Mammalian and reptilian species expected and observed in roadside wildlife markets of southwest Nigeria and the implications for conservation

Wildlife provides both consumptive and non-consumptive utilities to human beings around the world. Under wild animal utilization as food and medicine, some wildlife species have been overharvested. Coupled with environmental degradation affecting wildlife species in their habitats, the need to evaluate wildlife populations in Southwest Nigeria is therefore essential. Twenty-three wildlife markets along five highways in Southwest Nigeria were surveyed for two years to determine the pattern of mammalian and reptilian species occurrence; wild animal species assessed were freshly dead and roasted ones. The species named by literatures were tagged Expected while those found in the sales points were referred to as Observed. The names of species found were matched with literatures that established them. Indirect method of species of identification was questionnaire use among stakeholders of wildlife marketing (hunters, traders and farmers) selected through Systematic Random Sampling (Odd Method). This approach firstly identified the wildlife species being sold in the markets and their vernacular (Yoruba) names. These names were linked with literatures that confirmed their scientific names. Results revealed that twelve mammalian and three reptilian species were absent in all road markets. Implication of results is that mammals and reptiles which were absent in all market Roads are those whose populations have reduced in the wild. Recommendations for Government sensitisation on animals absent in the Sales Points about hunting pressure reduction through print and electronic media were first made. Conservation education among forest exploitation professionals, campaign against forest degradation and establishment of more forest reserves and National parks by Nigerian Government were made too

Inventory of parasitic plants (mistletoes) host range in forest and plantation community of Humid Forest Research Station Umuahia, Nigeria

The host range assessment was investigated in Humid Forest Research Station Umuahia between the year 2019 and 2020 with the view of documenting the host range species in the station premises. The visual method of counting was adopted in this study. Both angiosperm and gymnosperm tree species were examined. Out of 21 families that were investigated, 14 families were infected with parasitic plants. The remaining 7 families were found not being harbored mistletoes. These were Moraceae, Sapotaceae, Ebenaceae, Clusiaceae, Steculiaceae, Bombacaceae and Cupressaceae. At generic levels, 20 genera belonging to 25 tree species were infected with parasitic plants. The total number of individual trees harboring mistletoes were 84, out of which Tectona grandis took 28.56 %. The identified mistletoes species during the study were Agelanthus pungu, Phragmenthera incana and Phragmenthra capitata. They were parasitized 29.2%, 12.5% and 58.3% of infected tree species respectively. The study actually highlighted the host range species among gymnosperm and angiosperm tree species in the forest and plantation community of the study locality