Sylvia O Ogoanah | University Of Benin Nigeria (original) (raw)
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RIVERS STATE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
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Papers by Sylvia O Ogoanah
The effects of lumbering and farming activities on amphibian diversity from three ecological zone... more The effects of lumbering and farming activities on amphibian diversity from three ecological zones in Edo Statefreshwater swamp, lowland forest and derived savanna were determined. The forest reserves recorded the highest species diversity while the lowland forest with lumbering and farming activities recorded the least. The derived savanna with no lumbering activities also had a high record of species diversity. Interactions between amphibian diversity, lumbering and farming activities showed negative correlation. Records of Ptychadena bibroni, Hoplobatrachus occipitalis, Afrixalus dorsalis, Leptopelis boulengeri, Aubria subsigillata and Hylarana albolabris which are typical savanna species from the forest reserve indicate some level of habitat alteration. The occurrence of only species like Hoplobatrachus occipitalis, Silurana tropicalis, Ptychadena mascareniensis and Bufo maculatus in the lowland forest shows these species are best adapted to the new bushland habitat while the more specialised forest species disappear. Conservation of the natural habitats of amphibians is important to curb the present decline in amphibian populations and species diversity.
The diet of Hoplobatrachus occipitalis the edible frog was studied in 104 specimens collected bet... more The diet of Hoplobatrachus occipitalis the edible frog was studied in 104 specimens collected between November 2009 and May 2010 from Benin City to determine their feeding behaviour and food preference. Specimens were dissected to assess their stomach contents. A total of 701 prey items in 16 prey categories were recorded. Most prey items were terrestrial invertebrates although two vertebrates -a rodent and an amphibian were also recorded in stomachs of seven Hoplobatrachus occipitalis revealing their cannibalistic tendency. The most abundant stomach contents were Trichoptera (50.37%) with a degree of food preference (DFP 2.55) and Hymenoptera (21.27%) with DFP 1.08. Although the feeding pattern of H. occipitalis is continuous, the large presence of Trichoptera shows it is most active at night. Results of this work would aid the cultivation of this species which is being hunted greatly in the wild for their fleshy legs and taste and thus help to conserve them.
The effects of lumbering and farming activities on amphibian diversity from three ecological zone... more The effects of lumbering and farming activities on amphibian diversity from three ecological zones in Edo Statefreshwater swamp, lowland forest and derived savanna were determined. The forest reserves recorded the highest species diversity while the lowland forest with lumbering and farming activities recorded the least. The derived savanna with no lumbering activities also had a high record of species diversity. Interactions between amphibian diversity, lumbering and farming activities showed negative correlation. Records of Ptychadena bibroni, Hoplobatrachus occipitalis, Afrixalus dorsalis, Leptopelis boulengeri, Aubria subsigillata and Hylarana albolabris which are typical savanna species from the forest reserve indicate some level of habitat alteration. The occurrence of only species like Hoplobatrachus occipitalis, Silurana tropicalis, Ptychadena mascareniensis and Bufo maculatus in the lowland forest shows these species are best adapted to the new bushland habitat while the more specialised forest species disappear. Conservation of the natural habitats of amphibians is important to curb the present decline in amphibian populations and species diversity.
The diet of Hoplobatrachus occipitalis the edible frog was studied in 104 specimens collected bet... more The diet of Hoplobatrachus occipitalis the edible frog was studied in 104 specimens collected between November 2009 and May 2010 from Benin City to determine their feeding behaviour and food preference. Specimens were dissected to assess their stomach contents. A total of 701 prey items in 16 prey categories were recorded. Most prey items were terrestrial invertebrates although two vertebrates -a rodent and an amphibian were also recorded in stomachs of seven Hoplobatrachus occipitalis revealing their cannibalistic tendency. The most abundant stomach contents were Trichoptera (50.37%) with a degree of food preference (DFP 2.55) and Hymenoptera (21.27%) with DFP 1.08. Although the feeding pattern of H. occipitalis is continuous, the large presence of Trichoptera shows it is most active at night. Results of this work would aid the cultivation of this species which is being hunted greatly in the wild for their fleshy legs and taste and thus help to conserve them.