Environmental & Physical Sciences

Research Papers/Topics in Environmental & Physical Sciences

The Influence Of Different Land Use Types On Plant Species Diversity, Composition And Vegetation Structure In The Kalahari Woodlands Of Salambala Conservancy, Northeast Namibia

ABSTRACT Human societies have, for centuries, impacted and altered the natural environments through different land use practises. Unsustainable land use practices are seen as one of the major threats to biodiversity around the globe. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to assess the impacts of different land use types, mainly grazing and browsing by wildlife and livestock; land clearance for cultivation and wood harvesting on plant species diversity, composition and vegetation st...

A Description Of Reproduction, Diet, Nematode Infection And Sexual Dimorphism In Agama Anchietae And Pedioplanis Undata Undata (Reptilia: Lacertilia) In Namibia

Abstract The objectives of this study were to describe reproduction, diet, nematode infection and sexual dimorphism in Agama anchietae and Pedioplanis undata undata, two Namibian lizard species with wide geographic distributions for which such baseline ecological information is still lacking. The specimens used in the study came from the preserved Herpetological Collection of the National Museum of Namibia. Agama anchietae occupies rocky areas and the findings were as follows, reproduction: ...

Agroforestry As An Adaptation Strategy To Climate Change In The Kassena Nankana West District, Upper East Region, Ghana

ABSTRACT  This thesis explored agroforestry as an adaptation strategy to climate change in the Kassena Nankana West District, Upper East Region.  Climate change poses a serious threat to agricultural activities in agrarian economies, such as Ghana, which requires adaptation. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to assess how farming communities are using agroforestry to be able to adapt to the negative consequences of climate change. Specifically, the study assessed farmers’ understa...

Habitat Suitability And Recommendations For The Reintroduction Of The European Pond Turtle Emys Orbicularis (Linnaeus 1758) To The Area Of Community Interest “Löcknitztal” In Brandenburg (Ger

Abstract The European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) is one of the most endangered vertebrate species in Germany. The species conservation programme “Europäische Sumpfschildkröte”, which was initiated in 1993 / 94, deals with the exploration of biology and the protection of the few still existing small populations. For the protection of the species, reintroduction to its former range is taken into consideration. The present study evaluates the habitat suitability of the nature reserve ...

Resting Behaviour of Endophilic Anopheline Vectors in Three Ecological Zones of Southern Ghana and its Implications for the use of Entomopathogenic Fungi

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to determine the resting behaviour and factors that influence the choice of resting sites by endophilic anopheline mosquitoes in southern Ghana. The study was carried out in six villages across three ecological zones of southern Ghana, including: the forest ecological zone (FEZ), the coastal savannah ecological zone (CSEZ) and the forest-transition ecological zone (FTEZ). For every mosquito collected, the indoor resting sites was characterised and microclima...

Hydrogeochemical And Isotopic Studies Of Groundwater In Coastal Aquifers Of Ghana: Case Study In The Central Region

ABSTRACT The major setback in the exploitation of groundwater in the Central Region of Ghana is poor water qualitydue to high salinity. The source of salinity has not been adequately addressed. The focus of this study was, therefore,to understandthe hydrogeochemical processes occurring in the study area in order to determine the origin of salinity and groundwater residence time. The methodology involved desk study, fieldwork, and laboratory work. The desk study comprised review of literature,...

Studies Of Rare Earth Elements And Associated Radioactivity In The Coastal Sand Of The Central And Western Regions Of Ghana

ABSTRACT Beach sands are known host of different heavy minerals, which occur mostly as placer deposits and are of great importance to the electronics, metallurgy, medical, defense, and automobile industries. Typical examples of such heavy minerals are the rare earth-associated minerals (e.g. monazite, bastnaesite, xenotime and euxenite). Some of these rare earth elements-containing ores are known to occur in association with naturally occurring radioactive uranium (U-238) and thorium (Th-232)...

