Rivers State University of Science and Technology

About: Rivers State University of Science and Technology is a education organization based out in Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Threatened species. The organization has 1826 authors who have published 1833 publications receiving 15183 citations.

Aspects of the ecology of the tortoise Kinixys nogueyi (Lataste, 1886) in Togo and Nigeria (West Africa)

Abstract: In this study, the sex ratio, habitat use, and diet of free-ranging Kinixys nogueyi are examined. Sex ratio and habitat use were examined in Togo and Nigeria (West Africa), and food habits only in Nigeria. Sex ratios were equal in both populations. Tortoises had clear habitat preferences in both countries, and the Nigerian population exhibited seasonal but not inter-sexual differences in habitat selection. The present study demonstrated that this species inhabits not only Guinea savannahs and relatively wet savannahs, as already reported in the literature, but also rainforest patches and hilly forests, especially in Togo. Food remains in the feces of Nigerian specimens belonged to plants and fungi as well as to animals, with inter-seasonal but not inter-sexual differences in dietary composition. In particular, there was a significant shift from a diet based mostly on animal food in the dry season towards a mainly vegetarian diet in the wet season.

Potential Impacts of Integrated Oil and Gas Plant on Ambient Air Quality

Abstract: The ISCST-3 model has been used to study the ground level concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOX), particulate matter less than 10.0 microns in diameter (PM10) and sulphur dioxide (SO2). The purpose was to predict air quality effects from an integrated oil and gas project (IOGP) proposed for the Niger Delta, Nigeria. The emissions of 12 elevated point sources for criteria air pollutants were considered with eight different scenarios. Both natural gas-fired and diesel (AGO) fired equipment were considered for the identified emission sources. Five years of hourly meteorological observations were used in the prediction of the ground level concentration of the pollutants. The model outputs show a general maximum ground level concentration between 0.5 - 3.5 km, with easterly and north-easterly receptors having the greatest concentration. The pollutants emitted in the greatest concentration in their order of magnitude were CO, NOx and PM10. Maximum ground level concentration for 1, 8 an...

Simple rapid processing of African oil bean seeds for ugba production

Abstract: Toasting oil beans in hot (100°C) sand and holding for a further 30 min at 100°C significantly improved dehulling, and the bitter taste was removed by slicing to I mm, boiling for 30 min and soaking for 2 h. This simple process achieved the same quality of ugba after fermentation as the much more cumbersome, fuel-wasting and time-consuming traditional technique, saving up to 2 days.

Aspects of the population and reproductive ecology of sympatric hinge‐back tortoises (Kinixys homeana and K. erosa) in southern Nigeria, on the basis of specimens traded in bush‐meat markets

Abstract: The ecology and population structure of hinge‐back tortoises (genus Kinixys) was studied in the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria (West Africa), where these species are actively hunted by local people for subsistence. The work is based not only on capture, mark and recapture study of free‐ranging specimens, but also on dissection of specimens offered for food, already dead, in the bush‐meat markets of the study region. The frequency of observation of the two most common species, i.e. K. homeana and K. erosa, was significantly higher in three areas subjected to ‘tradition conservation’ (because tortoises are worshipped by natives due to animistic taboos) than in three other areas where they are harvested. In particular, the juvenile class was much depleted in the three harvest areas. Analyses of market specimens demonstrated that, in both K. homeana and K. erosa, most of the females with oviductal eggs are found during the peak of the dry season, and that there was a positive relationship bet...

Optimization of Citric Acid Production by Aspergillus niger and Candida tropicalis for Solid State Fermentation Using Banana Peel Substrate

Abstract: Increasing cost of production and global demand for citric acid is driving research towards optimizing process conditions to yield very high quantity of the organic acid using abundant cheap substrates and selected microorganisms. Consequently, this study was designed to optimize the production of citric acid by making use of banana (Musa acuminata) peels (agro-waste) through means of solid state fermentation involving Aspergillus niger (Model A) and Candida tropicalis (Model B). In this study, a two-level, five-variable full factorial design of response surface methodology (RSM) comprising 32 experimental runs for each model were used to develop a statistical model for the optimization of fermentation conditions which include: pH, glucose, zinc, ammonium chloride and methanol. The results obtained indicate that a second order polynomial model fitted adequately and statistically significant (p<0.0001) and (p<0.0410) for Model A and B, respectively. The optimum values of the variables were: pH 4; glucose 5% w/v; zinc 2% w/v; ammonium chloride 0.5% w/v; and methanol 3% v/v. Under these conditions, the concentration of citric acid produced were 97.6 g/L with a pH of 3.85 using Aspergillus niger and 113.6 g/L with a pH of 3.45 using Candida tropicalis at 10days fermentation period. Experimental validation of the model indicated that no difference exist between the predicted and the actual yield results. Therefore, utilization of low-cost agro-waste banana peel which serve as suitable substrate for optimization of citric acid production is advocated because of their advantages such as income generation, reduction in environmental problems posed by food-waste disposal and public health hazards associated with it.