A Comparison of Foraging Site Characteristics of Two African Resident Insectivorous Birds in a Burned Habitat

Detailed investigation of the foraging site utilised by avian species may reveal the habitat factors important in their conservation. This study compared the foraging sites of the Sunlark, Galerida modesta and Familiar Chart, Cercomela familiaris (both African resident insectivorous birds) a week after fire engulfed about one third of the 300 ha of the Amurum Forest Reserve, Nigeria. Foraging sites were compared based on proxies of food availability (ant, grasshopper and other insect abundance) and vegetation structure. Data on food availability and vegetation structures were obtained by quadrate sampling while foraging spots were determined from four stratified transects each surveyed four times during the study. Food availability was not a significant predictor of foraging site characteristics between the two bird species. However of the nine vegetation variables measured, grass height and proportion of burned grass cover per foraging site significantly distinguished the foraging sites of the two bird species; Sunlark foraged more at sites with shorter grasses and high proportion of burned grass cover as compared to the Familiar Chat. The characteristics of the foraging sites observed might have implications on the foraging success of the birds in line with literature on the Influences of vegetation structure on avian foraging behaviour.Key words: Foraging site, Insectivorous birds, Burn, Vegetation structure, Food availabilit

The effects of forest land use and fragmentation on White-throated Mountain Babblers Kupeornis gilberti a globally threatened bird species on the Obudu Plateau, southeast Nigeria

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Activities of the A. P. Leventis, the West African foremost ornithological research center.

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Schistosomiasis in Ndinjor district of Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria

A survey of human schistosomiasis was conducted among the residents of Ndinjor District of Langtang North Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria. A total of 1,070 samples from 535 people (each donating stool and urine samples) were examined using the Standard WHO [20] of Kato-Kato syringe filtration for stool and urine samples respectively. The overall prevalence of schistosomiasis was 295(55.7%).Schistosoma haematobium was more prevalent with 221(41.3%) than Schistosoma mansoni with 77(14.4%) P<0.05. Prevalence rate varied significantly (P<0.05) between sexes. Males had higher prevalence of 180 (67.2%) than the females, 118(44.2%). Infection according to age group showed that age groups 10 – 19years and 20 – 29years had higher infection rates of 150(66.7%) and 86(68.6%) respectively. In terms of occupation (P>0.05), fishermen had the highest prevalence of 9(75.0%) followed by students, 218(61.1%) while farmers had 70(44.3%). Prevalence rate in relation to water source did not vary significantly (P>0.05). Those that had their water from the stream recorded the highest prevalence of 222 (58.0%) followed by river 48(54.6%) with the least infection recorded among those that used wells 28(43.7%).This study indicated a stable or moderate/mesoendemicity and requires control measures to be put in place.Keywords: Schistosomiasis, Ndinjor, Plateau, NigeriaNigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 32 [2] September 2011, pp. 209-21

Mapping of lymphatic filariasis in Benue State, Nigeria

An epidemiological mapping was undertaken from December, 2004 to February, 2005 with the aim of determining the prevalence of Wuchereria bancrofti in 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Benue State, Nigeria. A total of 1,830 persons aged 20 years and above were screened for circulating filarial antigen (CFA) using immuno-chromatographic (ICT) whole blood tests. An overall CFA prevalence of 6.5% was recorded in 65% of 20 communities from the 18 LGAs. The results indicate that lymphatic filariasis is widely distributed in the state. Prevalence of infection was significantly (