A review of the current state of knowledge on gold mineralisation in Benin Republic, West Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 128 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-14
Author(s):  
Fatchessin Bruno Adjo ◽  
Anthony Temidayo Bolarinwa ◽  
Luc Adissin Glodji ◽  
Franck Wilfried Nguimatsia Dongmo ◽  
Jerry Olugbenga Olajide-Kayode
Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4504 (2) ◽  
pp. 151 ◽  
Author(s):  
MATTHEW H. SHIRLEY ◽  
AMANDA N. CARR ◽  
JENNIFER H. NESTLER ◽  
KENT A. VLIET ◽  
CHRISTOPHER A. BROCHU

Molecular and morphological evidence has shown that the African slender-snouted, or sharp-nosed, crocodile Mecistops cataphractus (Cuvier, 1824) is comprised of two superficially cryptic species: one endemic to West Africa and the other endemic to Central Africa. Our ability to characterize the two species is compromised by the complicated taxonomic history of the lineage and overlapping ranges of variation in distinguishing morphological features. The name M. cataphractus was evidently originally based on West African material, but the holotype is now lost. Although types exist for other names based on the West African form, the name M. cataphractus is sufficiently entrenched in the literature, and other names sufficiently obscure, to justify retypification. Here, we designate a neotype for M. cataphractus and restrict it to West Africa. We resurrect M. leptorhynchus as a valid species from Central Africa and identify exemplary referred specimens that, collectively, overcome the obscurity and diagnostic limits of the extant holotype. We additionally indicate suitable neotype material in the event the holotype is lost, destroyed, or otherwise needing replacement, and we rectify the previously erroneous type locality designation. We provide a revised diagnosis for crown Mecistops, and revise and update previous descriptions of the two living species, including providing both more complete descriptions and discussion of diagnostic characters. Finally, we provide considerable discussion of the current state of knowledge of these species’ ecology, natural history, and distribution. 


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0252770
Author(s):  
Pascal O. Aigbedion-Atalor ◽  
Itohan Idemudia ◽  
Medetissi Adom ◽  
Ethelyn E. Forchibe ◽  
Hospice Tossou ◽  
...  

The Neotropical invasive plant Chromolaena odorata R.M. King and H. Robinson (Asteraceae) is a serious weed in West and Central Africa and two biological control agents that have been introduced into West Africa to help reduce its impacts on agriculture and biodiversity, have established. The stem-galling fly, Cecidochares connexa (Macquart) (Diptera: Tephritidae), has spread widely across West Africa since its release in only Côte d’Ivoire, occurring in six countries. This study aimed to investigate whether the gall fly had spread further across West Africa and into Central Africa. Here, we surveyed C. odorata for C. connexa galls in Cameroon between October 2018 and October 2020, along roadsides, on farms, residential areas, and abandoned plots, encompassing various vegetation types. Additional surveys were conducted across four countries (Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic and Nigeria) in West Africa that we considered the probable pathway for the spread of the gall fly into Central Africa. Cecidochares connexa was present at five of the six locations surveyed in Cameroon, albeit in varying abundance. In Africa, these findings represent the first-ever report of C. connexa outside of West Africa. In West Africa, we recorded significant expansion in the geographic range of C. connexa, as reflected in the absent-present record of C. connexa in two locations in Nigeria and one in Ghana, as well as its occurrence in all locations surveyed in Benin Republic and Togo. Clearly, Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic and Nigeria served as the dispersal pathway of C. connexa from the release sites in Côte d’Ivoire into Cameroon, covering over 2,300 km. Following the spread and establishment of C. connexa into Cameroon, we anticipate that it will continue to spread further into other parts of Central Africa which are climatically suitable. Cecidochares connexa is currently the only biological control agent for C. odorata in Central Africa. Given that it has significantly reduced populations of C. odorata in other countries where it has established, it is expected to have a similar impact in Central Africa.


2009 ◽  
Vol 102 (5) ◽  
pp. 1928-1934 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelo C. Djihinto ◽  
André Katary ◽  
Patrick Prudent ◽  
Jean-Michel Vassal ◽  
Maurice Vaissayre

Climate ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Hounkpè ◽  
Bernd Diekkrüger ◽  
Djigbo Badou ◽  
Abel Afouda

2022 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 100602
Author(s):  
F.J. Chadare ◽  
M. Affonfere ◽  
E. Sacla Aidé ◽  
F.K. Fassinou ◽  
K.V. Salako ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Médard Noukpo Agbazo ◽  
Gabin Koto N'Gobi ◽  
Basile Kounouhewa ◽  
Eric Alamou ◽  
Abel Afouda ◽  
...  

