A survey of bird species in Abigi Metropolis, Ogun water side LGA, Ogun state Nigeria

Assessment of the bird species diversity and abundance in Abigi metropolis was carried out in this study. Data were collected during the rainy season (May, June, July and August 2018) and dry season (December 2018, January, February and March 2019 - ). Eight-point counts were used with a distance of 400 m apart. Birds were recorded by sightings or calls and local abundance status of the birds’ species were determined. A total of 28 bird species belonging to 15 families were recorded. Hirundinidae had the highest number ofspecies (six), Ploceidae, Pycynonotidae and Columbidae have three species each while Bucerotidae and Nectaranidae have two species each. All the other families have 1 species each. Fifty percent of the species recorded were classified to be locally rare. The results of this work suggest that a relatively good number of bird species still exist in this community, though human interference like intense farming leading to deforestation has led to the disturbance that caused migration of the bird species within the area. The resultsobtained from this study will provide information for further research. Keywords: Birds, Survey, Abigi metropoli

Effects of Forest Fire on the Regeneration Potentials of Tree Species in Olokemeji Forest Reserve, Ogun State, Nigeria

Effects of forest fire on the regeneration potential of trees at Olokemeji Forest Reserve was established in this study. The Olokemeji fire experimental plot was selected at the reserve. The site was divided into three plots; late fire treatment was applied to Plot A, Early fire treatment was also applied to Plot B and no fire treatment at plot C (Control plot). The diameter at breast height (dbh) and tree height (m) of the tree species in the plots were assessed prior and post fire treatment. The regeneration potential of the selected plots after burning were assessed through the occurrence of saplings and seedlings obtained. The highest basal area (m2) were found in plot C followed by plot B and Plot C with mean value of 0.64, 0.55 and 0.30 m2 respectively. The number of stems per plot ranged from 25 to 67. The regeneration potentials of the three plots were found to be noteworthy. Early and late year fire regime adopted had both positive and negative effect on the regeneration potentials of tree species. This study has established the effect and relevance of fire on forest and wildlife management. It’s therefore recommended in this study that Prescribed or controlled burning should be encouraged as appropriate sivilcultural management tool for stimulating basal area growth, natural regeneration, production of tree species seedlings and saplings

Wildbird abundance and richness in Forestry Research Institute Of Nigeria (FRIN), Jericho, Ibadan, Oyo State

This study assessed avi-fauna species richness and abundance indices in environs of Forestry Research Institutes of Nigeria (FRIN).The study area,  FRIN, was divided based on landuse activities into three; residential, plantations (Teak (Tectona grandis), and Gmelina (Gmelina arborea)) and fallow  land. Ten (10) point counts were made in each of the land use areas at distance of 200m and visited between 06:00hrs- 10:00hrs and 0400hr-0600hr for a period of 10 minutes each. A pair of 8x42 binoculars, voice recorder and Helms field guide to the birds of Western Africa was used for species identification and confirmation. Species richness, sighting index, bird species diversity (Shannon and Simpson), and Sorenson index of similarity were deduced. Data were analyzed using frequency; PPMC, Percentage and correlation at α 0.05.A total 78 bird species belonging to 38 families were recorded. Yellow-billed kite (Milvus migrans parasitus) was the most abundant species with frequency (228) and sighting index (12.5%). The residential area had the highest mean bird species richness per point. The overall Shannon diversity index (3.52) and Simpson diversity index (0.95) indicated that the study site is highly diverse in bird species. Exotic trees species do not support bird abundance and richness in the  study area, therefore effort should be put in place to restore the depleted habitat planting of native tree species. Keywords: Species richness, Abundance, Wild birds, Landuse, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria

Phylogenetic relationship between the gut bacterial flora of honeybee (Apis mellifera) from Apiary in Ogun State, Nigeria

The present study is aimed to determine the phylogenetic relationship between honeybee (Apis mellifera) gut microbiome from Apiary in Olabisi Onabanjo University and Osoba Avenue Odo-Epo, Odogbolu Local  Government. Honeybees workers (A. mellifera) totaling twenty (20) were collected into a vile having a powdery sugar from the apiary located in OOU and Osoba Avenue at Odo-Epo during rainy season in July and transported to Zoology and Environmental Biology laboratory in OOU and kept in ice-cubes (-50oC) till  daybreak. Before the dissection process, the bees were washed in 95% ethanol and complete alimentary canals of the bees were aseptically dissected by clipping the stinger with sterile forceps. The phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rDNA gene were further used to characterize the organism in order to establish relationships among them. The partial 16S rDNA sequences obtained were utilized in search of reference nucleotide sequence available in NCBI GenBank database using BlastN algorithm. Maft version 7.0 was employed in the multiple  alignments of nucleotide sequences while trees were drawn based on character method (Maximum Likelihood) for comparing set of data against set of models of evolution using MEGA 7

