Life on Edge: Environmental Disordering and the Decline of Some Avian Species in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Birds are conspicuous and important components of the Nigerian biodiversity assemblage, with about 850 species recorded. Some of these species are very common and numerous, while others are naturally rare. However, environmental disorders through human impacts have produced more species in the rare category. In Akwa Ibom State, the existence of several species such as Necrosyrtes monachus, Malimbus scutatus, Tockus fasciatus, Scopus umbretta, Psittacus erithacus and some species of woodpeckers (Dendropicos and Campethera species), is on edge. The forcing factors in this decline include scarcity of preferred substrates for nest building, competitive exclusion, likelihood of toxic effects, local and international trades in some species, poaching of eggs for ritual purpose, and outright killings for meat. Birds are useful as indicators of environmental change and many people derive aesthetic satisfaction by watching them in-situ in aerial displays. The success of some terrestrial mammals depends on the efforts of birds in creating cavities in living trees or snags, which they share with the mammals. The extinction of such birds would certainly lead to collateral extinctions of some bird-dependent mammals

Seasonality of surface water contamination by heavy metals in the lower Enyong creek, s.e. Nigeria)

Surface water samples from three locations in the Lower Enyong Creek, S.E. Nigeria were sampled over six months i.e June to October (wet season) and November in dry season for heavy metals such as Cd, Mn, Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cr) using Atomic absorption spectroscopic method. Some specific physicochemical characteristics, such as temperature, hardness, alkalinity, salinity, TDS, TSS, pH and conductivity which are known to influence the interactions and dynamics of trace metal loads in water bodies were also determined. The result of the analysis indicated significant monthly variation of these parameters for the six months. Monthly summary statistics revealed a few seasonal patterns that echoed the hydrologic regime. During the short dry season in August–September period, all the sampled stream channels had lower levels of Cd, Ni, Zn, Cu Cr, Pb and Fe. Salinity, for instance, correlated strongly (p<0.05) with Cu (0.70); Cr (0.56); Ni (0.72); nitrate (0.61) and Na (0.49). However, the concentrations of most heavy metals were low, while Zn content was higher than the WHO standard for surface water which indicated significant contamination by Zn in the water body

Conservation priorities and ecotourism potentials of the avifauna of Itu wetlands, Nigeria

Field studies were carried out monthly from November, 2016 to October, 2017 to ascertain the species list of avians in Itu wetlands. The prospects for conservation priority attention and potentials to attract and sustain local and international ecotourism were assessed. A total of 84 bird species belonging to 33 families were recorded. Two families, Accipitridae and Ardeidae had 8 species each, while 13 families had one species each. Birds recorded included species listed as endangered in the Endangered Species Act 11 of 1985 and many other species requiring special attention because of their critical habitat requirements (many waterfowls). Both local (e.g. Gallinules, Carmine bee-eaters) and palaearctic (e.g. European Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica) migrants utilized the wetland as a migratory destination. In view of the important and rich avifaunal assemblage, designating the site as a protected area will further complement efforts to protect other endangered species in the wetland such as the West African manatee, Trichechus senegalensis. Together with the scenic beauty of the undulating hills and colonial era relics, it has the potential to become a favourite site for birdwatching ecotourism, biodiversity and natural heritage conservatio