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.

Serum Enzyme and Histological Studies of Albino Rat Treated with Ethanol/potash Extract of Sorghum bicolor Leaf Sheath

Abstract: The effect of ethanol/potash extract of the leaf sheath of Sorghum bicolor on the histology and serum enzymes was investigated using wistar albino rat placed in four groups of five rats each. The following quantities: 1000, 2000 and 3000mg of the extract was administered orally to the albino rats per kg body weight, while 0.5ml of 0.9% normal saline solution served as control to the fourth group. The rats were dissected after 14 days. Results for Alanine Transaminase (ALT), Aspartate Transaminase (AST) and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ranges as follows: 30-46 U/L, 07/137 U/L and 38-130U/L respectively. The high values of these liver enzymes (ALT, AST and ALP) relative to control values are indicative of severe intra hepatic cell damage. Histopathological examination also, revealed lesion or alteration in the morphological features of the liver and kidney in all the animals. This sample used in the management of anaemia has been observed in rats under the conditions of this study to be toxic to both the liver and the kidney.

Age-stratified interview campaigns suggest ongoing decline of a threatened tortoise species in the West African Sahel

Abstract: Face-to-face interviews with local populations are often used to determine the distribution and population trends of elusive threatened species. Although interviewee responses may suffer from some bias, historical trends in the status of a species can be investigated from age-structured questionnaires. In this paper, we tested this idea by analysing separately answers given by older (> 60 years age) and younger respondents (25–44 years old) on the status of the African spurred tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata), a charismatic large reptile listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. We interviewed 619 people (hunters/farmers/cattle farmers) of different ages in three of the species’ habitat countries (Burkina Faso, Niger and Nigeria). Interviewees were asked whether in their experience the tortoise was common, rare or absent. Using generalized linear models, we showed the probability of answering ‘common’ increased with age in Nigeria and Burkina Faso, whereas the probability of responding ‘absent’ declined with age in Nigeria and Niger. We argue that if statistical differences emerge between answers given by respondents of various age classes on the population status of a target species, the species’ situation may have changed significantly during the last 30–40 years.

Selective disturbance by elephants (Loxodonta africana) on eight tree species in a West African savannah

Abstract: African elephants (Loxodonta africana) are ecosystem engineers in African savannahs, but their role in the modifications of the populations of trees by means of their browsing activities has been poorly studied so far in West Africa. We studied the disturbance of elephants to eight selected species of trees in the Nazinga Game Ranch (Burkina Faso), in 54 transects at the end of dry season 2008. We fitted simple models describing the number of dead individuals for each tree species in relation to their initial population density, and in relation to dung-pile density, in the assumption that there should be a positive relationship between elephant density and dung-pile density. Generalized Linear Model analyses and regression analyses showed that the more dense the woodland cover, the least the percentage of damaged plants by elephants. For each plant species, the initial density and density of elephant dung-piles explained a high proportion of the variance in the density of dead individuals. Stochastic models, generated by a purposely created simple computer program written in GW-BASIC programming language, predicted changes in tree and shrub abundance under different assumptions about elephant numbers. The models suggested that elephant browsing may cause considerable change in the selected plant populations, especially with regard to such species as Acacia gourmaensis, Vitellaria paradoxa and Maytenus senegalensis. These changes may possibly increase the meat harvest from controlled hunting activities, thus improving the income for surrounding communities.