Contribution of Physico-Chemical Parameters of Water Bodies To Taxonomy, Distribution And Diversity Of Phytoplankton Within Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria.

The physico-chemical parameters in Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) stream, Government Technical College (GTC) stream and  school of agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) dam, Mando  in Kaduna State, Nigeria were studied for a period of six months (November 2012 to April 2013) using standard sampling methods. The research is aimed at assessing the physico-chemical parameters of some micro environments within Kaduna metropolis. Temperature, transparency and pH were recorded in-situ. Dissolved oxygen (DO), Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), Total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), phosphate and nitrate. The study showed remarkable variations of physico – chemical parameters and significant difference in the sampling sites (p < 0.05). The values obtained fell within permissible range for domestic and pisciculture. Keywords: Physico-chemical parameters, water bodies, Kaduna, Nigeria

Taxonomy, Distribution and Diversity of Phytoplankton in Some Water Bodies in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria

Three different river microenvironments were analysed over a period of six months for phytoplankton communities and underlying water parameters. Running water, alluvial based, agriculturally impacted sample station (NDA - Nigerian Defence Academy stream, Afaka ),  running water, rocky based, domestic activity impacted station (GTC - Government Technical College stream, Malali) and an impounded lake, veterinary impacted station (ABU - school of agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University  dam, Mando) in Kaduna were studied with the aim of identifying, classifying and exploring the diversity and distribution of the algal species in the study areas. The result showed that station NDA had the highest value of species richness making up 38.24% (65 species) of overall observed species in the studied areas. Station GTC recorded 43 species making up to 25.29% and Station ABU contained 36.47% of the sample with 62 species. A total of 170 species of phytoplankton in general and seven taxonomic groups were collected. Of this total, the Chlorophyta had the highest number of species (90 species), followed by Bacillariophyta with 46 species and are showed in this order: Chlorophyta > Bacillariophyta > Cyanophyta > Euglenophyta > Rhodophyta > Dinophyta & Chrysophyta. There were remarkable variations of physico – chemical parameters and significant difference in the sampling sites (p < 0.05). Keywords: Phytoplankton, Communities, Aquatic Environments, Kaduna, Nigeria

Contribution of Physico-Chemical Parameters of Water Bodies to Taxonomy, Distribution and Diversity of Phytoplankton within Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria

The physico-chemical parameters in Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) stream, Government Technical College (GTC) stream and  school of agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) dam, Mando  in Kaduna State, Nigeria were studied for a period of six months (November 2012 to April 2013) using standard sampling methods. The research is aimed at assessing the physico-chemical parameters of some micro environments within Kaduna metropolis. Temperature, transparency and pH were recorded in-situ. Dissolved oxygen (DO), Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), Total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), phosphate and nitrate. The study showed remarkable variations of physico – chemical parameters and significant difference in the sampling sites (p < 0.05). The values obtained fell within permissible range for domestic and pisciculture. Keywords: Physico-chemical parameters, water bodies, Kaduna, Nigeria

Taxonomy, Distribution and Diversity of Phytoplankton in Some Water Bodies in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria

Three different river microenvironments were analysed over a period of six months for phytoplankton communities and underlying water parameters. Running water, alluvial based, agriculturally impacted sample station (NDA - Nigerian Defence Academy stream, Afaka ),  running water, rocky based, domestic activity impacted station (GTC - Government Technical College stream, Malali) and an impounded lake, veterinary impacted station (ABU - school of agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University  dam, Mando) in Kaduna were studied with the aim of identifying, classifying and exploring the diversity and distribution of the algal species in the study areas. The result showed that station NDA had the highest value of species richness making up 38.24% (65 species) of overall observed species in the studied areas. Station GTC recorded 43 species making up to 25.29% and Station ABU contained 36.47% of the sample with 62 species. A total of 170 species of phytoplankton in general and seven taxonomic groups were collected. Of this total, the Chlorophyta had the highest number of species (90 species), followed by Bacillariophyta with 46 species and are showed in this order: Chlorophyta > Bacillariophyta > Cyanophyta > Euglenophyta > Rhodophyta > Dinophyta & Chrysophyta. There were remarkable variations of physico – chemical parameters and significant difference in the sampling sites (p < 0.05). Keywords: Phytoplankton, Communities, Aquatic Environments, Kaduna, Nigeria

Ethanol production from lignocellulosic materials by fermentation process using yeast

