Ecological and anthropogenic covariates ... - GANGAPEDIA

correction factor for the float measurements to convert these into stream velocity was
determined from simultaneous flow meter readings.
I recorded depth and width, along with GPS locations, at 0.5 km intervals along the
length of the river and at 10 m intervals along the channel width at each of these 0.5
km intervals. Air and water temperatures were recorded at 30 minute intervals using
data loggers (HOBO Pendant Temperature Data Loggers - Part # UA-001-XX). Air
temperatures were also collected from the National Informatics Centre
(weather.nic.in/). Shoreline substratum was classified broadly into clay-loam, sand,
gravel and sandstone-rock, based on standard soil texture tests. Presence of
confluences, sand and spit bars, and mid-channel islands was recorded.
Anthropogenic activities like sand mining, fishing, bankside cultivation, livestock
presence, river crossing and miscellaneous activities (bathing, washing, defecation,
grass soaking, temple fairs, etc) were recorded for each of the 2.5 km segments at a
scale of 0.5 km (See Table 2).
While the number of people, vehicles and livestock involved in each type of activity
were recorded, only data on the extent of each activity type was analysed since this
factor seemed to have greater influence on gharial distribution as compared to the
number of people/ vehicles/ livestock per unit area.
14