Abundance and nesting sites characteristics of red-headed picathartes Picathartes oreas in Cross River State, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-51
Author(s):  
M. Abatcha ◽  
O.S. Odewumi

This study assessed the abundance and nesting sites characteristics of red-headed picathartes (Picathartes oreas) in protected and unprotected forest in Cross River State, from August 2016 to January 2017. Data were collected through oral interviews, and field observations, using area search and quadrant methods. Data on bird and nest were tested using one-way ANOVA and t-test while tree species diversity indices were calculated using Paleontological Statistics Software Package, version 16. Results revealed that a mean of 38±52 individual bird from six colonies were sighted during the survey. Higher number of 20 (52.63%) individuals from two colonies was recorded in the undisturbed montane rain forest of the Okwangwo Division of the Cross River National Park than the disturbed montane rain forest with 18 (47.37%) individuals from four colonies. A total of 40 (50%; n = 20 each) nests of red-headed picathartes were sighted during the survey around the undisturbed and disturbed montane rain forest respectively. All (100%; n = 40) the nests observed were attached to the south-eastern side of the rocks and all the nests were constructed with mud mixed with grass. Colony Six was on the highest altitude with an elevation of 529 m, followed by colony two with an elevation of 342 m while the lowest elevation was 195 m recorded in colony three. Tree diversity index was higher in the protected forest (3.352; 3.227) than in the unprotected forest (1.846). Characteristic features of Picathartes oreas habitat were rock, hill, valleys and rivers and streams. It was evidenced by the study that Picathartes oreas still nests both in the disturbed and undisturbed forest but the level of disturbance and type of crops grown may have impact on the nesting behaviour. Therefore, anthropogenic activities should be regulated in the area, to ensure the conservation of Picathartes oreas. Keywords: Picathartes oreas; abundance; nesting sites characteristics; unprotected and protected forest.

Author(s):  
G. B. Bate ◽  
N. O. Sam-Uket

A study was undertaken to determine the macroinvertebrates pollution tolerance index (PTI) in Calabar River, Cross River state, Nigeria. Five sampling stations were chosen along the river course: Ikot Okon Abasi, Tinapa, Unicem, Marina resort and Nsidung beach which were labeled stations 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Physico-chemical parameters; surface water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total dissolved solids (TDS) and total suspended solids (TSS) were measured using their respective meters while macroinvertebrates were sampled using a Van Veen grab, stained with Rose Bengal solution and identified under microscope. Macroinvertebrates pollution tolerance index was obtained using online software designed by Northern Kentucky Univeristy and Leaf Pack Network Biotic and Water Quality Calculator. The results obtained for physicochemical parameters showed the highest temperature as 29.90C in station five while the lowest was 26.40C in station one. pH was highest (6.60) in station five and lowest (5.52) in station one. DO was highest (4.4mg/L) in station four and lowest (3.0 mg/L) in station five while BOD was highest (3.2 mg/L) in station three and lowest (0.3 mg/L) in station one. An average total of 5366 macroinvertebrate individuals were encountered belonging to nine families and eleven species. Tubificidae had the lowest occurrence with 18 individuals which made up 0.3% of the total macroinvertebrates while Penaeidae had the highest occurrence with 2,455 individuals constituting 45.8% of the total count. Pollution tolerance index was highest (21) in station five and lowest (9) in station four with the water quality being generally poor. Hence, it is suggested that anthropogenic activities should be regulated and continuous monitoring of the river course should be carried out.


Author(s):  
Ajit Kumar Jain ◽  
S. K Katiyar ◽  
M. S Chauhan

Anthropogenic activities impart serious challenges on wetland management. The issues of Anthropogenic Activities manifest in the form of environmental degradation, point and non-point source pollution of lake water. Catchment area of upper lake Bhopal has been witnessing the same scenario; raising the question of its planning and management to control water pollution. It shows the necessity to analyse and study the pattern of land use & land cover(LULC). In order to assess the LULC pattern and spatio-temporal dynamics the changing pattern of patch number(NP), class area(CA), mean patch size(MPS), mean shape index (MSI), Shannon’s Diversity index(SHDI), Simpson’s Diversity Index(SDI) of all land use/land cover categories. In this researchpaper above mentioned parameters were measured and analyzed for landuse/landcover change from year 2003 to 2011. Area of agriculture and built up land expanded 16.18% and 4.77% while number of patches reduced by 332 and 187 for these two classes respectively. On the other hand class area of vegetation and barren land reduced 9.33% and 11.62%. Few patches of vegetation completely eliminated resulted in reduction of number of patches by 1250. Increased no. of patches of barren land by 150 shows fragmentation. Reduction in diversity indices indicates that area becomes less diversified during study period. During the period of 2003 to 2011 shape of patches of agriculture and built up land becomes more complex and that of barren land and vegetation converted to simpler shape. These indices provided meaningful insights pertaining to the spatiotemporal dynamics prevailing in the catchment area of Upper Lake Bhopal.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 2112
Author(s):  
Upen Deka ◽  
Tapan Dutta

The present investigation deals with the ecological study of Urbad beel of Goalpara district of Assam with reference to aquatic plant community. The study was carried out during the year 2016 to 2017. Diversity indices viz. Shannon-Weiner diversity index, Simpson diversity index, Menhinick diversity index and Concentration of dominance were calculated to show the plant community structure of the wetland. A total of 93 aquatic macrophytic plant species belonging to 74 genera and 45 families have been reported from the wetland. Based on IVI value, Eichhornia crassipes was the most dominant species (IVI= 22.54) followed by Hygroryza aristata (IVI= 19.96), Arundo donax (IVI= 8.21) respectively whereas Cyperus brevifolius (IVI= 0.768) showed the lowest IVI value among all the life forms of the aquatic macrophytes of the wetland. Results showed that anthropogenic disturbances inside the wetland areas are the prime factor for losing aquatic plant community of the wetland. The obtained Shannon -diversity index values (3.06 and 2.18) both in summer and winter seasons indicate the further degradation of the wetland. Therefore, anthropogenic activities inside the wetland areas should be prevented for the sustainable existence of the wetland as well as the livelihood of the fringe villagers.


GIS Business ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 136-158
Author(s):  
Eneji Chris-Valentine Ogar ◽  
Petters Janet Sunday ◽  
Onnoghen Usang Nkanu ◽  
Asuquo Edung Etim

This study assessed the influence of teacher’s characteristics and other related factors in the implementation of Environmental Education curriculum in secondary schools in Cross River State, Nigeria. Two research designs were used, survey inferential and Expost facto research design. The study is located in the department of Environmental Education, University of Calabar, Nigeria. Two research questions converted into two hypotheses were formulated for the study.  A sample of three hundred (300) respondents were selected using the multistage random sampling technique comprising of twenty five (25) lecturers and two hundred and seventy five (275) postgraduate and final year undergraduate students in the department of Environmental Education, University of Calabar. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire, the instrument administration was done by the researchers and same were collected 100%. Pearson Product Moment Correlation Analysis and regression analysis were used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 significance level and 298 and 290 degrees of freedom respectively. The result shows that teacher’s characteristics do significantly influence Environmental Education curriculum implementation in secondary schools. The regression analysis also shows that 6 factors listed impedes the implementation of Environmental Education curriculum, while four were not significant factors influencing Environmental Education curriculum in secondary schools. It was however recommended that teachers with competence in pedagogic knowledge of Environmental Education with classroom management skill should be employed to drive the process, while arrangement should be put in place to make Environmental Education a subject for students to offer and write in final senior secondary school examination among other.


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