Waste management and Hooded Vultures on the Legon Campus of the University of Ghana in Accra, Ghana, West Africa

Recent rapid expansion in the human communities of public universities in Ghana has resulted in increased waste generation. The ecological implications of this phenomenon remain unstudied. Counts of Hooded Vultures Necrosyrtes monachus on the Legon Campus of the University of Ghana between June 2005 and February 2006 revealed that a significantly higher number of vultures existed in the residential parts of the campus, relative to the non-residential parts. The number of vultures occurring on the campus was found to be positively correlated with the academic calendar with high numbers of vultures occurring when school was in session, and vice versa. Interviews of a cross section of the university community identified defecation by roosting vultures on the human campus inhabitants as the most pronounced impact. This was reported to occur mainly in the earlymorning or late-afternoon and affected 64% of the inhabitants, with the highest rate of occurrence being at least once a month (44.5%). Baseline data, on which further studies and environmental management plans can be based, are provided.Vulture News Vol. 58 2008: pp. 16-2

The Wildlife Trade In Ghana: A Threat To Biodiversity Conservation

The rich biodiversity of Ghana is currently under threat from anthropogenic influences, including local and international trade in wildlife. Thes study investigated the effect of this trade on biodiversity conservation initiatives in Ghana. The study involved the use of interviews and structured questionnaires administered in four towns in the Eastern and Greater-Accra regions of Ghana. The results indicated that the level of awareness of wildlife laws was high among the exclusively male dealers in the trade. Trapping was the most widely used hunting method, and involved some brutality to the captured animals before they were finally killed. Export permit fees charged by the Wildlife Division were found to be very low and, based on uncertain international market prices, pose potential threats to the national economy and wildlife heritage. It is recommended that a policy framework should be developed to regulate the production and use of killer traps in hunting of wildlife. Export permit fees and penalties for non-adherence to wildlife laws also need to be increased to high levels to serve as a deterrent to the over-harvesting and exportation of wildlife.La biodiversité riche du Ghana est actuellement menacé de l\'influence d\'anthropogénie y compris le commerce local et international d\'animaux sauvages. Cette étude enquêtait l\'effet de ce commerce sur les initiatives de la conservation de biodiversité au Ghana. La methodologie entraînait les interviews et les questionnaires structurés appliqués en quatre villes dans les régions de Eastern et de Greater-Accra du Ghana. Les résultats indiquent que le niveau de sensibilisation de lois d\'animaux sauvages était élevé parmi les négociants exclusivement mâles du commerce. La prise au piège était la méthode de chasse la plus généralement employée, mais ceci entrainait beaucoup de violence pour les animaux capturés avant d\'être finalement tués. Le droit de permis d\'exportation facturé par le département de la faune et la flore est considéré d\'être trop bas et basé sur les prix incertains du marché international, posant une menace potentielle à l\'économie nationale et à l\'héritage de la faune et la flore. Il est recommandé qu\'un cadre de principe soit développé pour régler la construction et l\'utilisation des pièges tueuses pour la chasse d\'animaux sauvages. Les droits de permis d\'exportation et les pénalités pour la non-adhésion aux lois d\'animaux sauvage exigent également d\'être augmentés aux niveaux élevés pour avoir un effet dissuasif à la chasse excessive et l\'exportation d\'animaux sauvage. Ghana Journal of Science Vol. 47 2007: pp. 101-10

Rodents and Herpetofauna (Reptiles and Amphibians) as household pests in the Accra Metropolis, Ghana

Small mammals and herpetofaunal household pests, known for their economic damages, health implications and nuisance effects on people, are frequently seen in the Ghanaian home environment. The study was aimed at assessing the relationship between the level of infrastructural development and the abundance, control methods and perception ofpeople about rodents and herpetofaunal household pests. The results indicated that the incidence of rodents and anurans decreased with increasing infrastructural development of an area, while the occurrence of wall geckos and agama lizards was independent of the level of infrastructural development of the areas. The use of control measures, as well as the type of control measure employed, was also dependent on infrastructural development with the underdeveloped areas employing more physical and sanitary measures on daily basis, contrary to weakly and monthly bases in the developed and developing areas. Chemical control was mostly used in the developing areas while biological controlwas the main vertebrate pest control method in the developed areas. The level of infrastructural development of an area, therefore, gives an indication of the kind of herpetofaunal and small mammal pests likely to be prevalent in an area, and the consequences of their infestation. This information is particularly important in the choice of accommodation forrental purposes as well as town planning

Bird Species Diversity and abundance in the Abiriw Sacred Grove in the Eastern Region of Ghana

The sacred grove concept is one of the strategies developed by many human societies to conserve biological resources using a traditional approach. Sacred groves are currently under threat from anthropogenic activities due to lack of enforcement of traditional edicts to check encroachment. The birds inhabiting the Abiriw Sacred Grove in the Akwapim North District in the Eastern Region of Ghana were surveyed between February and April 2005 to determinethe current ecological status of the grove, and to establish a bird species list. The transect count method was used to sample the birds in the grove. A total of 411 individual birds belonging to 22 families and 66 species was recorded, out of which 211 individuals of 41 species occurred in the forest-cultivated land boundary, 111 (36 species) in pristine forest, and 89 (40 species) in secondary forest. A significant proportion of species in the grove were savanna specialists. Similarity indices indicated different levels of degradation of the various blocks. The current situation needs immediate attention to stem the tide of fragmentation and degradation

