Journal of Global Ecology and Environment
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EVALUATING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF GARAGES IN CAMEROON USING AN IMPACT MATRIX FRAMEWORK: A CASE STUDY
No full textThis study focuses on the assessment of environmental impacts of garages in the Yaoundé II (Yaoundé, Cameroon) subdivision. For this aim, several data from observations and surveys have been used. The surveys were conducted in 49 garages representing 73% of the overall garages counted in March 2015 by the Yaoundé II municipality. The impacts have been identified from the in situ informations regarding the components of garages and existing environmental sensitivities. The impacts on the different environmental components are identified from the matrix method of Leopold. Furthermore, we assessed the extent of impacts with the Martin Fecteau’s Matrix. The various activities of the garages grouped into three domains (mechanical, electrical and sheetmetal) have not only negative impacts on the environment, but also positive impacts. The significant negative impacts are air pollution, degradation of ozone layer, soil pollution and degradation of the health of mechanics. To mitigate these impacts, the proposed measures are summarized in the limitation of gaseous and particulate emissions, the prohibition to dispose wastes on ground, the use of protective equipment and compliance with safety rules. In addition, we also noted the positive impacts including: Increasing of the municipality and state incomes through the payment of various taxes, development of the local economy and opportunities for direct and indirect jobs. To maximize these impacts, it is necessary to improve the working conditions of the mechanics with the assistance of public authorities
URBAN GROWTH: CHALLENGES, MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING IMPLICATION IN PORT HARCOURT MUNICIPALITY
No full textThe management of urban growth has been a major concern to government especially in developing countries in the global south which Nigeria is not an exception. The dynamics of urban growth and management in Nigerian urban centres have been enmeshed in several challenges ranging from socio-spatial to institutional and recently political. This study aims to identify and assess the challenges impeding the implementation of development control and urban growth management measures by the relevant agencies and its impact on physical planning within Port Harcourt Municipality. The objectives of the study are to: examine the development control process as presently applied, identify the operational, institutional and political challenges faced by development control agencies as well as identify the impact of these failures on development control activities in Port Harcourt Municipality. The study adopted the cross-sectional sampling technique. The sample size of ninety-two (92) respondents was judgemental sampling drawn from staff of the agencies, prospective applicants, successful applicants and unsuccessful applicants for development permit within the municipality. Descriptive technique was used to analyse the data and findings were represented in simple percentages and charts. The study found out that the approvals of application for development permit are done without cognizance to extant laws and guidelines. The study further revealed that there are other bottlenecks which impede urban management and development control activities within the municipality. They include: operational, institutional and political challenges. The study concluded that if Port Harcourt municipality must return to its lost glory and even ascend, there must be a deliberate effort by all and sundry to say no to slums, pockets of uncontrolled development, squatter settlement, sprawl etcetera. To achieve this, the issue of rural urban migration must be dealt with by deliberately making the rural areas more habitable with provision of needed facilities provided
PHENOLOGY OF TREE SPECIES IN A TROPICAL EVERGREEN FOREST OF SOUTHERN INDIA
No full textTree phenology and seasonality of topical evergreen forest woody stems of 47 tree species (> 30 cm girth at breast height) were identified and tagged with a unique number along a transect of approximately 5 km comprising 177 individuals. Observations were made at monthly intervals from June 2004 to May 2006 for leafing, flowering and fruiting phenophases in various tree species at community level. At community level leaf initiation begins with a major peak in December to January (winter) and a minor peak in April (summer). Leaf expansion in January (winter) to February (summer) and June (rainy). Leaf senescence from August to October (rainy), January (winter) to March (summer) with major and minor peak. Initiation of flower bud during November and January, pollination in December (winter). Fruit bud initiates during January (winter) and April (summer). Ripened fruit from January (winter) – April (summer) and in July (rainy). Fruit falling in June (rainy) and March (summer) with a major and minor peak. Rainfall had significant negative influence on both vegetative and reproductive phenologies. Except for leaf senescence different phenophases of vegetative and reproductive phenologies were significantly seasonal
MORTALITIES AND EXPLOITATION RATES OF SOME COMMERCIAL FISHES LANDED BY ARTISANAL FISHERS IN EKPERIAMA, NIGER DELTA
