University Campuses as Urban Biodiversity Reservoirs: A Comprehensive Study of Faunal Diversity in University of Rajasthan

This study presents a comprehensive assessment of faunal diversity on the University of Rajasthan campus, a critical green space in the rapidly urbanizing city of Jaipur, India. Through systematic observational surveys conducted over the year 2024, we identified 109 species across 3 phyla, 5 classes, 29 order and 74 families, with Arthropoda dominating (73.5%), followed by Chordata (24.8%) and Annelida (1.8%). The high diversity of arthropods, particularly pollinators like bees, underscores their ecological importance in maintaining ecosystem functions such as pollination and nutrient cycling. The presence of diverse bird and mammal species further highlights the campus's role as a biodiversity refuge in an urban landscape. These findings emphasize the ecological significance of university campuses as microcosms of urban biodiversity and provide a baseline for future conservation efforts. This study not only contributes to the understanding of urban ecosystems but also offers actionable insights for integrating biodiversity conservation into urban planning, ensuring the resilience of ecosystems in the face of increasing urbanization.