The Flora and mammals of the moist semi-deciduous Forest Zone in the Sefwi-Wiawso District of the Western Region, Ghana

The study presents results of a floristic and mammal survey undertaken in the Sefwi-Wiawso District within moist semi-deciduous vegetation zone of the Western Region of Ghana. The floral survey involved estimating the floral distribution, abundance and diversity using the standard indices, Shannon-Wiener, Simpson’s, evenness, species richness, similarity, and â-diversity, while the mammal survey was conducted using direct opportunistic observation, live-trapping (small mammals), animal spoors/trophies, and interviews. There were 271 plant species recorded, out of which 174 species comprising 172 species and 67 families of angiosperms (Angiospermae) and two species of ferns (Pterydophyta) were scientifically-named. Forty species of mammals representing eight orders were recorded, with the dominant orders being Rodentia and Artiodactyla. The greatest faunal diversity occurred in the forest reserves, where suitable habitat niches still occur. There were 48 individuals of seven species of rodents and one individual of one insectivore species captured during live-trapping, with the commonest species being common mice (Mus spp.) and brush-furred mice (Lophuromys flavopunctatus). The greatest threat to the survival of the fauna is habitat destruction. Generally, the Sefwi-Wiawso District is very rich in forest tree species, the commonest being the Celtis-Triplochiton Associations, but bad agricultural practices, bush burning, intense logging, fuelwood harvesting and pollution have resulted in poor soil quality and land degradation in certain areas. Hunting of animals for meat, and destruction of habitats were the greatest threats to faunal diversity and abundance in the Sefwi-Wiawso District

Prospects of conserving wetlands along the Mukwe lagoon at Nungua in the greater Accra region of Ghana

No Abstract

Comparative Efficacy of four Rodenticides on the Ghanaian Market

Due to the enormous damage that rodents cause to agricultural produce, merchandise and hu-man health all over the world, large sums of money is often spent on rodenticides in order to control rodent populations. A number of rodenticides exist on the Ghanaian market on which there is limited scientific data on their efficacy and use. This study investigated the efficacy of four rodenticides namely Storm (flocoumafen at 0.005% w/w), Baraki (difethialone at 0.0025% w/w), Chinaman (diphacinone at 0.005% w/w) and Zinc Phosphide on the Ghanaian market, on white laboratory rats (Rattus novigicus). The results indicated that product acceptability by the rats within 24 hours was significantly higher for Storm (20.6�1.3g) and Baraki (17.8�5.5g) as compared to Chinaman (5.4�0.3g) and Zinc Phosphide (3.2�1.7g) (ANOVA, p < 0.05). Con-sumption of Storm, Baraki and Zinc Phophide produced lethal effects with mean time of death ranging from 4.0�1, 3.8�1 to 1.0 days respectively indicating that Baraki and Storm exhibited delayed lethal effects. Although product acceptability for Zinc Phosphide was low, the amount needed to produce lethal effects in white laboratory rats was small and appeared to have been consumed over a single encounter. The study provides baseline data for further investigations and field trials

An evaluation of the efficacy of indocid (Indometacin) for the control of some laboratory and wild rodents

Rodentsare well-known pests of stored and cultivated agricultural products. Their control is of great concern to human societies worldwide. Different rodenticides exist but most of these pose varying degrees of risk to the  general public. The study aims to establish the efficacy of a human anti-inflammatory drug, Indocid, as a potential rodenticide, using the widely-used Baraki as a reference rodenticide. Doses of indocid found to be lethal to laboratory rats (Rattus rattus) were lower than that of Baraki and, for a given concentration of active ingredients, death occurred relatively faster in indocidadministered than baraki-administered rats. Indocid further proved lethal to five species of wild rodents. There is the need for further work on recommended lethal doses required for the control of the various wild rodentspecies.

Forage potential, micro-spatial and temporal distribution of ground arthropods in the flood plain of a Coastal Ramsar site in Ghana

Despite the critical roles played by arthropods in ecosystem functioning and nutrient cycling, a general lack of information about the ecology of many arthropods in West African coastal wetlands persists. An investigation into the abundance, distribution and forage potential of ground arthropods to waterbirds inaWest African Coastal Ramsar site, indicated that the distribution and abundance of the arthropods were similar along both the latitudinal and longitudinal axes of the lagoon’s flood plain. Agelenidae (house spiders), Formicidae (ants) and Gryllidae (True crickets) respectively constituting 52.68%, 36.58% and 5.85% of the total arthropod abundance, dominated the 23 families of arthropods. On the basis of percentage biomass and per capita biomass compositions, Gryllidae and Agelenidae were of the most important to waterbird foraging. Although Formicidae occurred in large numbers, the small-size nature of the individuals indicated that they wereof little importance to waterbird foraging. Ocypodidae (Ghost and Fiddler crabs) (0.3%) and Acrididae (short- horned grasshoppers) (0.3%) constituted a negligible fraction of the arthropod abundance buthad the highest per capita biomass and would be the most profitable forage.The low abundance of Ocypodidae and Acrididae were attributed to marginalisation of the sampling method employed in the study