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.

Determinants of Adoption of Improved Fish Production Technologies among Fish Farmers in Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract: This study was conducted to isolate the determinants of improved fish production technologies in Delta State, Nigeria. Data were collected from a sample population of 250 fish farmers from ten randomly selected Local Government Areas of Delta State. The data were elicited from respondents with the use of structured interview schedule while descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The recommended fish farming technologies at different stages of adoption process were pH testing and regulation, testing of dissolved oxygen level, feed formulation, polyculture, practices integrated fish/poultry or rice farming, re-circulation method, cage system, spawning and stocking density. The level of adoption was low. The grand mean adoption score and adoption index are 1.02 and 0.10, respectively. The low level of adoption was attributed to cost of the technologies, their complexities and lack of extension contact. The level of education, age of farmers, farm size, ...

Effects of habitat alteration caused by petrochemical activities and oil spills on the habitat use and interspecific relationships among four species of Afrotropical freshwater turtles

Abstract: The large-scale effects of habitat alteration produced by oil-industry related pollution on the habitat use of four species of freshwater turtles (Pelusios castaneus, Pelusios niger, Pelomedusa subrufa, Trionyx triunguis) were studied in the River Niger Delta, southern Nigeria (West Africa) between 1996 and 2004. The numbers of turtle specimens observed during our study declined drastically in polluted sites, despite a nearly identical field effort. The number of specimens of all turtle species declined considerably at all habitat types, but complete disappearance in polluted areas was found only with regard to one habitat type for Trionyx triunguis and two habitat types for Pelomedusa subrufa. The mean values of species dominance and diversity indexes were not statistically significant between pristine and altered areas. Based on the interspecific similarity in proportional frequencies of turtle specimens found in each habitat type, a multivariate set of analyses (UPGMA) showed that the turtles were arranged in three ‘ecological’ clusters: a group formed by Pelomedusa subrufa at both polluted and unpolluted areas and Trionyx triunguis at polluted areas; (ii) a group formed by Pelusios castaneus in polluted areas and Pelusios niger in polluted areas; (iii) a group formed by Pelusios castaneus in unpolluted areas and Pelusios niger in unpolluted areas; however, this latter cluster was not very close, as the linkage distance was close to 80% of Euclidean distance. Habitat use similarity among turtles in both polluted and unpolluted study areas was evaluated by the use of two types of overlap formulas (Pianka and Czechanowski) and the use of Monte Carlo randomisations in order to control for the eventual role of chance in the actual data matrix. These data indicated that, for a pair of species (Pelusios niger vs. Pelusios castaneus), there was a statistically significant increase in the similarity of habitat use in the polluted areas vs. the unpolluted areas, and that this pattern was not dependent on the chance. Considering that these two species are ecologically and morphologically similar, we conclude that the most likely consequence at the community level is an increase in the intensity of interspecific competition for space between Pelusios niger and Pelusios castaneus in the polluted areas. Although the direction of the intensification of this competition process could not be easily predicted, it is likely that the species which is least adapted to life in main rivers and creeks may be disadvantaged over the other competitor. The general implications for habitat preservation are also discussed.

External-Internal Standards in Corporate Governance in Nigeria

Abstract: The paper examines the corporate governance climate in Nigeria and critically inquires into external and internal standards that guide companies in the way they are governed. The external standards considered include the statutory standards found in the relevant provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act and the Insurance Act; as well as the voluntary standards set out by the Code of Best Practices on Corporate Governance in Nigeria in terms of the institutional oversight and control. The paper examined four multinational companies to identify aspects of internal standards in their governance. In this regard we found that corporate social responsibility manifesting in corporate community investments is significant. The paper is enriched by the result of a survey of companies in Nigeria on general and specific attitudes on corporate governance. In conclusion the paper identifies the voluntary nature of the Code of Best Practices and inadequate enforcement of the external standards recently adopted as the principal problem and concludes that requiring companies to demonstrate how they have complied with the Code of Best Practices will aid a positive corporate governance climate. In addition the paper posits that provision for civil actions and criminal prosecution against erring corporations for violation of statutory standards will go a long way in ensuring effective corporate governance in Nigeria.