Effects of two management systems on the growth performance of juvenile African giant land snails (Archachatina marginata)

The study of the effects of two management systems on the Growth Performance of juvenile African Giant Land Snails (Archachatina marginata) was carried out in the wildlife domestication unit of the Department of Forest Resources and Wildlife Management, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. One hundred and twenty (120) African giant land snails (Archachatina marginata) of average body weight 36.35g ± 0.32g were used for the study. Sixty (60) snails were raised in an intensive system of management while sixty (60) snails were raised in an extensive system of management. Each of the system of management served as the treatment and each treatment was replicated three (3) times with twenty (20) snails per replicate and sixty (60) snails per treatment in a Completely Randomize Design. Results showed that there was a significant difference at (p<0.05) in the weight gain of the Archachatina marginata of the two management systems. The intensive management system had a higher weight gain of 136.53g with mean value of 5.25 while the extensive management system had a weight gain of 106.53g with mean value of 4.10. There was also a significant difference at (p<0.05) in the shell length increment and shell width increment of the Archachatina marginata of the two management systems. The snails in the extensive management system had a higher shell length increment of 9.94cm with mean value of 0.38 while the snails in the intensive management system had a shell length increment of 8.02cm with mean value of 0.31. The snails in the extensive management system had a higher shell width increment of 10.46cm with mean value of 0.40 while the snails in the intensive management system had a shell width increment of 9.02cm with mean value of 0.35. The Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) of the snails in the intensive system of management was 1.99. It was concluded that formulated feed used in feeding the snails in the intensive system of management contributed to the higher weight gain.Keywords: Juvenile, Archachatina marginata, intensive system, extensive system, weight gai

Determinants of Knowledge and Use of Information Communication Technology at Eco-destinations in Old Oyo National Park, Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort and Lacampagne Tropicana in Nigeria

Information Communication Technology has become significant to the development and growth of modern tourism. This study aimed to examine the knowledge and use of information and communication at Old Oyo National Park, Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort and Lacampagne Tropicana by using structured questionnaire directed at fifty percent of the total members of staff at the sites. Data indicated that majority of the staff at Old Oyo National Park (82.9%), Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort (95%) and Lacampagne Tropicana (88.9%) were knowledgeable about the use of information and communication technology especially the use of internet and social media. The staff were also a little competent with the use of Information and Communication Technology at Old Oyo National Park (45.7%), Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort (50%) and Lacampagne Tropicana staff (44.4%). Furthermore, the socio-demographic characteristics of the staff has a significant relationship with their knowledge on the existence of Information Communication Technology at the sites. The management need to organize proper trainings for the staff on the use of Information and Communication Technology so as to improve satisfaction of tourists

Evaluation of Proximate Composition and Mineral Contents of Selected Locally Produced Beverages in Southwest Nigeria

The study evaluates the proximate composition and mineral contents of selected locally produced beverages in southwest Nigeria.Four locally produced beverages namely; Tigernuts, Kunu Zobo, and Coconut milk drinks were prepared and subjected to laboratory analysis for their nutritional and mineral contents using the standard method. The result showed that the four beverages are rich in moisture content and contained other nutrients to varying degrees. The study also discovered that the mineral content of the drinkis also appreciably high which makes them better alternatives to carbonated soft drinks that have been widely attributed to many health challenges. The study however discovered a wide variation in terms of the nutritional and mineral contents of the drinks as indicated by the results of the analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests with a p-value less than 5% level (p < 0.05). It is believed that moderate consumption of these local drinks by people of different categories and especially tourists will no doubt contribute to the overall health and welfare of the populace. Furthermore, it is also believed that the production and distribution of these local beverages can engender economic prosperity, especially for the unemployed. These local drinks could provide many benefits, especially in developing countries by playing important roles in ensuring food security, enhancing livelihoods, improvement of nutritional status and social well-being of the vulnerable groups

Seasonal variation in plants consumption pattern by foraging Olive Baboons ( Papio anubis . Lesson, 1827) inside Kainji Lake National Park, Nigeria

This study which lasted for eight (8) months in 2011, covering the period of dry and wet seasons examined seasonal plant species consumed by foraging Olive baboon ( Papio anubis ) inside Kainji Lake National Park, Nigeria. Data were collected in the morning between 8.00am - 12.00pm and in the evening between 2.00pm - 6:00pm. Plant species and their parts eaten were monitored and identified through direct observation and faecal analysis. It was observed that seven plants species ( Andropogon gayanus , Strychnos spinosa , Nuclear latifiora, Vitelaria paradoxa , Ficus sycomorus , Annona senegalensis and Tamarindus indica ) were consumed in the wet season with 303 feeding events while ten plants species ( Detarium macrocarpum , Gardenia sotoemsis, Parkia biglobosa , Piliostigma thonningii , Pterocarpus erinaceus , Prosopis africana , Ficus sycomorus , Xamenia americana, Annona senegalensis and Vitex doniana) were consumed during the dry season with 315 feeding events. The feeding pattern shows that plants with higher nutritional quality were often consumed. Seasonal variation showed slight disparity in the nutrient composition of the identified plants. It was concluded that seasonal variations do affect the plants consumption pattern of foraging Olive baboon and that exsitu conservation of these plants is imperative for sustainable captive management of Olive baboon

