3

Age structure and diurnal activity of Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae)

Distribution, sex ratio, abundance of various ovarian stages of development insemination rate, age composition and diurnal activity were studied in sweepnet catches of Musca domestica L. Collections were made from different location: house, refuse dump, market, cafeteria and poultry between 07.00h and 14.00h from October to December, 2003. Diurnal activity was also investigated by making sweeps at 07.00h, 12.00h and 17.00h from cafeteria. Market and cafeteria harboured the bulk of the population of M. domestica.

Observation on fleas of common domestic mammals in Benin City, Nigeria

A Study was conducted on fleas of common domestic mammals in Benin City from April 2001 to April 2002, using handpicking and combing methods. Two species were recorded, Ctenocephalides canis (dog flea) and Ctenocephalides felis (cat flea) amounting to 2,662 specimens; 50.5% (1345) from dogs, 24.9% (662) from cats and 24.6 (655) from goats. 75.4% (2006) of the total flea collected from goats, cats and dogs were Ctenocephalides canis while 24.6% (656) Ctenocephalides felis occurred on cats only.

Current diversity and abundance of fish species in a sampling site on Lake Kainji

The diversity and abundance of fish species was studied in a sampling site on the Lake Kainji over a period of three months. A total number of four hundred and thirteen (413) fish from forty (40) species and fifteen (15) families were recorded during the study. The family bagridae dominated the catches with 18.37% in terms of abundance by number followed by Mochokidae with 13.5%% while Channidae had the lowest with 0.24%. The highest number of different species (8) was from bagridae followed by Mormyridae (6), then Characidae (5) and Mochokidae (4).

How Long Can Enteric Pathogens Survive in Polluted Environmental Media?

Monitoring pathogen survival in polluted environmental media is useful as an early warning tool to forestall outbreaks of infections and safeguard public health. Survival of clinical strains of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi and Vibrio cholerae was monitored for 192 hours in pre-sterilised samples of domestic wastewater and sediment, agricultural wastewater and river water.

Helminth parasites and Prey composition in the stomach of Ptychadena species from Obazuwa Wetland in Edo State, Nigeria

This investigation was aimed at determining the helminth parasites and prey items in the stomach of Ptychadena sp. from Obazuwa wetland in Edo State Nigeria. Four Ptychadena sp. (P. longirostris, P. bibroni, P. oxyrhynchus and P. mascareniensis) were collected using the visual/acoustic encounter survey methods. The stomach contents of the frogs examined revealed a total of 127 identifiable items comprising of 108 arthropods, 16 nematodes and 3 cestodes.

AuthorName(s)

An Assessment of Morphological Characteristics of Kenaf in Response to Some Organic Cultural Interventions

Field trials were conducted during the rainy season of 2011 and 2012. The main objective of the study was to investigate the possibility of increasing the productivity of Kenaf under organic conditions. Organic manure (Mucuna pruriens, compost manure, and control), sowing distances (15 and 30cm) and number of seed per stand (2 and 4 plant per hill) were factorially combined (3×2×2) to obtain twelve factorial treatment combinations.

AuthorName(s)

Physicochemical, Aromatic Hydrocarbon and Bacteriological Profiles of Human Urine-Impacted-Soils Obtained From Iyaro Motor Park, Benin City, Nigeria

Urine-impacted-soils were collected from different sampling points located within the vicinity of Iyaro Motor Park and analysed for physicochemical, aromatic hydrocarbon and bacteriological profiles. Standard analytical procedures which included serial dilution and pour plating, usage of appropriate meters, atomic absorption spectrophotometry and gas chromatography were employed in the evaluation of the bacteriological, physicochemical, heavy metal and poly aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) profiles of the soils.

An Assessment of the Effect of Automobile Emmission on Selected Roadside Vegetation

Comparative phytoassessment of some selected vegetation exposed to automobile emission along Sapele road, Benin City, Nigeria at different distances from the road was carried out. Three plots (100 cm2 in area) were mapped out at intervals of 10 m away from the road to serve as treatment plots. The plots were designated as A (0 m – 10 m), B (10 m – 20 m) and C (20 m – 30 m) and a fourth plot was the control (100 m – 110 m) plot. Three plants, Sida acuta, Sida garckeana and Mariscus alternifolius; were selected for physiological studies as they were common to all the plots.

AuthorName(s)

Toxicity Bio-Indices as Indicators of Water Portability

Genotoxicity testing represents a powerful line of evidence for assessing impacts from chemical contaminants in drinking water. In this study, fifteen brands of sachet water, five of which do not have the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) registration numbers, were collected in the Benin metropolitan city square in Edo State of Nigeria and subjected to cytological evaluation using the macroscopic and microscopic parameters in Allium cepa L.

An ecological survey of Acridoid grasshoppers (Orthoptera) in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria

An ecological survey of acridoid grasshoppers was conducted in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria from January to November 2001. A total of 34 taxa distributed in 3 families, 12 sub-families and 27 genera were encountered. The family Acrididae had the highest number of species (28), followed by pygomorphidae with 5 species. The family Tetrigidae was represented by only one species. Several species showed ecological plasticity and were found in all the locations while many others showed ecological restriction.