Aquatic Insect Fauna of Three River Systems in the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional area of The Eastern Region of Ghana

Three river systems in the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area: Ayensu, Birim and Densu were sampled over a period of one year during the wet, dry and intermediate seasons for aquatic insect fauna. Fifteen sampling sites were chosen based on certain parameters such as accessibility as well as the inclusion of high and low impact sites (i.e. close to or far from a town or village) or near areas with high human activity. Four sampling methods were employed: sweeping, core sampling, sieving and washing of stones, wood fragments and submerged objects as well as aquatic plants and leaves. Fifty seven (57) species of aquatic insects belonging to 26 families of 7 orders were recorded. Hemiptera, Ephemeroptera and Odonata were the most diverse and abundant orders with Hemiptera being the most diverse order with 17 species from 8 families. The most abundant species was Rhagovelia obesa (Hemiptera: Veliidae). The highest number of insects was collected in December whiles July recorded the lowest numbers. River Densu recorded the highest number of insects whiles River Birim recorded the highest diversity of insects with 36 species. River Ayensu had both the lowest numbers and diversity of insects

Ghana planning and implementation progress report for the CGIAR Initiative on Sustainable Intensification of Mixed Farming Systems

This report captures key outputs, and follow-up actions since the Ghana Country Planning and Inception Meeting for the Sustainable Intensification of Mixed farming Systems Initiative was held in Accra, Ghana, on 12 July 2022. Various partners have been engaged in the Initiative in Ghana so far, including the National Agricultural Research and Extension Systems (NARES), Universities, and National governments/ agricultural administrations (See participants list in Annex)

Natural enemies of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Ghana

Open Access JournalThe fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is an invasive insect pest attacking maize in Ghana and sub-Saharan Africa countries. Biological control will need to be an important management strategy, and a first step was to identify potential natural enemies. Sampling was conducted in different localities of the 10 regions of Ghana from May to Nov 2017. A total of 1,062 larvae were collected from 106 maize farms, and the presence of natural enemies was recorded in 18 (17.0%) farms. Among natural enemies recorded, 7 species were parasitoids: Chelonus bifoveolatus Szpligeti, Coccygidium luteum (Brull), Cotesia icipe Fernandez, Meteoridea testacea (Granger), and Bracon sp. (all Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Anatrichus erinaceus Loew (Diptera: Chloropidae), and an undetermined tachinid fly (Diptera: Tachinidae). The parasitism rate was 3.58%. Three predator species were collected: Pheidole megacephala (F.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Haematochares obscuripennis Stål, and Peprius nodulipes (Signoret) (both Heteroptera: Reduviidae). The 2 most abundant parasitoids were C. bifoveolatus and C. luteum with a relative abundance of 29.0% and 23.7%, respectively, and a parasitism rate of 1.04% and 0.85%, respectively. However, C. bifoveolatus was the most dispersed parasitoid, found in 6.6% of the inspected sites within all the agroecological zones of Ghana. This species is a good candidate as a biological control agent for fall armyworm in Africa. The predator that was most abundant (46.0%) and dispersed (3.8% of the farms) was P. megacephala. El cogollero, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), es una plaga de insectos invasora que ataca el maíz en Ghana y los países de África subsahariana. El control biológico deberá ser una estrategia de manejo importante, y un primer paso es identificar los enemigos naturales potenciales. Se realizó el muestreo en diferentes localidades de las 10 regiones de Ghana desde mayo hasta noviembre del 2017. Se recolectó un total de 1.062 larvas de 106 granjas de maíz, y se registró la presencia de enemigos naturales en 18 granjas (17.0%). Entre los enemigos naturales registrados, 7 especies fueron parasitoides: Chelonus bifoveolatus Szpligeti, Coccygidium luteum (Brull), Cotesia icipe Fernandez, Meteoridea testacea (Granger) y Bracon sp. (todos los Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Anatrichus erinaceus Loew (Diptera: Chloropidae) y una mosca taquinida indeterminada (Diptera: Tachinidae). La tasa de parasitismo fue del 3.58%. Se recolectaron tres especies de depredadores: Pheidole megacephala (F.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Haematochares obscuripennis Stål y Peprius nodulipes (Signoret) (ambos Heteroptera: Reduviidae). Los 2 parasitoides más abundantes fueron C. bifoveolatus y C. luteum con una abundancia relativa del 29.0% y 23.7%, respectivamente, y una tasa de parasitismo del 1.04% y 0.85%, respectivamente. Sin embargo, C. bifoveotus fue el parasitoide más disperso, encontrado en el 6.6% de los sitios inspeccionados dentro de todas las zonas agroecológicas de Ghana. Esta especie es un buen candidato como agente de control biológico para el cogollero en África. El depredador que fue más abundante (46.0%) y disperso (3.8% de las granjas) fue P. megacephala

