Preliminary Evaluation of Storage Behavior of Cola lepidota (K. Schum) Seeds

A preliminary study was conducted to provide information on the behaviour of C. lepidota seeds in storage prior to a proper investigation into different storage temperature regimes, methods and their effect on the viability and subsequent germination of the seed. C. lepidota seeds used in the study were collected from the Swamp Forest Research Station, Onne, Rivers State small plantation. Two storage methods, bare storage and storage in closed container and two temperature regimes, 4º C (refrigeration) and room temperature (30ºC) were applied on the seed. There were a total of eighty-six (86) seeds allocated disproportionately to the treatments in a completely randomized design experimental layout. Data collected were number of decaying seeds and duration of decay (days). Due to non-normality of data after the Shapiro-Wilk test was conducted; the Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA was used for analysis, while Mann-Whitney test was used for pair wise comparison. The results showed that C. lepidota seeds decayed or dried up at an average rate of 1 seed/week when stored bare at room temperature (30ºC); storage in closed container accelerated the rate of seed decay to 6 seeds/week; while refrigeration at 4º C significantly reduced rate of seed decay to 1 seed in 29 weeks. This shows that storage by refrigeration is the best way to keep C. lepidota seeds fresh for a longer duration of time, the worst storage condition is in closed container at room temperature (30ºC), while, storage of the seeds bare at room temperature (30ºC) could only sustain the seeds for a few days. This information will serve as a guide for seed storage and handling when C. lepidota seeds are collected for later propagation or when there is the need to transport the seed a long distance

Wildlife species diversity indices and seasonal distribution assessment in road-side markets of South-west Nigeria

Wildlife species are under serious exploitation by the rural populace in Nigeria because hu­man beings have understood their ecology. The need to update the existing knowledge of wildlife population is therefore essential. Twenty-three games markets along five Roads in South-west Nigeria were visited to document the wildlife displayed for sale. Two hundred and fifty copies of structured questionnaire were administered using systematic random sampling (odd) method for wildlife species information from market stakeholders. Direct method was counting for species and their numbers. Data generated were analysed through Species Diver­sity Indices Assessment. All emergent species were compared with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) abundance rating. Road seasonal distribution of the marketed wildlife was determined by percentages, standard deviation, standard error of mean, mean differences, t-test, and tests of significance and Diversity Indices. Results revealed that 69,398 wild animals were displayed. Also more wildlife were sold during rainy than dry seasons. Appropriate recommendations of government sensitization of rural and urban settlers against over-utilization of wildlife resources, encouragement of the public towards animal domesti­cation and others were made

Changes in Beliefs and Perceptions About the Natural Environment in the Forest-Savanna Transitional Zone of Ghana: The Influence of Religion

The potential of traditional natural resources management for biodiversity conservation and the improvement of sustainable rural livelihoods is no longer in doubt. In sub-Saharan Africa, extensive habitat destruction, degradation, and severe depletion of wildlife, which have seriously reduced biodiversity and undermined the livelihoods of many people in rural communities, have been attributed mainly to the erosion of traditional strategies for natural resources management. In Ghana, recent studies point to an increasing disregard for traditional rules and regulations, beliefs and practices that are associated with natural resources management. Traditional natural resources management in many typically indigenous communities in Ghana derives from changes in the perceptions and attitudes of local people towards tumi, the traditional belief in super natural power suffused in nature by Onyame, the Supreme Creator Deity. However, this is closely entwined with ecological, demographic and economic factors. Whilst these factors have driven the need to over-exploit natural resources, a situation which threatens the sustainability of community forests including sacred groves, religion has been used to justify such actions. This paper explores changes in tumi and the sustainability of sacred groves in the forest-savanna transitional zone in Ghana. It would confirm that changes in traditional animist beliefs, such as tumi, which informs the worldview of local people and underlies traditional natural resources management, is mainly due to the advances made by Christianity and Islam