The checklist and abundances of Small Mammals in Idu, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

A study of the abundances of small mammals was conducted in Idu, Uruan L.G.A of Akwa Ibom State Nigeria from April to December 2013. Indirect and direct methods for the observation of small mammals were employed in the area under study. A total of 36 individuals, consisting of 3 Orders (Rodentia, Carnivora and Pholidota) and 7 families of small mammals were encountered. The most abundant was Thryonomys swinderianus with a percentage of 63.88 followed by Rattus rattus 16.66, Cricetomys gambianus 8.33 while Crossarchus obscurus , Atherurus africanus , Xerus erythropus and Manis tricuspis accounted for 2.77 respectively. The Thryonomys swinderianus had the highest body mass of 3.9kg while, Manis tricuspis has the highest body length of 79.9cm. The abundance and diversity index of small mammal encountered were low and this may be attributed to deforestation, habitat loss, hunting and other anthropogenic activities in the study area. There is therefore a great need for conservation and management practices to protect these vulnerable mammals and their habitats

Evaluation of Arthropod Diversity and Abundance in Contrasting Habitat, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This study was conducted to determine the abundance and diversity of soil arthropods in Anua and Ekpri Nsukara farmland communities, Uyo, Nigeria from September to November, 2012. Soil arthropods were sampled using pitfall trap. A total of 707 Individuals of soil arthropods were encountered during the study period. Of the total number, 203 individuals were encountered in Anua while 504 in Ekpri Nsukara. Hymenoptera were the dominant taxa while the least was Blattodea in the two communities. Higher Shannon diversity index 1.3 was recorded in Anua while lower diversity index 0.86 was recorded in Ekpri Nsukara. Evenness ranged from 0.006 to 0.80 in Ekpri Nsukara and 0.02 to 0.61 in Anua. The lower abundance of soil arthropod in Anua community as compared to Ekpri Nsukara could be attributed to the partially open vegetation which exposes the arthropods to avoidable predators

Aspects of the reproductive biology of Pseudotolithus typus (Bleeker, 1863) from qua Iboe River Estuary, Nigeria

The study was conducted to assess the reproductive biology and condition index of Pseudotolithus typus in Qua Iboe Estuary using standard methods. A total of 580 fish specimen were sampled over a period of 8 months (January – August, 2018). Condition index was generally low with the highest value of 1.03 recorded in the month of April. The overall mean condition index significantly deviated (p<0.05) from the expected value of 1.0. Male-female ratio of the species showed female dominance. Significant variation (p<0.05) were observed in condition and gonadosomatic indices with peak values in the months of March and July for females. Male fish showed no seasonality in gonadosomatic index. The average fecundity ranged from 2140 eggs to 8560 eggs with mean value of 4891±641 eggs. Positive correlation was observed between fecundity and total length, body weight, standard length and gonad weight of the fish. Thus, it could be concluded that P. typus is a dual seasonal spawner having spawning periods early in the year (March) and in the peak of wet season (July). Keywords: Pseudotolithus typus, condition index, gonadosomatic index, fecundity, estuary