Journal of Global Ecology and Environment
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EFFECTIVENESS OF Pauesia juniperorum IN CONTROLLING POPULATION OF CYPRESS APHIDS IN MALAWI
No full textThe cypress aphid, Cinara cupressivora is a significant pest of Cupressaceae species and has caused serious damage to naturally regenerating and planted forests in Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Near East. This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of biological control of Cypress Aphids (Cinara cupressivora) using Pauesia juniperorum in Cupressus lusitanica clonal seed orchard in Dedza, Malawi. The data was extracted from monthly reports (1994 to 2002) of the Forestry Research Institute of Malawi. A statistically significant (X2=57.62, P<0.001) association was found between the presence of P. juniperorum and presence of C. Cupressivora. The reduction on the percentage presence of C. cupressivora was 23 times (Odds ratio = 22.9) more likely to occur in the presence of P. juniperorum than in its absence. The study further revealed that there was a statistically significant (X2=3573.06, P<0.001) association between the presence of P. juniperorum and damage of C. lusitanica. The damage on the C. lusitanica was 65 times (odds ratio 65.3) more likely to get reduced in the presence of P. juniperorum than in their absence. There was also a significant (P<0.001) difference in the mean number of cypress aphids per tree branch per month before (5.56±0.75) and after (2.69±0.51) the release of P. juniperorum. The study therefore confirms effectiveness of P. juniperorum as a sustainable biological control agent for Cypress Aphids
FORAGE BIOMASS YIELD PERFORMANCE OF RHODES GRASS (Chloris gayana) ACCESSIONS IN BENISHNGUL-GUMUZ REGION OF WESTERN ETHIOPIA
No full textThe experiment was conducted at Kamashi and Assosa forage research stations of Assosa Agricultural Research Center to evaluate the forage yield performance of five chloris gayana accessions under low and mid-altitude agro-ecologies. Kamashi and Assosa were representing low and mid-altitude agro-ecologies respectively. The study was conducted in randomized complete block design with three replications. Plant height at forage harvesting, days to forage harvest, forage dry matter yield, and leaf to stem ratio were significantly (P < 0.001) different among the testing agro-ecologies. The highest plant height at forage harvesting and forage dry matter yield was obtained from Kamashi and leaf to stem ratio from Assosa testing environment. Genotype was significantly (P < 0.001) affected plant height, days to forage harvest, and leaf to stem ratio. Plant height was significantly (P < 0.05) affected by the interaction of genotype and environment. The result of a combined analysis indicated that the days to forage harvest was significantly (P < 0.001) affected by genotype. While days to forage harvest was significantly (P < 0.001) different among the tested genotypes at both testing environment and C. gayana cv., massaba, was early maturing than the others tested Chloris gyana accessions at both locations. In conclusion the plant height, dry matter yield, leaf to stem ratio and days to maturity of C. gayana is affected by agro-ecology
SINGLE AND COMBINATORIAL ATTENUATING POTENTIALS OF PHYTO-EMULSIFIED AND NON-IONIC SURFACTANTS ON CRUDE OIL IMPACTED SOIL
No full textThis study investigated the Single And Combinatorial Attenuating Potentials Of Phyto-Emulsified and Non-Ionic Surfactants on Crude Oil Impacted Soil. Crude oil highly impacted soil excavated from an oil spill site at Obeche community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria was used. Attenuation was induced using phyto-emulsified surfactant (Costus afer stem) and chemical surfactant (Triton x-100). The pH value of polluted soil sample (Cell A) was observed to be increased (6.81± 0.52) when compared with other cells that were amended. A significant reduction was observed in cell D (5.80 ± 0.00) amended with Costus afer + Triton x-100. The result of the soil electrical conductivity shows a significant difference (P≤ 0.05) when cell A is compared with other cells. Only cell C amended with 3ml of Triton x-100 had a lower value of 31.67 ± 1.52 when compared with cell A (polluted soil sample) (76.67 ± 1.52). All the other cells had higher values of 339.67 ± 5.50, 233.67 ± 4.04 and 134. 67 ± 2.51 respectively when compared with cell A (76.67 ± 1.52). After 60 days of incubation with the amendments used, only cell B amended with 200g of Costus afer had no significant difference (p≤ 0.05) when compared with cell A for total organic carbon (%) content were as others did. The same trend was observed for the total nitrogen (%) content where all the cells except cell B was significantly different (p≤ 0.05) when compared with cell A. Cells C and D had higher values of 0.32 ± 0.00 and 0.26 ± 0.07 respectively. For PO43- (mg/kg) and NO-3 (mg/kg) all the cells were significantly different (p≤ 0.05) and there was a recognized reduction in their values when compared with the control sample (Cell A). Organic Sulphur (mg/kg) value reduced exponentially but not significantly in all the cells (0.10 ± 0.00) when compared with the control cell (A) (15.00 ± 0.00). A significant difference (p≤ 0.05) when cell A is compared with the other cells was observed for the total PAH (mg/kg) concentration and all the other cells amended had a decrease in their total PAH (mg/kg) concentration with cell D having the highest reduction (1.77 ± 0.02) followed by cell B (4.74 ± 0.02) and cell C (5.97 ± 0.55) when compared with the control sample i.e cell A which has the value of 6.85 ± 0.01. All the cells amended were significantly different (p≤ 0.05) except for cell C (CISS + 3ml Triton x-100) for the TPH (mg/kg) and THC (mg/kg) concentration when compared with the control sample (cell A). All the cells amended had reduction in their TPH (mg/kg) and THC (mg/kg) concentration with the same reduction pattern observed with total PAH (mg/kg) concentration also observed here. In all the heavy metals quantified, there is a significant difference at p≤ 0.05 when all the amended cells (B to D) are compared with the control cell (A). For Pb (mg/kg), the concentration of all the cells amended significantly decreased with cell C (CISS + Triton x-100) having the lowest concentration of 1.52 ± 0.02 when compared with the control cell (11.31 ± 0.15). For Cu, Cd and Ni, (mg/kg) all the amended cells were seen to be reduced in their concentrations when compared with the concentration of the control sample. For Mn, the concentrations of the amended cells were seen to be high when compared with the concentration of the control sample. These results indicates that amendment with Costus afer stem alone and in combination with Triton x-100 proved to be very efficient materials in the cleanup of crude oil polluted soil
BIOINDICATOR BASED WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF WARBO AND DABO STREAMS IN AWASH CATCHMENT, DENDI WOREDA, ETHIOIPA
No full textThe increasing impact of human activities on the freshwater bodies of Ethiopia calls for efficient and cost-effective method for water quality and ecological health assessment. In Ethiopia, river water quality monitoring totally depends on conventional method using physicochemical analysis for streams and rivers. Increasing anthropogenic pressure on water bodies-initiated researchers to develop holistic water quality assessment methods for the country. So the present study was aimed at assessing the water quality of Warbo and Dabo streams using macroinvertebrates as biological indicators. The status of water quality was assessed in terms of presence or absence of indicator organisms in relation to physicochemical parameters. Hilsenhoff Family-level Biotic Index (H-FBI) results have shown that the site 6 had relatively higher value (6.5) followed by site 5 (5.8). The site 1 recorded least H-FBI value which accounts for 3.2 followed by site 4 (3.74). For Ethiopian Biological Score Index (ETHbios index), highest score was recorded at site 3 (120) followed by site site 4 (102) while the lowest score was obtained for the site 6 and site 1 which accounts for 54 and 57 respectively. The Average Score Per Taxon (ASPT) value was comparatively higher for sites 1 (6.67) and site 3 (6.31) than other sites. Principal components analysis of physicochemical variables showed wide variation among the study sites. Axis 1 and axis 2 of the Principle Component Analysis (PCA) explained 97.5 % of the total variance regarding the sites versus physicochemical association, where the first axis and second axis contributed 73.04% and 24.56% to the variation, respectively. Results of Pearson correlation reaveled that there exists significant relation between variuos pollutant parameters
ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BACTERIA ASSOCIATED WITH WASTE-WATER FROM HAIR-DRESSING SALONS IN AWKA METROPOLIS
No full textThis study was conducted to isolate and characterize bacteria associated with waste-water from hair-dressing salons in Awka- the state capital of Anambra, South-Eastern Nigeria. Samples were collected from five different locations in Awka namely: Zik’s Avenue, Unizik temporary site, Okpuno, Commissioners’ quarters and Ifite-Awka. The isolates obtained were examined and identified using microscopic, morphological, and biochemical characteristics. Five bacterial groups were isolated and identified. They include Staphylococcus aureous, Pseudomonas spp., Streptococcus spp., Escherichia coli and Bacillus spp.. It was observed that Staphylococcus aureous was isolated from all the waste-water samples from the five different locations. Bacterial counts revealed that samples from Unizik temporary site has the highest number of isolates while samples from Commissioners’ quarters had the least. The presence of these bacterial organisms is an indication that hair-dressing and beauty salons could be contributing to the spread of infection within Awka metropolis
PODS OF Prosopis cineraria (GHAF): A GIFT OF NATURE FOR NUTRACEUTICAL
No full textProsopis cineraria (Ghaf) is a highly valued trees in many arid and desert areas in the world with hard climatic adaptation and one of the life-line in desert habitat. In 2008, this tree has drawn attention for its various uses and it was declared as the national tree of the UAE not only for its sustainability through low water consumption and its ability to maintain desert ecosystems, but also it is a historic and cultural symbol of stability and peace in the UAE\u27s desert environment. Pods locally are considered as dry fruit in desert areas and are one of the main ingredients of prototypical. In the present research work, we strived to study nutritional contents available in the pods of ghaf, to understand its health benefits. Extracts of Pods were analysed for various nutrients like potassium, sulphate, Iron, copper, zinc, calcium, ammonia, nitrate. Extracts of pods of Ghaf are the highly bioactive and is a good source of nutrients including minerals. This study reveal that P. cineraria pods can be use as nutraceutical food with rich nutrition, disease prevention and health promoting effects. Its prominence on its broad food and non-food applications, nutritional values and health benefits
