Vol 20, No 4 ,2019: African Scientist

Population dynamics studies reveal the fluctuations in an organism’s population over time, in relation to prevailing climatic conditions; thus providing a fundamental background for evaluating and determining appropriate control strategies for adoption. This study in Bayelsa State, Southern Nigeria has revealed that C. sordidus population experiences a gradual build-up with onset of rains (early March), and attain peaks between May and early November.

Paspalum scrobiculatum and Azonopus compressus were used to study the accumulation and deposition of lead in tissues of roots, rhizomes and leaves, as well as their impact on changes in the anatomy of their tissues. Four (4) kg of air dried soil was measured into Four (4) kg perforated plastic buckets. Waste engine oil was added to Four (4) kg different soil samples to obtain different concentrations on weight basis: 0% (control), 2%, 4%, 7% and 10% v/w oil-in-soil and allowed to stand for seven days before transplanting. The plants were harvested after 8 weeks of transplanting.

Malaria infestation in Nigeria is still worrisome, hence, the need for new antimalarial agents. This study, therefore, investigates the antiplasmodial activity of the ethanolic extract and flavonoid fraction of the stem of P. amarus in the blood, brain, liver and pancreas of Plasmodium berghei (chloroquine sensitive NK65 strain) infested mice.

Knowledge of the chromosome morphology of a species is valuable in detecting chromosomal abnormalities, taxonomy and evolution. Despite this, chromosomal studies on rabbits is scarce in Nigeria. This study presents a description of the chromosome morphology of Oryctolagus cuniculus from Ilorin, Nigeria. Two male and one female samples received intraperitoneally 0.01% colchicine (1ml/100g body weight). The chromosomes were investigated by examining the metaphase chromosome spreads obtained from the bone marrow of the femur and humerus.

The ability of Digitaria horizontalis and Eluesine indica grass species to phytoremediate waste engine oil contaminated soil was investigated. Four (4) kg of air dried soil was measured into four (4) kg perforated plastic buckets. Waste engine oil was added to four (4) kg different soil samples to obtain different concentrations on weight basis: 0 % (control), 2 %, 4 %, 7 % and 10 % v/w oil-in-soil and allowed to stand for seven days before transplanting. At the end of 8 weeks of transplanting, the plants were harvested.