Rapid industrialization and growing population result to high demand for energy. Depletion and rise in price of petroleum as well as environmental pollution necessitates the need for alternative source of fuel, hence bioethanol production. Rice bran (Oryza sativa), Corn bran (Zea mays) and Sorghum bran (Sorghum guinense) and saw dusts of Khaya senegalensis (Red wood), Terminalia superba (Black wood), Gmelina arborea (White wood), were used for the study. The yeasts used for the study were isolated from fermented beverages (Sorghum beer, Millet beverage and Palm wine). The results of the lignocellulosic biomass of white saw dust, red saw dust, black saw dust, rice bran, corn bran and sorghum bran revealed cellulose components as 77.78%, 75.55%, 68.59%, 64.83%, 54.82% and 55.14% respectively. A total of 25 yeasts were isolates and identified using API 20C AUX strip. The yeast isolates, K2, B5, B7 and P1 had the highest ethanol tolerance value of 14%. The results showed that the ethanol-producing ability of the yeast isolates ranged from 4.1% to 10.3%. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR) and Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses showed that ethanol is the main compound produced by yeasts from the lignocellulosic materials. This study revealed that Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolated from palm wine (P1) is best in ethanol production and tolerance, and this high prolific strain can be exploited or engineered for ethanol production. Therefore, Lignocellulosic biomasses are recommended as raw materials for producing ethanol, which is a promising alternative energy source as against the depleting petroleum.Keywords: Ethanol, Lignocellulose, Yeasts, Beverages and Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Effects of Different Substrates and Temperature on the Growth and Yield of Oyster Mushroom (Lentinus sajor-caju Fr.)

The study evaluated the effects of three saw dust substrates on the growth and yield of Lentinus sajor-caju at the pathology laboratory of Forestry Research Institute of  Nigeria (FRIN) under indoor and outdoor temperatures of 28.6ºC and 29.1ºC  respectively.  The saw dust substrate includes; Triplochiton scleroxylon, Gmelina arborea, and Cordia Millenii. Wheat bran and lime (CaCo3) were incorporated to the substrates as supplements.  The mycelial growth was faster at 28.6ºC giving full colonization at 3 weeks in all the substrates, while full colonization was observed in 4 weeks at 29.1ºC. T. scleroxylon substrate recorded best heights at both indoor and outdoor temperatures with 28.1±10.2cm and 14.6±4.40 respectively.  G. arborea substrate gave the highest yield at both outdoor and indoor temperatures with 69.5±30.6 g 53.5±10.8 g respectively. There was no significant difference on the growth and yield of   L. sajor-caju at the two temperature ranges. Based on the results obtained, G. arborea saw dust was the most suitable substrate and could be recommended for the cultivation of Lentinus sajor-caju

Using novel methods to track British and Irish Ice Sheet dynamics since the Late Pleistocene, along the west Porcupine Bank, NE Atlantic

Extensive research has been undertaken to elucidate the glacial history of the British Irish Ice Sheet (BIIS) in the NE Atlantic. BRITICE-CHRONO has compiled terrestrial and marine based evidence, to provide an empirical reconstruction of ice sheet expansion and retreat during the Late Pleistocene. Across the Irish margin, particular focus has been given to seafloor sediments which contain ice-rafted debris (IRD). However, there are few publications on IRD from areas proximal to the maximum extent of the BIIS, which would offer further insights on the behaviour of the ice sheet during (de)glacial events. Previous exploratory surveys of the west Porcupine Bank (wPB) visually identified IRD on the seafloor and these present a new study site to investigate the extent of the BIIS and the course of its icebergs. Moreover, there are uncertainties about the effects of icebergs on the marine life and cold-water corals occupying the nearby Porcupine Bank Canyon. Assessing a sediment core containing an IRD analogue for the wPB would thus, have a dual purpose. In the past however, coring missions of the wPB using traditional coring methods (i.e. piston and gravity cores) were unsuccessful. Here, we utilized a novel ROV-mounted vibrocoring procedure to capture a 0.75 m IRD-bearing sediment core from the wPB. Then further novel analytical methods (computed tomography-based IRD-detection) were used to quantify IRD every 0.02 cm to provide the highest resolution record of BIIS related IRD to date. From this, several fluxes of IRD deposition onto the wPB between 31.6 and 9 ka BP were revealed and corroborated by other published records from across the NE Atlantic. It was shown that the wPB IRD fluxes occur simultaneously with other parts of the margin. The IRD signal also shows that iceberg calving occurred on the wPB during the Younger Dryas. Grain-size analysis of the core allowed for a reconstruction and interpretation of the palaeoenvironmental conditions during these IRD flux events and shows that BIIS-derived glaciers had a major impact on hydrodynamic conditions in the wPB. Subsequently, intensive scouring led to a major hiatus in the core during 27.3â 17.2 ka BP. These results are a useful addition to BIIS literature on this part of the shelf. Furthermore, it shows that bottom currents were influenced by (de)glacial events, an important finding when considering the presence of nearby current-dependant benthos