Molecular Characterization of Gut Bacterial Flora of Honeybee (Apis Mellifera Adansonii) From Some Selected Apiaries in Ogun State, Nigeria

Research related to physiology and pathology of honey bees in particular Apis mellifera adansonii has attracted a lot of attention. The present study is aimed to determine honeybee (Apis mellifera adansonii) gut microbiome from Apiary in Olabisi Onabanjo University and Osoba Avenue Odo-Epo, Odogbolu Local Government. Twenty (20) honeybees workers (A. mellifera) were collected into a small vile containing sugar powder from the apiary located in OOU and Osoba Avenue at Odo-Epo during rainy season in July and transported to Zoology and Environmental Biology laboratory in OOU and kept in ice-cubes (-50C) till daybreak. Standard microbiological analysis for isolation of bacteria was used, adopting Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute procedures. The phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rDNA gene were further used to characterize the organism in order to establish  relationships among them. The results showed microbiota of the studied samples includes; Cedeca davisae, Cronobacter  dublinensis, Enterobacter aerogenes, Kluyvera cryocrescens, Klebsiella oxytoca, Providencia vermicola, Salmonella enteric, Providencia alcalifaciens, Serratia nematodiphila, Pseudomonas plecoqlossicida, Klebsiella michiganensis, Serratia marcenscens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Aeromonas hydrophila and Enterobacter asburiae. Klebsiella spp. was more abundant and prominent in the digestive guts of honeybee workers both in OOU and Osoba Avenue, Odo Epo. The result of the percentage identity and closest accession of the isolates revealed that, Enterobacter aerogenes had the closest accession number and with highest percentage identity of (99%). The findings from this study showed that microbiota component communities of A. mellifera adansonii in OOU were composed of more Gram-negative bacteria than Gram-positive bacteria in Odo Epo

Evaluation of soil chemical and physical properties at the logged forest at Onigambari forest reserve

S. Soil samples were collected randomly from five locations around the forest at depth of 0- 45cm. Samples of about 500g each were collected in plastic bags and taken to the laboratory for analysis. Results presented shows that sand had the highest % in soil of the area (91.62). Bulk densities were at ranges of (1.43, 1.45 and 1.23g/cm3) at the depth of 0-15, 15-30 and 30-45 respectively. The textural classification for each depth of soil was sandy-loam. Calcium present in the soil ranges between 2.33- 2.60 which is at its lowest and cannot properly support the growth of plant. Magnesium which functions as the central core of the chlorophyll molecule in plant tissue seems to be deficient at each level of the soil depth. Therefore, if Mg is deficient, the shortage of chlorophyll will results in poor and stunted plant growth. Keywords: Decomposed, biomass, bulk density, deficien

Application of geographic information system in the documentation of settlement pattern of Imeri, Ijebu-Mushin Ogun State Nigeria

The aim of the study was to demonstrate how Geographic Information System (GIS) can be used to document settlement pattern of Imeri, Ijebu-mushin Ogun State Nigeria. The method of data collection was through the collection of information gathered on the site with the use of Geographic Information System, Global Positioning System, and questionnaires and oral interview method. The research was carried out in Imeri Ogun state Nigeria. Information was derived from Imeri, a secondary village settlement in Ogun State. The results  indicate that, 2% of the building is used for commercial purposes, while 4% of the buildings are dilapidated. 5% of the building in Imeri is not yet completed as at the time of carrying out this research, 5% is used for both residential and commercial purposes and another 5% is used for religious purpose. 79% of the buildings are used for residential purposes and this percentage ranks highest regarding the use of building in Imeri. Also, 2% of the buildings are constructed with wood, while 5% are made of mud and not with plaster, 12% are made of concrete and also not with plaster, 18% of the buildings are made of concrete and are plastered while, 63% of the buildings are made of mud and are plastered. Therefore, it is recommended that GPS should be used often as a powerful technological tool that could help a lot in knowing the settlement pattern of a large area and ways to help a particular community when needed