No full textLength-frequency data of 22 fish species sampled were collected randomly from the landings of artisanal fishers and analysed with the aim of estimating mortalities and exploitation rate of most landed fish species in Ekperiama along Ogbia Creek in Niger Delta. The data was fed into FiSAT (FAO- ICLAM Fish Stock Assessment Tool). Gears used in the area were identified through personal contacts and discussions with the fishers and were classified into various types (active and passive). Fishing gears consist mostly of gill net, drift nets hook and line, and traps. M/K (natural mortality to growth coefficient) ranged between 1.0 and 2.5 which is acceptable and makes the study valid for scientific interpretation and deduction. Fishing mortality values estimated was < 0.7 excerpt for Lutjanus agennes and Ilisha africana. Exploitation rate (E) estimated in this study are within optimum level indicating low fishing intensity which means that other activities such as oil exploration and exploitation activities, illegal refineries and sand drilling going on in the area are responsible for depletion of fish stock in the aquatic ecosystem. These factors could affect the physic-chemical properties of the aquatic ecosystem, thereby affecting the physiology and metabolism of the aquatic organism. It is therefore pertinent for the government to check and control these activities in the Niger Delta
EFFECT OF A RIVER FLOOD EVENT ON THE POLLUTANT DISPERSION IN A KARSTIC AQUIFER USING DISCRETE - CONTINUUM APPROACH: A CASE STUDY FROM THE KARST AQUIFER OF THE VAL D’ORLÉANS, FRANCE
No full textA discrete - continuum approach is developed to evaluate the effect of a river flood wave on groundwater heads and consequently on the solute transport within the karst. Darcy’s law and the Brinkman equation were applied in the hosted rock and within conduit, respectively. The karst system of the Val d’Orléans (France) was selected as a case study. The validity of the model was tested using the chloride concentration measurements for two flood events in the Loire River and at Bouillon Spring. The calibration process shows that the optimum permeability values in the hosted rock and in the karst conduits are 5.6E-10 m2 and 1.65E-5 m2, respectively. Good agreement was obtained when the storage coefficient is 0.9 m-1. When the chloride infiltrates from the Loire River into the karst, the simulation shows that the distance penetrated by chloride in the hosted rock is 530 m for a two months flood about 2 m. Such calculation quantifies the volume of vulnerable aquifer surrounding a karstic conduit and highlights the importance of water exchange between conduit and hosted rock
DISTRIBUTION AND MORPHOMETRIC CHARACTERISATION OF Potamon ebonyicum (MUD CRAB) AT PERIURBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES OF EBONYI RIVER BASIN NIGERIA
No full textPopulation of Potamon ebonyicum was visibly decreasing at alarming rate around Ebonyi river basin. Apparent increase in catching efforts due to various economic reasons and other causes of the decline associated with environmental degradation necessitated verification of habitat and morphometric characterization of the crab species. Population survey and micro habitat verification were therefore conducted in rural and periurban areas of the river basin. The habitat variables were measured with existing and innovated instruments. There was insignificant difference in the population of female and male crab, 49% and 51% respectively. The males were more abundant in the periurban than in the rural habitat. Conversely, population percentage of the females was more than that of the males in the rural habitat, 59.5% and 40.5% respectively. The females from rural habitat were heavier than the males, while the males from the periurban habitat were heavier than the females. Carapace width of the males from the periurban was almost the same as that of the females from the rural habitat, 4.2± 0.18 cm and 4.2±0.11 cm respectively. There was a significant difference between carapace length of the males from rural and periurban habitat, 4.8±0.37 cm and 5.2±0.23 cm respectively. The difference in carapace length of the females from the habitats was not noticeable, 4.0±0.33 cm and 4.2± 0.14 cm respectively. Geometric variables of the two habits were not significantly correlated. Abundance and distribution of P. ebonyicum appeared to be driven by rapid loss of forest and variable catching efforts. Proper implementation of habitat regulation in the river basin might improve the environment and enhance the economy
DIVERSITY AND ANTIBACTERIAL POTENTIAL OF CULTURABLE COASTAL MARINE BACTERIA
No full textThe diversity and antibacterial activities of culturable bacteria from the coastal area of the Niger Delta in Bonny Island were investigated. The bacteria were isolated from water, sediment, submerged wood, boat swab, periwinkle (Tympanotonus fuscatus) surface, periwinkle (Tympanotonus fuscatus) intestine, prawn (Penaeus notialis) surface, prawn (Penaeus notialis) fluid, crab (Sesarma huzardi) surface, crab (Sesarma huzardi) fluid, fish (Sarotherodon melanotheron) surface, fish (Sarotherodon melanotheron) intestine and alga (Cladophora sp.) by spread plate procedure. The isolates were screened for antibacterial activity via agar well diffusion technique. Isolates with high antagonistic potential were identified by molecular method. The highest bacterial load was obtained from sediment. A sum of 124 bacterial isolates belonging to the genera of Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Flavobacterium, Pseudomonas, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Salmonella, Aeromonas, Vibrio, Achromobacter, Erwinia, Acinetobacter, Actinobacillus, Alteromonas, Enterococcus, Serratia, Yersinia, Pleisomonas, Myriodes, Providencia, Shigella, Azotobacter, Proteus, Streptococcus