Mahendra Singh Solanki, Renu Agarwal, Arindam Basu, Mamta and Partap Singh

The Indian desert is confronting many major problems on the front of biological diversity. Rapid increasing livestock population along with Global Climate Change, changing landuse patterns, ecological changes brought by Indira Gandhi Canal, increasing human population are some of the major factors behind biodiversity decline in this fragile ecosystem. The fodder sources are much limited here due less precipitation. Animals of the desert land like mammals, birds and invertebrates are fully dependent on desert grass plant species for their fodder. The xerophyte plants of Rajasthan are good and potential source of nutritionally and phyto-chemically important metabolites. Mineral nutrients are basic building blocks in the synthesis of other complex and useful substances in the cell. A survey of xerophytic flora shows an impressive figure of nutritionally important plants surviving in these adverse climatic conditions. Some wild herbivorous animals like deer, antelopes, invertebrates and herbivorous lizard depend on these plant species for their nutritional requirements. Saara hardwickii is one of the few herbivorous lizards, which primarily survive on the desert vegetation. While studying the ecology of the study we were able to understand its foraging habits and behavior. Our observations indicate this species is opportunistic feeder but it primarily feeds on two species - Dactylotinium aegyptium, Haliotropium strigosum. Nutritional status of these two species was also worked out and the results are discussed in the present communication.

DOI: 10.22271/23940522.2025.v12.i1a.1072

Pages: 25-29  |  80 Views  32 Downloads