IIT Jodhpur experts use crowdsourced bird data to map eco-regions in Thar Desert

Hyderabad: One of the most recent studies conducted by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur emphasised the importance of crowdsourced bird data as a biota-based tool for understanding established eco-regions, assessing the anthropogenic effects of agri-farmlands, and revealing the intricate relationship between geographic regions and biota.

This data may be used to acquire useful insights into bird species distribution, agricultural impacts, and the interconnectedness of geography and biodiversity.

The research relied on open-source crowdsourced eBird data. The cooperating partners for this study included the Department of BSBE and the Department of CSE from IIT Jodhpur, and the Jodhpur City Knowledge and Innovation Cluster.

The Great Indian Desert, Thar, is recognised for its diverse biodiversity and fragile ecosystems. However, there is limited knowledge of the region’s ecological features and the dispersion of its distinct biotic groups due to numerous anthropogenic activities and a lack of comprehensive data.

Expert analysts

Traditional techniques of ecological evaluation can need substantial resources, time, and expertise, making data collection difficult.

With this research gap in mind, academicians and experts from IIT Jodhpur such as Dr Manasi Mukherjee, an ecologist affiliated with the Jodhpur City Knowledge Innovation Foundation, Dr Angshuman Paul, assistant professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, and Prof Mitali Mukerji, HoD at the Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, proposed crowdsourced bird data as an important tool to define four eco-regions in the Thar Desert and published their research.

Significance of choosing Thar Desert

The Thar Desert lacked community engagement and participation in conservation activities. As a result, an innovative strategy combining community interaction, crowdsourced data, and biotic evaluation is required to establish eco-regions in Thar for successful conservation and restoration planning.

Dr Mitali Mukerji, Professor and HoD of Bioscience and Bioengineering at IIT Jodhpur, explained the significance of the research, saying, “Thar provides a large natural laboratory for evolving innovative designs that ensure adaptation and survival of its constituent species, their interdependencies, and the conservation of the entire ecosystem.”

Previously, the Thar Desert was thought to be a single eco-region, but recent research discovered four: Eastern Thar, Western Thar, Transitional Zone, and Cultivated Zone.

Research outcome

• The Cultivated Zone was discovered to have three separate geographic sections, implying habitat fragmentation as a result of human activity and demonstrating its developing character as an eco-region.

• The Cultivated Zone had the lowest diversity and the greatest fluctuation in species composition, highlighting the need for restoration efforts in this region to conserve its unique biodiversity.

• The study emphasised the use of crowdsourcing bird data for comprehending existing eco-regions, analysing the impact of agri-farmlands, and investigating the interaction between geographic areas and biota in an ecosystem.

Key points

The study presented crowdsourcing bird data as an essential biota-based method for understanding:

• Established eco-regions in an ecosystem

• Indicators of anthropogenic influences on agri-farmlands

• Opportunities to investigate the relationship between geographic areas and biota

Future research will look at changes in spatial diversity across different trophic levels in order to improve biota-based sustainability assessments in desert environments. Furthermore, for thorough knowledge and conservation planning, it is critical to investigate variances within smaller units of eco-regions and their influence on stability and long-term sustainability.