<p>Rainfall intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) curves are of particular importance in water resources management, for example, in urban hydrology, for the design of hydraulic structures and the estimation of the flash flood risk in small catchments. IDF curves describe rainfall intensity as a function of duration and return period, and they are significant for water resources planning, as well as for the design of hydraulic constructions and structures. In this study, scaling properties of extreme rainfall are examined to establish the scaling behavior of statistical non-central moment over different durations. IDF curves and equations are set up for all stations by using the parameter obtained from scaling behavior, the location and scale parameters μ24 and σ24 of the Gumbel distribution (EVI) sample of annual maximum 1440 min rainfall data. In another hand, we have established the IDF curves for ten selected rain gauge stations in the Northern (Oueme Valley) parts of Benin Republic, West Africa by using the simple scaling approach. Analysis of rainfall intensities (5 min and 1440 min rainfall data) from the ten rainfall stations shows that rainfall in north-Benin displays scales invariance property from 5 min to 1440 min. For time scaling, the statistical properties of rainfall follow the hypothesis of simple scaling. Therefore, the simple scaling model applies to the rainfall in (Oueme Valley). Hence, the simple scaling model is thought to be a viable approach to estimate IDF curves of hourly and sub-hourly rainfall form rainfall projections. The obtained scaling exponents are less than 1 and range from 0.23 to 0.59. The empirical model shows that the scaling procedure is a good estimator as it is more efficient and gives more accurate estimates compared with the observed rainfall than the traditional method which only consists the Gumbel model in all stations for lower return periods (T&lt;5 years) but not for higher return periods.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Estimación de las Curvas IDF de Extrema Precipitación por Escala Simple en el Valle Oueme, al Norte de la República de Benín (Africa occidental)</strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>Resumen</strong></p><p>Las curvas de precipitación Intensidad-Duración-Frecuencia (IDF) son de particular importancia en el manejo de los recursos hídricos, como es el caso de la hidrología urbana o para el diseño de estructuras hidráulicas y la estimación del riesgo de crecidas en pequeñas captaciones. Las curvas IDF describen la intensidad de las precipitaciones como una función con períodos de duración y recurrencia, lo que las hace significativas en la planeación de recursos hídricos así como en el diseño de construcciones y estructuras hidráulicas. Este estudio examina las propiedades de escala en precipitaciones extremas para establecer un comportamiento en momentos estadísticos marginales en diferentes períodos de duración. Se establecieron las curvas IDF y las ecuaciones para todas las estaciones a partir del parámetro obtenido del comportamiento de escala, la ubicación y los parámetros de escala μ24 and σ24 de la muestra de información de precipitación máxima anual de 1440 minutos de la distribución de Gumbel (EVI). Por otro lado, se establecieron las curvas IDF para 10 estaciones pluviométricas seleccionadas en el Valle Oueme, al norte de la República de Benín (África occidental), con el uso de aproximación simple de escala. El análisis de las intensidades de precipitación en las diez estaciones pluviométricas muestra que la precipitación en el norte de Benín expone propiedades de poca variación en la escala 5 min y 1440. En el tiempo de escala, las propiedades estadísticas de precipitación confirman la hipótesis de escala simple; además, este modelo so corresponde a la precipitación del Valle Oueme. Por lo tanto, el modelo de escala simple se considera una aproximación viable para estimar las curvas IDF en las proyecciones de precipitación de cada hora y sub-hora. Los exponentes de escala obtenidos son menores a 1 y oscilan de 0,23 a 0,59. El modelo empírico muestra que el procedimiento de escala es un buen estimativo, más eficiente y con cálculos más exactos que el método tradicional, el cual consiste solamente en el modelo Gumbel aplicado en todas las estaciones pluviométricas en períodos de menor recurrencia (T&lt;5 años) pero no en lapsos de mayor recurrencia.</p>


2014 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Soares

AbstractIn this article, I focus on the historiography of Islam in West Africa while also reflecting upon and assessing existing scholarship in the broader field of the study of Islam in Africa. My position as an anthropologist who conducts historical research informs my perspective in evaluating the current state of the field and my suggestions for directions in which I think future research might move in order to advance our understanding of Islam and Muslim societies and the history of religious life in Africa more generally.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document