Impact of threats on avifaunal communities in diversely urbanized landscapes of the Bengaluru city, south India

Identification of threats contributing to occurrence and range distribution of avifaunal communities is poorly known in diversely urbanized landscapes of the Bengaluru city, south India. For the first time, we investigated the disturbance scores along the low (LDS) to high disturbance sites (HDS) with respect to various parameters, i.e. canopy cover, vegetation structure and its composition. We examined their habitat associations and the potential effects on them corresponding to various threats including human development pressure and other habitat suitability indices in urban landscapes of the Bengaluru region. HDS with a lower number of bird species harbour more threat scores than the LDS with the highest number of bird species. Habitat alteration, practice of monoculture plantations, improper waste management and grass cutting were more commonly observed threats in landscapes of the Bengaluru region. The maximum number of perching plant species was characteristic of low disturbance sites with a greater fraction of moist deciduous species. Canopy coverage of plants/trees and the structure of canopy cover were the highest in LDS with the highest strata of the vegetation cover. Human development pressure was the highest in HDS. Management further includes several approaches for the maintenance of urban landscapes for avian communities to minimize bird problems and promote management options that favour bird diversity. © 2017 Nature Research Centre

Community Composition of Aquatic Birds in Lakes of Bangalore, India

Observations were made on the occurrence, abundance, richness, and diversity of waterbirds in 15 major lakes in Bangalore city during 2008 - 2009. During the study period 35 species of aquatic birds were recorded. The number of aquatic bird species recorded at various lakes ranged from 23 to 35. The percent abundance of waterbirds recorded in the study lakes ranged from 2.46 to 21.49 and it was significantly different (p<0.05). The diversity and species evenness of waterbirds in the lakes ranged from 2.07 to 3.16 and 0.32 to 0.76, respectively. There was a significant difference (p0.05). There was a variation in number of waterbird species recorded during summer, monsoon and winter seasons. Of the 35 waterbird species, Bubulcus ibis showed cent percent frequency, whereas less frequently (4.44%) observed species was Anas platyrhynchos. Among various waterbird species, Bubulcus ibis, Fulica atra, Tringa hypoleucos, Motacilla maderaspatensis, Phalacrocorax niger, Egretta garzetta, Charadrius dubius, Ardeola grayji, Halcyon smyrnensis and Motacilla alba were frequently encountered in most of the study lakes

Additions to the Birds of Bangalore University Campus (BUC) , India

The present study was designed to note the birds occurring in the microhabitats of Bangalore University Campus, India. Birds were monitored and surveyed using line transect methods that were laid in different spots of the campus. Twenty-eight species were newly added to this campus premises, out of which 20 are waterbirds. Conservation methods needed for habitat improvement through restoration of ponds and water check-dams including vegetation

Temporal and spatial avian community composition in urban landscapes of the Bengaluru region, India

A study was undertaken to know the abundance, diversity and species richness of bird communities in urban landscapes of Bengaluru region, India. One hundred and eighteen species of birds belonging to 43 families under 78 genera was documented. Of them, Gyps indicus, Neophron percnopterus and Parus nuchalis were critically endangered, endangered, and vulnerable species. Among 19 landscapes, the mean population density (number of birds seen/km2) was highest at Bannerghatta National Park and lowest at Kempegowda Bus Station. Species diversity, species evenness and richness of bird communities were significantly different between landscapes. Seasonal occurrence of bird species was not significantly different. The mean population density of birds was positively correlated with tree density and negatively correlated with canopy coverage, human population density and buildings

Abundance of Indian Grey Mongoose Herpestes Edwardsii (É. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1818) (Carnivora: Herpestidae) in the Bengaluru Region

Indian Grey Mongoose, Herpestes edwardsii is common throughout the Indian subcontinent. To investigate the abundance of this species, a study was conducted in different urban locations of the Bengaluru, Karnataka State of South India. A significant difference was found among the relative percentage abundance of mongooses in various study locations. The highest abundance of mongoose was recorded from prohibited places, mostly in the rural and suburban regions, and the least in the urban region depending upon the availability of food and protected shelter in the reed beds and thickets of aquatic vegetation, particularly during the breeding season. They usually breed on the ground and need shelter from direct sunrays as well as potential predators during this period. This mongoose species also prefers shelter in the reed beds and thickets of aquatic vegetation and the suburban and rural region for diurnal activities

Eco-Spatial and Temporal Variation in Waterbirds Composition and their Relationship with Habitat Characteristics of Urban Lakes of Bengaluru City, India

Eco - spatial and temporal variation in the occurrence, abundance, density, diversity and community composition of aquatic birds in relation to the characteristics of lakes was studied from February 2008 to January 2010 in Bengaluru city. The species diversity, evenness, and richness of waterbird species were varied among different lakes. Also, the indices of various waterbird popul ations at different lakes between two years were significantly different (paired Student’s t - test at P0.05). The decrease in an anthropogenic disturbances and an increasing water depth of lakes show positive impact on the aquatic avian density in the urban lakes. The present study clearly brought out the need for preparing and implementing the specif ic conservation plans for urban lake ecosystem

Impact of Urban Threats and Disturbance on the Survival of Waterbird Communities in Wetlands of Bengaluru City, India

Threats to waterbird communities on urban wetlands in the Bengaluru city, South India are poorly known. We calculated disturbance scores for 15 lakes along a gradient from low (LDL) to high (HDL) disturbance levels based on vegetation structure and composition. HDL had the highest threat scores and the lowest number of waterbird species whereas LDL supported the highest number of species. Human activities included commercial fishing and aquaculture, and shoreline development leading to habitat fragmentation and degradation. We discuss strategies for the conservation of urban wetlands and the preservation of waterbird diversity

Study of acute phase reactants in children with sepsis, with special reference to C-reactive protein and procalcitonin

Background: Several inflammatory markers have failed to meet the requirements for an early diagnosis of sepsis in children. Studyresults and trends show that measurement of the combination of biochemical markers offers the best prospects for research on earlydiagnosis of sepsis. Objectives: To evaluate the serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) as markers of earlysepsis in pediatric patients. Methods: All the hospitalized children aged more than 28 days with clinically suspected sepsis, as per thedefinition given by International Pediatric Sepsis Consensus Conference, were selected. The patients were divided into two groups; onewith culture proven sepsis and the other with culture negative sepsis. CRP and PCT levels were measured at the time of admission and48 h after admission. Results: A 40 patients were studied, out of that 15 had culture positive and 25 had culture negative sepsis. Themean PCT level was significantly higher at admission than at 48 h after admission, and the mean CRP level was significantly lower atadmission than at 48 h after admission indicating PCT as early marker of sepsis. Conclusion: CRP and PCT levels have favorable testperformance in differentiating between culture positive and culture negative sepsis. PCT is earlier to rise compared to CRP and PCT isbest in predicting the severity followed by CRP

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