Environmental forcing by submarine canyons: Evidence between two closely situated cold-water coral mounds (Porcupine Bank Canyon and Western Porcupine Bank, NE Atlantic)

Within the Porcupine Bank Canyon (NE Atlantic), cold-water coral (CWC) mounds are mostly found clustered along the canyon lip, with individual disconnected mounds occurring nearby on the western Porcupine Bank. Remotely operated vehicle-mounted vibrocoring was utilized to acquire cores from both of these sites. This study is the first to employ this novel method when aiming to precisely sample two closely situated areas. Radiometric ages constrain the records from the early to mid-Holocene (9.1 to 5.6 ka BP). The cores were then subjected to 3D segmented computer tomography to capture mound formation stages. The cores were then further examined using stable isotopes and benthic foraminiferal assemblages, to constrain the paleoenvironmental variation that influenced CWC mound formation of each site. In total, mound aggradation rate in the Porcupine Bank Canyon and western Porcupine Bank was comparable to other Holocene CWC mounds situated off western Ireland. Results derived from multiproxy analysis, show that regional climatic shifts define the environmental conditions that allow positive coral mound formation. In addition, the aggradation rate of coral mounds is higher adjacent to the Porcupine Bank Canyon than on the western Porcupine Bank. Benthic foraminifera assemblages and planktic foraminiferal δ13C reveal that higher quality organic matter is more readily available closer to the canyon lip. As such, we hypothesize that coral mound formation in the region is likely controlled by an interplay between enhanced shelf currents and the existence of the Eastern North Atlantic Water-Mediterranean Outflow Water-Transition Zone. The geomorphology of the canyon promotes upwelling of these water masses that are enriched in particles, including food and sediment supply. The higher availability of these particles support the development and succession of ecological hotspots along the canyon lip and adjacent areas of the seafloor. These observations provide a glimpse into the role that submarine canyons play in influencing macro and micro benthic fauna distributions and highlights the importance of their conservation

Environmental forcing by submarine canyons: evidence between two closely situated cold-water coral mounds (Porcupine Bank Canyon and Western Porcupine Bank, NE Atlantic)

Within the Porcupine Bank Canyon (NE Atlantic), cold-water coral (CWC) mounds are mostly found clustered along the canyon lip, with individual disconnected mounds occurring nearby on the western Porcupine Bank. Remotely operated vehicle-mounted vibrocoring was utilized to acquire cores from both of these sites. This study is the first to employ this novel method when aiming to precisely sample two closely situated areas. Radiometric ages constrain the records from the early to mid-Holocene (9.1 to 5.6 ka BP). The cores were then subjected to 3D segmented computer tomography to capture mound formation stages. The cores were then further examined using stable isotopes and benthic foraminiferal assemblages, to constrain the paleoenvironmental variation that influenced CWC mound formation of each site. In total, mound aggradation rate in the Porcupine Bank Canyon and western Porcupine Bank was comparable to other Holocene CWC mounds situated off western Ireland. Results derived from multiproxy analysis, show that regional climatic shifts define the environmental conditions that allow positive coral mound formation. In addition, the aggradation rate of coral mounds is higher adjacent to the Porcupine Bank Canyon than on the western Porcupine Bank. Benthic foraminifera assemblages and planktic foraminiferal d13C reveal that higher quality organic matter is more readily available closer to the canyon lip. As such, we hypothesize that coral mound formation in the region is likely controlled by an interplay between enhanced shelf currents and the existence of the Eastern North Atlantic Water-Mediterranean Outflow Water-Transition Zone. The geomorphology of the canyon promotes upwelling of these water masses that are enriched in particles, including food and sediment supply. The higher availability of these particles support the development and succession of ecological hotspots along the canyon lip and adjacent areas of the seafloor. These observations provide a glimpse into the role that submarine canyons play in influencing macro and micro benthic fauna distributions and highlights the importance of their conservation