP), Islamabad, from December 2019 to March 2021. The MHNP is located between 33°43'N and 72°55'E and has a total area of 17,386 hectares.
| Bounding Coordinates | South West [33.45, 72], North East [34, 73.037] |
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Taxonomic Coverage
No Description available
| Phylum | Vertebrata |
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No Description available
| Class | Actinopterygii, Amphibia, Aves, Mammalia, Reptilia |
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| Family | Channidae, Cyprinidae, Bufonidae, Dicroglossidae, Microhylidae, Accipitridae, Acrocephalidae, Alaudidae, Alcedinidae, Anatidae, Apodidae, Ardeidae, Campephagidae, Caprimulgidae, Charadriidae, Cisticolidae, Columbidae, Corvidae, Cuculidae, Dicruridae, Emberizidae, Estrildidae, Falconidae, Fringillidae, Hirundinidae, Laniidae, Laridae, Leiothrichidae, Megalaimidae, Meropidae, Monarchidae, Motacillidae, Muscicapidae, Nectariniidae, Oriolidae, Paridae, Parulidae, Passeridae, Phasianidae, Phylloscopidae, Picidae, Pittidae, Ploceidae, Psittacidae, Pycnonotidae, Rallidae, Recurvirostridae, Scolopacidae, Stenostiridae, Strigidae, Sturnidae, Timaliidae, Upupidae, Zosteropidae, Bovidae, Canidae, Cercopithecidae, Cervidae, Erinaceidae, Felidae, Herpestidae, Hystricidae, Leporidae, Manidae, Muridae, Mustelidae, Pteropodidae, Sciuridae, Suidae, Viverridae, Agamidae, Colubridae, Elapidae, Gekkonidae, Geoemydidae, Lacertidae, Psammophiidae, Scincidae, Trionychidae, Varanidae, Viperidae |
Temporal Coverage
| Start Date / End Date | 2019-12-01 / 2021-03-31 |
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Project Data
The Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) in Islamabad, Pakistan, is an important site for the conservation of many plants and animals. The present study aimed to determine the status of fauna diversity and richness, and environmental threats to the animals. A field study was conducted and the point count method was used to determine vertebrate diversity. The survey showed that the MHNP is home to 117 species of birds, 27 reptiles – including species such as the saw-scaled viper, Russell’s viper and the Indian cobra - and 30 mammalian species, such as barking deer, wild boar, golden jackal, red fox, Asiatic leopards, monkeys, fruit bats, and pangolins. The results showed a maximum count of 9,076 birds of 117 species belonging to 48 families. According to the Islamabad wildlife management board, one of the unique species, the grey goral (Nemorhaedus goral), has become extinct at the MHNP as no single specimen has been recorded since 2018. It was also been observed, however, that the numbers of the endangered species of common leopard (Panthera pardus) and pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) have increased, possibly due to the wildlife management board’s strategy for conservation. Nevertheless, greater conservation and protection of wild fauna at the MHNP is still needed. During the visits, threats such as habitat degradation, climate change, and over hunting were recorded, but focus on the implementation of approved legislation and better managerial practices to protect the unique diversity was observed.