HISTORY AND EMERGENCE OF AIR POLLUTION
No full textFire is one of the oldest sorts of pollution, and even today natural forest fires cause pollution. However, pollution, particularly in cities, is never a replacement phenomenon because back within the Middle Ages the utilization of coal in cities like London was starting to find significance. The issues of poor urban air quality whilst early because the end of the 16th century is well documented. The economic revolution during the 18th and 19th centuries has supported the utilization of coal within the UK where industries were usually located in towns and cities and therefore coal used in homes elevated urban air pollution to higher levels. Moreover, under foggy atmospheric conditions, pollution levels were critically high causing cities to halt, disrupting traffic, and even significantly increasing death rates. The effect of such pollution was also found within the built and inbuilt environment and vegetation which facilitated Public Health Act, with a smoke abatement section which came into force in 1875 aiming at controlling pollution
DISTRIBUTION OF HEAVY METALS IN SOIL FROM SELECTED DUMPSITES IN PORT HARCOURT METROPOLIS, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA
No full textComposite samples were collected from the six refuse dumpsites and analyzed for heavy metals concentrations using atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS VGB 210 system). The concentrations of the heavy metals in (mg/Kg) were in the following order: Fe>Mn>Cu>Zn>Ni>Co>Cd>V>Pb. The values of the heavy metals observed in the different dumpsites were lower than their corresponding average value in shale. However, the values from the different dumpsites showed some relationship with industrial activities. In each of the metals, the highest values were obtained in parts of Port Harcourt where there is serious presence of industrial work. The contamination factor (CF) revealed that dumpsites soils were not contaminated with any of the heavy metals and do not seem to pose danger presently. Therefore, more regulatory activities by the relevant agencies should be put in place as to forestall future occurrence of accumulation that might pose danger to the environment
ASSESSMENT OF VULNERABILITY TO DESERTIFICATION USING THE MULTI-CRITERIA ANALYSIS BY THE WEIGHTED SUM METHOD
No full textDespite the fact that desertification affects 41% of lands, there is only a few comprehensive methods to assess desertification. This study was conducted in order to assess the vulnerability to desertification caused mainly by anthropogenic actions associated with arid climate. It describes a global method of spot assessment of vulnerability to desertification. The first step of this method is to categorize and delimit bio-geographical areas that are homogenous from climatic, edaphic and floristic point of view in Morocco. Then, the land uses of these homogeneous areas are mapped into seven main classes and from that, the vulnerability to desertification of each area is assessed by the multi-criteria analysis by weighted sum method. This analysis is based on biophysical and anthropogenic factors such as temperature, precipitation, terrain, soil type, forest and matorral cover, cropland, stocking rate, and population density. The results point out that the forest and matorral cover has increased these last years, even though the forests have regressed. On another side, the weighted sum method have showed better results by indicating the degree of vulnerability of each homogeneous areas. Thus, the highest vulnerable area is Agricultural plains of Gharb. This method can be adapted, and then reused to assessed vulnerability in other countries or regions of the world affected by desertification
GENETIC DIVERSITY BEHAVIOR OF SOME PEARL MILLET GENOTYPES ACROSS DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS
No full textMillet has a mighty adaptation possibility to a biotic stresses which are important parameters of genotypes growing in severe conditions. This study focused on the differential responses of five millet genotypes under two levels of drought with a decrease in irrigation water at a rate of 20 and 40% compared to the natural irrigation rate during two successful seasons in two different locations. Mean performance, tolerance indices and environmental variation under different environments provides good chances for breeders to select genotypes which have high yielding and drought résistance. Based on these parameters, the results of stover and grain yield reliability indicated that Line 1 is the best in the case of desirability of a higher stover while Shandawil cultivar occupies the first place for grain yield. But when considering getting high yield for both stover and grain together, Line 3 was chosen. Therefore, this study focuses on how to make an objective assessment of genotypes under different environments to benefit plant breeders in determining the most suitable and stable genotypes for yield in the presence of successive environmental changes