The Effect of Detergent Effluent on the Physico-Chemical Characteristics and Plankton Diversity of Osere Stream, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

The physico-chemical properties and plankton diversity were studied in Osere stream, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria from November 2009 to April 2010. Surface water and plankton samples were collected from three sampling stations. High value of Biochemical Oxygen Demand of 8.68mg/L and low value of Dissolved Oxygen of 1.23mg/L at the point of entry than at the upper flow of the stream indicate pollution stress. Also the presence of high abundance of Anabaena and Oscillatoria sp. which are pollution indicator species shows the negative effect the effluent from the detergent factory has on the stream, thus posing a potential threat to the people who live around and depend on the stream for daily use, hence the need for proper management of the stream. © JASE

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. © JASE

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, UruanL.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. © JASEM KEY WORDS: Small mammals, Abundance, Anthropogenic activities, Conservatio

Water Quality and Macroinvertebrates Assessment of Eniong Creek, Akwa Ibom State, Niger Delta, Nigeria

The water quality and macroinvertebrates from the downstream section of Eniong Creek were studied for six months, between August 2022 and January 2023 in three sampling stations/ points; to evaluate the ecological integrity and its suitability for habitation of aquatic organisms. Water samples were collected using sterilized plastic bottles and 250 mL reagent bottles for biochemical oxygen demand, and analyzed in accordance with the standard examination methods. Water temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), transparency (TP), total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), and pH were measured in situ while water samples were collected for determination of phosphate (PO4-), nitrate (NO3-), sulphate (SO4-), total suspended solids (TSS), and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) in the laboratory. Macroinvertebrates samples were collected using the modified kick sampling technique, and identified using standard keys. The results showed that mean values for pH, DO, BOD5 in stations I, II, and PO4-, TSS in all the stations were deviated from the permissible limits. Three phyla, comprising of six classes of macroinvertebrates were recorded. Phylum Mollusca constituted the highest percentage composition (221 individuals, 87.0 %), while Annelida was the lowest (16 individuals, 6.3 %). Maximum species (115, 45.3 %) was obtained in point III while minimum (62, 24.4 %) was in point II. The study reveals that the economic activities couples with climate changes and seasonal factor influenced the concentrations of certain water parameters and macroinvertebrates assemblages. Thus, the creek should be protected by regulating the level of economic activities within the watershed, in order to improve water quality, maintaining the ecological integrity, and socio-economic services they provide

Biochemical Characterization of Cassava Processing Waste Water and its Effect on the Growth of Maize Seedlings

The effect of cassava processing wastewater from four hybrid varieties of cassava (TMS 92/0057, NR 8082, TMS 92/0326 and TMS 30572), on the germination and early seedling growth of maize was studied in the laboratory. The physicochemical properties of the effluents and elements were analyzed using standard methods. The wastewater from these cassava varieties were highly acidic 4.0, 4.0, 4.10 and 4.20 in contrast to WHO allowable limit of 6.5-8.5 had a low BOD ranging from 1.6 – 2.45, while their HCN ranged from 12.96 – 16.86 mg/lwhich was observed to be very high as against FAO/WHO admissible maximum limit of less than 10mg/kg. The germination percentage, growth parameters and biomass were significantly (P= 0.05) reduced with increase in the acidic level of the effluents. Higher concentrations of the wastewater were inhibitory to the germination and early seedling growth of maize. The waste water from the four hybrid varieties of cassava increased the level of trace metal elements in Zea mays. Hybrid TMS 92/0326 was less toxic and is recommended to farmers. This study suggests that higher concentrations of cassava processing effluent could be detrimental to the germination and early seedling growth of Zea mays.Keywords: Biochemical, Characterization, Cassava. Wastewater, Maiz

The abundance and composition of crabs (Decapoda) in Uta Ewa brackish water, Akwa Ibom State, South-South, Nigeria

Study on the abundance and composition of crabs in Uta Ewa brackish water was carried out between January and May 2012 at two sampling stations. The physicochemical parameters of the water were measured in situ using standard methods according to APHA (1998). Crabs species were collected at two sampling stations using square lift net trap, while at low tide, crab species were collected by hand-picking at random and preserved in a chest box for identification. Air and Water temperature ranges from 27.9-31.6 oC and 28.2-28.9 oC respectively, while Dissolved Oxygen and Salinity were between 3.28-4.09 mg/L and 7.5-12.9 ppt respectively. The results of the physicochemical parameters were within limits of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agencies for aquatic life. A total of 107 crabs were collected from the two sampling stations. Goniopsis pelii was the most abundant in Station 1 accounting for 57.9%, followed by Callinectes amnicola 26.3%, while in Station 2, Callinectes amnicola was the most abundant accounting for 46.6% of the percentage abundance. Station 2 had the highest Shannon diversity index of 1.22, while Station 1 had 1.15. The  abundance and composition of crab species in the study areas is an indication that the area is an important ecological zone for benthos macroinvertebrates  conservation. Keywords: Uta Ewa, Brackish Water, Physicochemical Parameters, Abundance, Composition, Crab species