| Title | Vertebrate diversity at Margalla Hills National Park, Pakistan |
|---|---|
| Study Area Description | The study was carried out in Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP), Islamabad, from December 2019 to March 2021. The MHNP is located between 33°43'N and 72°55'E and has a total area of 17,386 hectares. The landscape is mainly comprised of slopes and gullies and limestone rocks. MHNP altitude ranges from 450 to 1,580 meters above sea level (Jabeen et al., 2009). Sampling sites The study area was divided into four sampling sites (fig.1): site 1 (Rawal lake); site 2 (Darra Jangla); site 3 (Shakarparian); and site 4 (Shahdara). Site 1: Rawal Lake Rawal Lake lies south east of Islamabad (PEPA, 2004). It has an area of 19.02 square kilometers with a sustained zone of two square kilometers. Annual precipitation is about 1000 mm and temperature ranges between 1–15°C in winter and 20–40°C in summer. Site 2: Darra Jangla Darra Jangla is situated half a kilometer from trail 3. It is the most wooded and quiet gorge in the park. The stream alongside the trail makes the area an ideal home range for several unique birds and animals. Site 3: Shakrparian Shakarparian is the core part of the park. It is ecologically dense and it is the most diversified area of the park. The Shakarparian has an area of 1376 ha (Jabeen et al., 2009). Its latitude and longitude are 73° 39 N and 33° 44 E. It is considered the most vital part of the park because its thick vegetation provides ideal conditions for numerous animals. Site 4: Shahdara Shahdara is a small town on the fringes of the MHNP. It is seven kilometers from Bara Kahu, and fifteen kilometers from Islamabad. The town is renowned for its animals and water falls. Its dense vegetation provides habitat for many animal species and the town plays a valuable role in conserving biodiversity in the park. |
| Design Description | Each site was visited frequently to observe the microhabitats - such as rotting logs, leaf litter, flotsam, and water channels - of vertebrates. In winter, surveys were conducted before the onset of the hibernation period of amphibians and reptiles, mostly in October and November. Most studies in winter were carried out before sunset as low evening temperatures limit the movement of most species, including reptiles. We also used hiding places, fecal matter, body impressions, tail drags or footprints, tracks, dens, and egg laying excavations to estimate local distribution and population density of all the classes of vertebrates. Surveys and in summer were conducted early in the morning and late in the afternoon. |
The personnel involved in the project:
- Author
Sampling Methods
Each site was visited frequently to observe the microhabitats - such as rotting logs, leaf litter, flotsam, and water channels - of vertebrates. In winter, surveys were conducted before the onset of the hibernation period of amphibians and reptiles, mostly in October and November. Most studies in winter were carried out before sunset as low evening temperatures limit the movement of most species, including reptiles. We also used hiding places, fecal matter, body impressions, tail drags or footprints, tracks, dens, and egg laying excavations to estimate local distribution and population density of all the classes of vertebrates. Surveys and in summer were conducted early in the morning and late in the afternoon.
| Study Extent | The study area was divided into four sampling sites (fig.1): site 1 (Rawal lake); site 2 (Darra Jangla); site 3 (Shakarparian); and site 4 (Shahdara). Site 1: Rawal Lake Rawal Lake lies south east of Islamabad (PEPA, 2004). It has an area of 19.02 square kilometers with a sustained zone of two square kilometers. Annual precipitation is about 1,000 mm and temperature ranges between 1–15°C in winter and 20–40°C in summer. Site 2: Darra Jangla Darra Jangla is situated half a kilometer from trail 3. It is the most wooded and quiet gorge in the park. The stream alongside the trail makes the area an ideal home range for several unique birds and animals. Site 3: Shakrparian Shakarparian is the core part of the park. It is ecologically dense and it is the most diversified area of the park. The Shakarparian has an area of 1376 ha (Jabeen et al., 2009). Its latitude and longitude are 73° 39 N and 33° 44 E. It is considered the most vital part of the park because its thick vegetation provides ideal conditions for numerous animals. Site 4: Shahdara Shahdara is a small town on the fringes of the MHNP. It is seven kilometers from Bara Kahu, and fifteen kilometers from Islamabad. The town is renowned for its animals and water falls. Its dense vegetation provides habitat for many animal species and the town plays a valuable role in conserving biodiversity in the park. |
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| Quality Control | To evaluate the vertebrate diversity we used the direct count method as described by Haldin and Ulfvens (1987). Species of vertebrate classes such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals were considered. The GPS (GARMIN, GPS map 76CS x) was also used for the point coordinates. The equipment used included binoculars (magnification 10 × 50) and spotting scope (magnification 20 × 40 × 60) with a tripod and digital camera. Birds and animals were identified using field guides and reference books (Roberts, 1991, 1992, 1997, Khan, 1977; Mirza et al., 1998; Mirza and Wasiq, 2007; Grimmett et al., 2008, 2016). A bimonthly survey of study area was carried out over one year (7-8 days in each survey). |
Method step description:
- Various types of analysis were conducted to establish the diversity index, such as species richness as described by Jost (2006): Shanon-Wiener Index, Simpson Index, Eveness, and Species Richness.
Bibliographic Citations
- Aslam, I., Yasmeen, R., 2021. Vertebrate diversity at Margalla Hills National Park, Pakistan. Arxius de Miscel·lània Zoològica, 19: 237–247, https://doi.org/10.32800/amz.2021.19.0237 https://doi.org/10.32800/amz.2021.19.0237
Additional Metadata
| Alternative Identifiers | 10.15470/hf1s9i |
|---|---|
| bb5e0679-e20d-431c-a5c3-a6f3c578c99c | |
| https://ipt.gbif.es/resource?r=vertebrata_mhnp_pakistan |