IIT Jodhpur develops model for studying Thar with birds

Jodhpur: A biota-based model developed by researchers at IIT Jodhpur using crowdsourced bird data will help in greater understanding of the ecological characteristics of Thar desert and the distribution of its diverse biotic communities, the institute said on Monday.Lack of comprehensive data has so far resulted in a limited understanding of Thar desert’s unique biodiversity and fragile ecosystem. IIT Jodhpur’s biota-based model will ensure better understanding of all the four established ecoregions, assessing the anthropogenic effects of agri-farmlands, and exploring the intricate relationship between geographic regions and biota, said the institute.“Thar desert 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. We conducted research employing crowdsourced bird data as a biota-based tool. By utilising this data, valuable insights can be gained regarding bird species distribution, agricultural impacts, and the interconnectedness of geography and biodiversity,” said Mitali Mukerji, head of IIT Jodhpur’s department of Bioscience and Bioengineering (BSBE).Traditional methods of ecological assessment often require significant resources, time and expertise, making it challenging to gather sufficient data, she said. “In this research, we used open-source crowdsourced data from eBird in collaboration with partners for this research, the departments of BSBE and CSE at IIT Jodhpur and Jodhpur City Knowledge and Innovation Cluster (JCKIC),” she added.The research found the cultivated zone in the desert to be split in three distinct geographic regions, suggesting habitat fragmentation due to human activities and indicating its evolving nature as an ecoregion. The research also exhibited the lowest diversity and the highest variation in species composition, emphasising the need for restoration efforts in this region.