Analysis of accidents caused by human factors in the oil and gas industry using the HFACS-OGI framework

Background: Human factors have been identified as the most common causes of catastrophic accidents in the oil and gas industry. Therefore, this study aims to analyze human causal factors of accidents in the oil and gas industry using the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System for the Oil and Gas Industry (HFACS-OGI) framework. Methods: This study involved a quantitative data collection of 184 accident cases in the oil and gas industry that occurred from 2013 to 2017 from the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP) database. The causal factors of these accidents were coded using the HFACS-OGI framework. Accident data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and χ2 test. Results: Study findings reveal that 23% of all accidents was recorded in 2013. 32% of accidents occurred in Asia, while 69% of accidents were recorded in onshore locations. Contractors were involved in 86% of accidents, while 28% of accidents occurred during drilling, workover and well services. Contractor’s work environment was the main human factor in 90% of accident cases. Conclusion: The HFACS-OGI framework proves to be a vital tool for robust accident analysis of human factors in the oil and gas industry

Human factors analysis and classification system for the oil and gas industry (HFACS-OGI)

The oil and gas industry has been beset with several catastrophic accidents, most of which have been attributed to organisational and operational human factor errors. The current HFACS developed for the aviation industry, cannot be used to simultaneously analyse regulatory deficiencies and emerging violation issues, such as sabotage in the oil and gas industry. This paper presents an attempt to improve the existing HFACS investigation tool and proposes a novel HFACS named the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System for the Oil and Gas Industry (HFACS-OGI). Results found the HFACS-OGI system to be suitable for categorising accidents, following the analysis of 11 accident reports from the US Chemical Safety Board (US CSB). The HFACS-OGI system moreover revealed some significant relationships between the different categories. Furthermore, the results indicated that failures in national and international industry regulatory standards would automatically create the preconditions for accidents to occur

Macroinvertebrates Assemblage Study: An attempt to Assess the Impact of Water Quality on Qua Iboe River Estuary, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This study was conducted to access the water quality of Qua River Estuary, Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria by collecting water samples and macroinvertebrates using standard sampling procedures and analytical methods. The mean values of physicochemical parameters assessed in water samples gave the following ranges: DO (2.38 – 4.63 mg/l), water temperature (26.13 – 29.18 oC), turbidity (22.56 – 39.24 NTU),TDS (224.8 – 332.51 mg/l), pH (6.3 – 7.5 mg/l), salinity (3.13 – 4.84 ppt),BOD (1.13 – 3.64 mg/l), nitrate (2.45 – 6.72 mg/l), phosphate (2.12 – 5.93 mg/l) and Flow velocity (0.23 – 0.38 ms-1). ANOVA reveals significant variation in some parameters. A total of 308 individual species, comprising of three phyla and seven taxonomic groups of macro-invertebrate were identified. Arthropoda constituted the highest percentage composition (75.4%), followed by Mollusca (18.8%), and Annelida (5.8%). The dominant group was Decapoda (35.7%) and the least was Odonata accounted only for 1.9%. Station 5 has the highest number of individual’s species (112), station 3 had the least (43). Chironomus plumosus was the most occurring species, accounted for 19.2%. The result reveals that anthropogenic activities in the water system influence the abundance of aquatic biota; based on the macro-invertebrates identified, it shows that the water quality is moderately polluted owing to human activities

Preliminary study on the composition and abundance of shellfish (Decapoda: Crustacea) in Uta Ewa Estuary, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

The study, Preliminary Study on the Composition and Abundance of Shellfish: Decapoda: Crustacea, in Uta Ewa Estuary was carried out between January and May 2012. The physico-chemical parameters of the water were measured in situ using standard methods according to APHA, AWWA and WEF (1998). Shellfish specimens were sampled monthly. Air- and water-temperature ranged from 27.9 – 31.6 oc and 28.2 – 28.9 oc respectively, while DO, pH and salinity were between 3.28 – 4.09 mg/L, 6.40 – 7.7 ppm and 0.00 – 12.9 ppm respectively. The mean values of the physico-chemical parameters measured were not significant at r = 0.456. Pandalus sp. was the most abundant in station 1 accounting for 50.29 %, followed by Nematopalaemon hastatus which accounted for 29.21 % , while in station 2, N. hastatus was the most abundant, accounting for 39.78 %, followed by Pandalus sp. accounting for 31.40 % of the relative abundance. Panopeus africanus was the least collected shellfish species, it accounted for 0.14 % in station 1 and 0.45 % for station 2. Station 2 had shellfish Shannon diversity of 1.54 while station 1 had 1.31. The physico-chemical parameters showed significant relationship with the abundance of the shellfish species (p<0.05). The results of air- and water-temperature and pH were within limits of stipulated minimum values of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agencies (NESREA) for aquatic life. Uta Ewa estuary is rich with a wide variety of shellfish species of ecological and economical importance; hence the coastal area should be monitored and protected from pollution.Keywords: Shellfish, Decapoda, Uta Ewa estuary, Composition, Abundanc