DOI: 10.5061/dryad.kd51c5b7g
title: Data from: An expedition to Narcondam: observations of marine and terrestrial fauna including the island-endemic hornbill

description: Oceanic islands, known for their ecologically sensitive ecosystems and
 endemic species, are of high conservation significance. The volcanic
 island of Narcondam in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Indian Ocean, is a
 prime example and the only home of the endemic and globally endangered
 Narcondam Hornbill. Despite its ecological and evolutionary significance,
 there has been limited biological exploration and research on the island
 over the last century. Here, we report on a 2010 expedition to Narcondam,
 presenting results of our rapid survey of island invertebrates,
 herpetofauna, mammals and birds (especially the endemic hornbill), and
 marine life in adjoining waters. The survey recorded dense coral growth in
 the surrounding waters, and identified 17 fish, 2 sea cucumber, 8 reptile,
 28 bird, and 2 mammal species and 13 spider and 8 butterfly taxa. Of
 these, 4 spiders, 3 butterflies and 6 birds identified to species are new
 records for the island. The Narcondam Hornbill was frequently encountered
 and we report trail-based estimates of encounter rate and density, which
 can serve as a baseline for future monitoring. Both despite its isolation
 and because of it, Narcondam has faced a number of recent and serious
 conservation threats, including feral goats, poaching, habitat degradation
 around the police camp, and proposed installations. While efforts have
 been made by the Government authorities to stave-off various threats, we
 highlight the need for further scientific research and monitoring, while
 according primacy to strict protection and conservation.
description: Methods are explained in detail in the following open access
 manuscript: Raman, T. R. S., Mudappa, D., Khan, T.,
 Mistry, U., Saxena, A., Varma, K., Ekka, N., Lenin, J. & Whitaker,
 R. 2013. An expedition to Narcondam: observations of marine and
 terrestrial fauna including the island-endemic hornbill. <em>Current
 Science</em> 105: 346–360. Available here: https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/105/03/0346.pdf
description: This dataset corresponds to the following publication:
 Raman, T. R. S., Mudappa, D., Khan, T., Mistry, U., Saxena, A.,
 Varma, K., Ekka, N., Lenin, J. & Whitaker, R. 2013. An expedition
 to Narcondam: observations of marine and terrestrial fauna including the
 island-endemic hornbill. <em>Current Science</em> 105:
 346–360. Available here: https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/105/03/0346.pdf Geographical scope: Narcondam Island, Indian Ocean, India <strong>Files included:</strong> README.txt: File indicating dataset files and explanation of columns within each CSV dataset file TransectSurveys.csv: Line transects surveyed on Narcondam Island for Narcondam Hornbill TransectData.csv: Line transect data Flocks.csv: Narcondam Hornbill flocks seen or flying (subset of TransectData.csv, with supplementary observations) and age-sex classification KML files: Four KML files of transect trails walked on Narcondam Island Ravine Trail.kml -- Transect 1 Lighthouse Trail.kml -- Transect 2 Hillslope Trail.kml -- Transect 3 Peak Trail.kml -- extra trail covered See file README.txt for more explanation of columns in different CSV files.