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.

Food Habits of the Snake Psammophis phillipsi from the Continuous Rain-Forest Region of Southern Nigeria (West Africa)

Abstract: The food habits of the snake Psammophis phillipsi were studied in the rain-forest region of southeastern Nigeria, where this is the most common snake species of the area. A total of 120 prey items were recorded from 327 specimens (73 juveniles; 55 gravid females); many gravid females contained prey. Lizards (mainly Agama agama and Mabuya skinks) were the most common prey type for adult snakes, both gravid and nongravid, and for subadults as well; small mammals were the second most common prey type for all snake categories. Insects and small snakes (including conspecifics) were occasionally consumed. Diet composition did not differ significantly between gravid and nongravid specimens, but gravid specimens more frequently contained small mammals and fewer lizards. Ontogenetic dietary change was relatively minor. Prey and predator mass were significantly related in both adults and subadults.

Effects of wilting, blanching and storage temperatures on ascorbic acid and total carotenoids content of some Nigerian fresh vegetables

Abstract: Four fresh vegetables (fluted pumpkin leaf, okra, African spinach, and water leaf) were studied. Determinations were made of the amounts of ascorbic acid and total carotenoids in fresh, wilted and blanched begetables as well as in fresh and blanched vegetables stored at −10°C and 5°C. Results showed that wilting accounted for the highest losses in both ascorbic acid and carotenoids in all vegetables investigated. The least losses in the two nutrients were observed in blanched vegetables. In general carotenoid was more stable to the different treatments than ascorbic acid.

Non-marine mammals of Togo (West Africa): an annotated checklist

Abstract: Although Togo is a relatively small country in West Africa, it is characterized by a wide variation of vegetation zones ranging from moist forests to arid savannahs, including the “Dahomey Gap”. There has been no comprehensive documentation of the native mammal fauna of Togo since 1893. Our review of the extant and extirpated mammals ofT ogo includes 178 species, with Chiroptera (52 species) and Rodentia (47 species) being the most speciose groups. This number does not include additional species recorded along the borders ofT ogo, and whose presence inside the country is not verified. Seven species of mammals are presumably extinct in the country but we confirmed that two species of large ungulates, reputed to be extinct, survive in remote forest habitats. Ecological Zone IV, sustaining the moist forest areas, and Ecological Zone I, inclusive of all the relatively undisturbed dry savannahs of the extreme North of the country are the most important regions for mammal diversity and conservation.