and Shewanella were isolated at dissimilar frequencies with Bacillus predominating. The bacteria isolated from the samples were mostly gram negative. The highest generic diversity was encountered in sediment. About 43% of the isolates showed antagonistic activity. Antagonistic bacteria were more in sediment than in any other sample. Molecular identification of the isolates with high antagonistic potential revealed that they are closely related to Pseudomonas sp. H7, Providencia vermicola strain 6G, Proteus mirabilis strain NM 42-8, Shewanella sp-C16-M, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Proteus mirabilis RUC 51, Shewanella upenei strain 9.2, Shewanella sp. L-10, Providencia vermicola strain 6G, Shewanella algae strain SW19, Myroides odoratimimus strain SK 505 GRD, Providencia rettgeri strain DSR5, Myroides odoratimimus strain DB13253, Shewanella sp. JNU-SGY002, Myroides odoratimimus DB13253 and Myroides odoratimimus strain Ick58. The results revealed that coastal marine location habours varied bacteria of antibacterial significance against fish and human pathogens
MONITORING OF WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS IN THE VIDUR RESERVOIR (VILLUPURAM DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU, INDIA)
No full textIn the present work some physical and chemical water quality parameters of Vidur reservoir were studied. Vidur is a village panchayat in the Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu. Vidur lies in the northeast part of Tamil Nadu, between Chennai and Villupuram. Water quality parameters are an important criterion for evaluating the suitability of water for different uses. The study of various water quality parameters in Vidur reservoir was carried out for a period of one year (October 2015 to September 2016). The samples were collected during morning hours and were analyzed monthly for physical and chemical parameters. The parameters considerer were: air (atmospheric) temperature, water temperature, pH, free carbon dioxide, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, total alkalinity, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, chloride, and nutrients. Results showed higher values in summer compared to the other seasons. According to phosphorus concentrations, the reservoir is hypereutrophic and polluted
EFFECTS OF INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS ON SOIL RESOURCE IN CHALLAWA INDUSTRIAL AREA, KANO, NIGERIA
No full textThe study was aimed at determining the effects of industrial effluents on the soil environment of Challawa industrial area, Kano State Nigeria. Profile pit soils were sampled in the areas affected by industrial effluents and the adjacent control area. Sampled soils were carried to the laboratories for physical (sand, silt and clay) and chemical (pH, OC, AP, Ca, Mg, K, Na, N, ECEC) properties determinations. The result of the analysis showed that different horizons of the affected pits had less sand than what was obtained at the unaffected pit (average 615.78 and 670 respectively), Apart from pH, nitrogen, available phosphorus content of the soils that were lower at the horizons from the affected area of the industrial site( on the average, pH 6.45; N- 0.20 g/kg; AP- 3.97 mg/kg), all other chemical properties (exchangeable bases like Ca (1.15 cmol/kg), Mg (0.4 cmol/kg) and Na (0.23 cmol/kg) were lower at the horizons of the unaffected profile pits. Other physical and chemical properties of the soils collected like the pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen and available phosphorus, Ca, Mg, K and Na were low in some pits and in some pits had higher concentration at the affected area. The revelation from the analysis showed that the top and upper horizons of the soil at the industrial site has been seriously tampered with by industrial effluents and inhabitants should be advised to plant mostly shallow rooted crops and cultivate on land farther away from the effluent sludge
ENHANCED BIOREMEDIATION AND VEGETATION REGENERATION PERFORMANCE OF CRUDE OIL POLLUTED SOIL
No full textEnhanced bioremediation of crude oil polluted soil by oil palm bunch ash and sawdust amendments was investigated to determine the capacities of the test materials to enhance degradation of the hydrocarbon content of crude oil polluted soil. One thousand five-hundred gram (1500 g) of soil was placed in each of five buckets labeled CT, NA, BS1, BS2 and BS3. CT (the control) was not given any treatment while the other buckets were each treated with crude oil at 6.7% (v/w) level of pollution. NA was not added any amendment material after pollution. BS1 and BS2 were each mixed with 200 g of oil palm bunch ash and sawdust respectively while BS3 was amended a mixture of 200 g of oil palm bunch ash and 200 g of sawdust. Results showed increase in soil pH from 8.7±0.04 to 10.5±0.06, 5.3±0.01 to 8.5±0.04 and 5.6±0.18 to 11.5±0.15 in BS1, BS2 and BS3 respectively. Percentage total petroleum hydrocarbon content decreased by 65% in BS1 and BS2 and 52% in BS3. Total nitrogen increased from 0.66±0.1 to 0.69±0.0% in BS1, was unchanged in BS2 and reduced from 0.4±0.0 to 0.2±0.0% for BS3 while average phosphorus increased from 0.4±0.0 to 23.0±4.2 mgkg-1, 0.3±0.0 to 1.8±0.4 mgkg-1 and from 0.2±1.0 mgkg-1 to 52.6±4.6 mgkg-1 in BS1, BS2 and BS3 respectively. There were vegetation regeneration in CT, NA, BS2 and none in BS1 and BS3. The amendment materials enhanced bioremediation of crude oil polluted soil but oil palm bunch ash inhibited vegetation regeneration