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.

Effects of rainfall and geography on the comparative diets of eight rainbow lizard populations across Togo, Benin and Nigeria (West Africa)

Abstract: The diet composition of rainbow lizards (Agama agama complex) populations was studied by feces analysis at eight distant places across a mega-transect in the Gulf of Guinea (West Africa), covering three countries: Togo, Benin and Nigeria. The effects of geography (= linear distance between study sites) and local conditions (using the mean annual rainfall as a proxy of the site-specific conditions) on dietary similarity of rainbow lizards were tested. Rainbow lizards were mainly insectivorous at all sites. Multivariate analyses identified four main groups of localities in terms of diet diversity indexes, with populations inhabiting forest towns tending to have less prey taxa richness than conspecifics from more arid areas, which instead had higher dietary evenness. Food niche overlap between populations was high among populations (range 0.631-0.940, x = 0 . 839 ), and decreased with increases in the difference of mean annual rainfall between sites. There was no effect of the geographic distance on the similarity in diet composition between populations. A UPGMA dendrogram revealed a geographic trend in terms of presence/absence of the various prey types in the diets, with all the Nigerian study sites forming one cluster, whereas Lome and Cotonou, two cities situated within the Dahomey Gap, being grouped apart. Overall, rainfall of the various sites seems to be more important than geographic distance for determining the taxonomic diet composition similarity of these lizards.

Distribution of Particulate Matter in Cawthorne Channels Air Basin in Nigeria

Abstract: The concentrations of Particulate Matter (PM) were determined in tropical wetlands air basin of Cawthorne Channel, Awoba and Krakrama. The sampling was performed with well calibrated equipment (A MultiRAE PLUS (PGM – 50), a programmable Multi Gas monitor with an electrochemical sensor). Parameters measured were particulate matter with 1 µm, 2.5 µm (PM 2.5 ), 7 µm (PM 7 ) , 10 µm (PM 10 ) and Total suspended particulate (TSP). Seasonal variations were displayed by all fractions of particulate matter. TSP at Cawthorne Channels was observed, with very high concentration in January (346.1 µg/m 3 ) at the upwind and (401.7 µg/m 3 ) downwind in dry season. This was followed by wet season measurement. The PM 10 results at Cawthorne Channels also showed strong seasonal variations with very high concentration in January (313.6 µg/m 3 ) at the upwind and (367.5µg/m 3 ) downwind. Of all the respirable particulate size fractions studied, allowable International Standard according to USEPA (1990), was exceeded in PM 10 and PM 7 . PM 2.5 had values that were generally below 60.0 µg/m 3 while PM 1 had values below 10.0 µg/m 3 . The TSP levels exceeded 250.0 ug/m 3 , being Nigerian National allowable limit. The respirable particulate matter had no statistical difference between the upwind and downwind directions (p< 1) 0.05 .

Trichomonas vaginalis infection in some parts of Niger Delta Region, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract: A research work on Trichomonas vaginalis infection in some parts of Niger Delta Region, Nigeria was carried out. Vaginal swab/urethral swab and urine samples were collected from 500 subjects sampled in three zones. From the zonal prevalence of trichomoniasis, Zone B recorded the highest infection rate (9.7%). Out of these 500 subjects, 42(8.4%) were infected with Trichomonas vaginalis , 3 (4.3%) were males and 39(9.1%) females. The prevalence rate of the infection in females was significantly (p Keywords : Prevalence, Trichomonas vaginalis , public health, Niger Delta. Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 27 2006: pp. 68-72

Construction and Performance of River Bank Erosion Protection Structure in the Niger Delta

Abstract: Various bank erosion control measures were examined for applicability in the Niger Delta. Anchored sand-filled polypropylene mattress revetment fulfilled the requirements of optimum performance and safety. The principal design considerations of the protection revetment are analyzed using geo-technical and hydrometric data. Field stability results show that the nature of the thalweg of the river and the percentage of fines (silt/clay) content is a critical factor in the stability of protection sand embankment by hydraulic sandfill from river bed borrow pits.