Conservation Status of the Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus (Aves: Galliformes: Phasianidae) in Bangalore University Campus, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

The Indian Peafowl, Pavo cristatus was abundant in Bangalore University Campus (BUC) during 1970-80. However, the peafowl population declined alarmingly in the BUC region after 1990. The present paper deals with the abundance, sex ratio of peafowls and their conservation methods in the Biodiversity Park (Bio-Park) of BUC, which had been established in 2006. A total of 117 peafowls was recorded in the BUC region in which the females outnumbered the males. The increased abundance of the peafowl population in the campus could be mainly due to the availability of suitable roosting, foraging and nesting sites. The peafowls have used 18 species of plants and trees for perching and roosting in BUC. The peafowl population increased in the BUC region due to habitat rejuvenation and protection, availability of food sources and breeding/nesting sites. The results of the present investigation constitute the baseline data for the further understanding of the ecological community of national bird in the protected habitats as hotspots for biodiversity of urban ecosystem. Conservation of microhabitats through the proper restoration of ponds, streams and water check-dams including vegetation in the BUC is responsible for the existence of peafowl population

Conservation Status of the Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus (Aves: Galliformes: Phasianidae) in Bangalore University Campus, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

The Indian Peafowl, Pavo cristatus was abundant in Bangalore University Campus (BUC) during 1970-80. However, the peafowl population declined alarmingly in the BUC region after 1990. The present paper deals with the abundance, sex ratio of peafowls and their conservation methods in the Biodiversity Park (Bio-Park) of BUC, which had been established in 2006. A total of 117 peafowls was recorded in the BUC region in which the females outnumbered the males. The increased abundance of the peafowl population in the campus could be mainly due to the availability of suitable roosting, foraging and nesting sites. The peafowls have used 18 species of plants and trees for perching and roosting in BUC. The peafowl population increased in the BUC region due to habitat rejuvenation and protection, availability of food sources and breeding/nesting sites. The results of the present investigation constitute the baseline data for the further understanding of the ecological community of national bird in the protected habitats as hotspots for biodiversity of urban ecosystem. Conservation of microhabitats through the proper restoration of ponds, streams and water check-dams including vegetation in the BUC is responsible for the existence of peafowl population

Edible vaccines: A novel approach to oral immunization and their application in clinical trails

Infectious diseases cause more than one million deaths every year. Fifty percent of these diseases are caused by bacteria that infect the mucosal membrane of the mammalian host. Vaccines are recognized worldwide as one of the most effective resources against infectious diseases. It is a biological product that can improve the immune response to specific diseases. Edible vaccines are referred to the use of edible parts of the genetically modified plants. It effects on the lining of the gastrointestinal tract allows the activation of systemic immunity and mucosal immunity (GIT). Edible vaccines are used to prevent various diseases, such as hepatitis B, measles, malaria, cholera, Norwalk disease, anthrax, foot-and-mouth disease, rabies, rotavirus, HIV, HPV, diabetes, and sexually transmitted diseases. The purpose of this review is to introduce edible vaccines as a novel oral immunization method, the types and uses of edible vaccines in clinical trials