Developmental Sex Differences in Nicotinic Currents of Prefrontal Layer VI Neurons in Mice and Rats

There is a large sex difference in the prevalence of attention deficit disorder; yet, relatively little is known about sex differences in the development of prefrontal attention circuitry. In male rats, nicotinic acetylcholine receptors excite corticothalamic neurons in layer VI, which are thought to play an important role in attention by gating the sensitivity of thalamic neurons to incoming stimuli. These nicotinic currents in male rats are significantly larger during the first postnatal month when prefrontal circuitry is maturing. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether there are sex differences in the nicotinic currents in prefrontal layer VI neurons during development.Using whole cell recording in prefrontal brain slice, we examined the inward currents elicited by nicotinic stimulation in male and female rats and two strains of mice. We found a prominent sex difference in the currents during the first postnatal month when males had significantly greater nicotinic currents in layer VI neurons compared to females. These differences were apparent with three agonists: acetylcholine, carbachol, and nicotine. Furthermore, the developmental sex difference in nicotinic currents occurred despite male and female rodents displaying a similar pattern and proportion of layer VI neurons possessing a key nicotinic receptor subunit.This is the first illustration at a cellular level that prefrontal attention circuitry is differently affected by nicotinic receptor stimulation in males and females during development. This transient sex difference may help to define the cellular and circuit mechanisms that underlie vulnerability to attention deficit disorder

Heavy metal concentrations in drinking water sources in two mining districts in Ghana

- In Ghana, mining of minerals at small-scale and large-scale is widespread across many districts, leading to significant heavy metal pollution in the environment. In this study, the concentrations of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg) in the different drinking water samples collected from households, institutions, water points and surface water in two mining districts namely the Wassa East and Asutifi North were analyzed. The water types collected included boreholes, wells, piped water into yards, public standpipes, rainwater, sachet water, and surface water. The results indicated that the levels of Fe and Mn were higher than As and Hg in all the drinking water samples. The levels of As and Hg in drinking water from households and institutions were higher in the Wassa East district compared to the Asutifi North district. However, the metal levels at water points were similar in both districts. In surface water, Fe levels were higher in the Wassa East district compared to the Asutifi North district with median values of 1243 μg/L and 860 μg/L for the Wassa East and Asutifi North districts, respectively. In contrast, the Mn levels were higher in the Asutifi North district than the Wassa East district with median values of 9.5 μg/L and 90 μg/L for Wassa East and Asutifi North districts, respectively. All the metals (Mn, As, and Hg) studied except Fe were within the recommended WHO level. The Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) values for the different water types in households, institutions and water points were all below the critical limit of 100. The Water Quality Index (WQI) indicates that the boreholes, piped water into yards, and public standpipes in both districts were classified as excellent or good, making them suitable for drinking. However, the wells and surface water in both districts were classified as very poor and unfit for drinking, respectively

Die analytische und diagnostische Validität der Bestimmung von Carboxyhämoglobin im Blut und Kohlenmonoxid in der Atemluft von Rauchern und Nichtrauchern

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