Population status and habitat preferences of common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) in Kainji Lake National Park, Niger State Nigeria

This study assessed the population status and habitat preference of common Warthog in Kainji Lake National Park using direct sighting and line transect method using the existing jeep tracks. Data were analysed using the Paleontological Statistics Software (PAST) for scientific data analysis. Population estimates for the common warthog across various habitats were compared using one-way ANOVA and t- test for wet and dry seasons. A total number of 318 individuals were recorded in both seasons in the study area. Wet season recorded 244 individuals while dry season recorded 74 individuals. The findings also showed that the mean population estimates of the warthog were 175.17 ± 58.18 and 106.25 ± 17.23. The mean age structure and sex ratio of the observed warthog population during dry and wet seasons in the study area showed that juveniles had the highest mean of 18.50 ± 1.04 during the wet season and adult females and juveniles had the highest mean of 5.25 ± 1.25 respectively during the dry season. The seasonal distribution and habitat preference of common warthog showed that during the wet season, the species were commonly sighted in Terminalia macroptera tree savannah as 76 individuals was recorded during the study period and During the dry season, Oli complex habitat had the highest observation with 23 individuals. The study recommends that more aspect of the ecology of the animal should be studied in details and emphasis should be placed on the habitat requirements.Keywords: Population status, Habitat Preference, Warthog, Kainji Lake National Par

Conservation Status and Habitat Preferences of Common Warthog (Phacochoerus Africanus) in Old Oyo National Park, Nigeria

This study assessed the conservation status and habitat preference of Common warthog in Old Oyo National Park, Nigeria using direct sighting and line transect method. The abundance estimate and encounter rate of common Warthog in the study area from 2018-2019 showed that year 2018 recorded 213 individuals at an encounter rate of 0.38/km while year 2019 recorded 184 individuals at an encounter rate of 0.32/km while the mean abundance estimate of common Warthog are 4.65±0.64 and 1.71±0.48 which represents 156 and 58 individuals at encounter rate of 0.55/km and 0.20/km in the wet season and dry season of year 2018 compared to year 2019 with average abundance estimate value of 4.00±0.85 and 1.41±0.61 which represents 135 and 48 individuals at an encounter rate of 0.47/km and 0.17/km for wet and dry season respectively. The mean age structure and sex ratio of the observed warthog population during dry and wet seasons revealed that juveniles had highest mean of age structures among the populations observed across the seasons. The habitat preference of common warthog revealed that they are mostly found in mixed woodland and open savanna with 112 observation and the lowest was recorded in the outcrop vegetation and open savanna with 21 individuals.in the wet season. During the dry season, mixed woodland/open savanna and Riparian grassland had the highest sightings of 45 and 33 individuals each. The outcrop vegetation/open savanna had the lowest observation of 1 individuals only. The study also recommends that more aspect of the ecology of the animal should be studied in details and emphasis should be placed on the habitat requirements. Keywords: Conservation, Estimate, Status, Wartho

Genetic studies in the nigerian population implicate an MSX1 mutation in complex oral facial clefting disorders

BACKGROUND: Orofacial clefts are the most common malformations of the head and neck with a World-wide prevalence of 1/700 births. They are commonly divided into CL(P) and CP based on anatomical, genetic and embryological findings. A Nigerian craniofacial anomalies study “NigeriaCRAN” was set up in 2006 to investigate the role of gene-environment interaction in the etiology of orofacial clefts in Nigeria. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: DNA isolated from saliva from the Nigerian probands was used for genotype association studies and direct sequencing on the cleft candidate genes: MSX1, IRF6, FOXE1, FGFR1, FGFR2, BMP4, MAFB, ABCA4, PAX7 and VAX1, and the chromosome 8q region. RESULTS: A missense mutation A34G in MSX1 was observed in nine cases and four hap map controls. No other apparent etiologic variations were identified. A deviation from HWE was observed in the cases (p= 0.00002). There was a significant difference between the affected side for unilateral CL (p=0.03) and, between bilateral clefts and clefts on either side (p=0.02). A significant gender difference was also observed for CP (p=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: The replication of a mutation previously implicated in other populations suggests a role for the MSX1 A34G variant in the etiology of CL(P)

A multi-layer functional genomic analysis to understand noncoding genetic variation in lipids

A major challenge of genome-wide association studies (GWASs) is to translate phenotypic associations into biological insights. Here, we integrate a large GWAS on blood lipids involving 1.6 million individuals from five ancestries with a wide array of functional genomic datasets to discover regulatory mechanisms underlying lipid associations. We first prioritize lipid-associated genes with expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) colocalizations and then add chromatin interaction data to narrow the search for functional genes. Polygenic enrichment analysis across 697 annotations from a host of tissues and cell types confirms the central role of the liver in lipid levels and highlights the selective enrichment of adipose-specific chromatin marks in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides. Overlapping transcription factor (TF) binding sites with lipid-associated loci identifies TFs relevant in lipid biology. In addition, we present an integrative framework to prioritize causal variants at GWAS loci, producing a comprehensive list of candidate causal genes and variants with multiple layers of functional evidence. We highlight two of the prioritized genes, CREBRF and RRBP1, which show convergent evidence across functional datasets supporting their roles in lipid biology. © 2022 American Society of Human Genetic