Evaluation of some heavy metals bio-accumulation in meat and haemolymph of african landsnail (Archachatina Marginata Swainson)

The impact of captive rearing of snails (Archachatina marginata) on the bio-accumulation of some heavy metals (HMs) (Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Co, Ni, Cd and Cr) in the meat and haemolymph was evaluated in a two treatment trial (snails from the wild, (SW) and captive reared snails, (SC), each comprised of sixty snails of three replicates. Alldata collected (using standard analytical procedures) were subjected to ANOVA and significant means separated by Duncan Multiple Range Test. The trial revealed that the meat of SC had outstanding (P>0.05) Fe (22.30mg/kg) and Mn(4.79mg/kg), with no significant variation for DM, while the haemolymph recorded non-significant (P< 0.05) concentration for (Mn, Pb, Co, Ni, Cd and Cr). Its levels of Fe (3.50mg/kg) and Cu (2.06mg/kg) were however significantly (P>0.05) impacted by captive rearing. Generally the level of Cr in the meat and haemolymph were higher than 0.05mg/kg recommendation by WHO, hence snail meat and haemolymph must be consumed with caution and guidance

Effect of captive rearing on meat and haemolymph nutritional characteristics of snail (Archachatina marginata swainson)

An experiment was conducted to investigate and compare the impact of treatment, which is the source of snail (wild and captive reared) on the proximate and mineral composition (Na, K, Ca, Mg, P, Fe and Mn) of the meat and haemolymph of African land snails (Archachatina marginata). Ninety (90) adult snails (250.00 + 0.5g) were randomly distributed into two (2) treatments, each of three replicates, (15 snails per replicate), in a Complete Randomized Design. Samples of meat and haemolymph collected using standard procedures were subsequently analyzed for their nutritional qualities, using standard chemical analytical procedures. All data collected were statistically analyzed using ANOVA, while significant variation were separated with Duncan Multiple Range Test of the same package. The proximate composition of the meat revealed higher (P>0.05) DM (26.00%), Ether extract (2.17%) and NFE (3.57%) in SC, while there was a non-significant variation (P<0.05) in most proximate factors for haemolymph, except NFE (4.27%), which was higher (P>0.05) in SW. The mineral profiling of the meat revealed  elevated (PP>0.05) levels of Fee (22.30mg/kg) and Mn (4.79mg/kg) of SC, the haemolymph recorded improved levels (P>0.05) for all mineral elements in SC. In conclusion, the captive rearing of snail had improved impact on thenutritional qualities of SC

Prevalence of Soil Transmitted Helminths in Some Birds Kept at Federal University Of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB) Zoo Park, Abeokuta, Nigeria

Captive-held wild animals are those housed in zoological exhibits, rehabilitation centres, zoos, research stations, sanctuaries, aquaria, circuses, and plantations. However, parasitic diseases constitute one of the major problems causing mortality in these animals while in captivity. The effects range from sub-clinical to death; hence, the study was conducted to assess the gastrointestinal parasite profile of birds kept in Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta ZooPark. Freshly voided faecal samples of Psittacus erithacus, Psittacula krameri, Balaerica pavonina, pavo cristatus, Chen caerulescens, Struthio camelus and Anas platyrhynchos were collected before routine cleaning. Samples were collected weekly for 8 weeks between 7am- 9am within the month of October and November, 2019. A total of 56 faecal samples from 7 birds were picked from the ground by utilizing a sterile scoop for each animal species to avoid cross contamination. Each sample was put in a new labelled sterile bottle with the name of each bird from which the faecal sample was collected. Samples were then transported to the laboratory for microscopic analysis which was done within 24 hours. Egg counting was done using the McMaster Egg Counting Technique. Identification of intestinal helminth ova was done by using the keys. Data obtained were analysed using SPSS version 20.0 and Microsoft excel. Prevalence was calculated while the weekly egg counts of intestinal helminthes were presented using descriptive statistics. The distribution of intestinalhelminthes infections among the surveyed birds vary from (Psittacula krameri 100%, pavo cristatus 100%, Psittacus erithacus 66.67%, Balaerica pavonina 66.67%, Chen caerulescens 66.67%, Struthio camelus 66.67%, and Anas platyrhynchos 66.67%). In conclusion, the prevalence of soil transmitted helminthes revealed that Ascaridiagalli andStrongyloides spp had the highest prevalence among the birds with 100% while Raillietina spp recorded the lowest prevalence with 28.6%