Hydrogeochemical Processes Influencing Groundwater Quality Within The Lower Pra Basin, Ghana

ABSTRACT Hydrogeochemical and social impact studies were carried out within the Lower Pra Basin where groundwater serves as a source of potable water supply to majority of the communities. The main objective of the study was to investigate the hydrogeochemical processes and the anthropogenic impact that influence groundwater as well as the perception of inhabitants about the impact of their socio-economic activities on the quality of groundwater and subsequently make recommendations towards p...

Palynological Analysis Of The St-5 And St -6 Wells, Offshore Tano Basin, South Western Ghana: Implications For Stratigraphy And Paleoenvironment

ABSTRACT Miospores and dinoflagellates recovered from sediments from the ST – 5 and ST – 6 wells, offshore Tano Basin, Western Ghana were studied in order to determine their ages, establish palynostratigraphy and determine environments of deposition. Based on First Appearance Datum (FAD) and (LAD) of marker palynomorphs, three (3) biozones were erected for miospores and dinoflagellates respectively. The characteristic taxa of each of the biozones have been discussed in detail. The three b...

Design And Production Of A Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell For The Production Of Brown’s Gas

ABSTRACT The use of petroleum products (fossil fuels) has raised a lot of environmental concerns over the past years. This is due to the fact that most of the machines and devices manufactured are engineered to use these conventional fuels which include petrol, diesel and natural gas. However, these fuels substances pollute and deteriorate the quality of the environment. Some of these pollutants include sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and ozone. These gases are called gre...

Prevalence Of Bacterial Zoonoses In Selected Trophy Hunted Species, And The Potential Of Human Health Risk In Bwabwata National Park, Namibia

ABSTRACT Zoonotic diseases are infections acquired from vertebrate animals (wild or domesticated) animals to humans through direct or indirect contact with live animals, their derivatives or contaminated surroundings. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of potential bacterial zoonoses in selected trophy hunted species Loxodonta Africana (African Elephant), Syncerus caffer (African Buffalo), Tragelaphus strepsiceros (Kudu), Hippopotamus amphibious (Hippopotamus), Hippotragus ...

The Influence Of Temporal Changes In Biomass Of Brown Mussel Perna Perna On Abundance Of Ambient Macrofauna On The Central Coast Of Namibia

ABSTRACT Like terrestrial systems, marine ecosystems are constantly impacted upon by conditions arising from anthropogenically modified abiotic environments, climate change, as well as biotic agents. Marine mussels are widely regarded as ecosystem engineers. The Brown mussel species Perna perna is one such species. Mussels offer a wide range of advantages to intertidal communities through their structure and biomass, as they help increase the spatial heterogeneity in benthic processes, by se...

Urban Land Use Planning And Its Effects On The Provision Of Public Sanitation Facilities In The Wa Municipality, Ghana

ABSTRACT There is a connection between urban land use planning and urban sanitation management. The rationale of land use planning is to protect and create attractive urban environments. However, despite the land use planning rationale, there is a sanitation mess in the built environment of the Wa Municipality. This study investigates the implications of land use planning on the provision and management of public sanitation facilities in the Wa Municipality. The study adopted the mixed metho...

Port Harcourt Boat Terminal

ABSTRACT In Rivers State, about three-quarter of its land is covered by water and approximately 70% of all travel between its capital, Port Harcourt and access to most of her Loca l Government Areas is via rivers. Unfortunately, the state and its capital in particular lacks Boat Terminal infrastructure. Apart from this fact and the actual trip was undertaken, other diverse and complex requirements of travellers must be adequate, considered and tackled. The imp importance of public transit sy...

A Study on Passive Design Strategies as an Effective Tool in The Design of Sustainable Learning Spaces

ABSTRACT:   Every decision that architects, engineers, builders, and homeowners make about the design and operation of their buildings carries with it an energy cost, and all energy costs in turn have environmental costs. For example, changing the orientation of a window, or the colour of the roof, or adding a sun control will change the amount of electricity it uses for lighting and air conditioning. Passive design; an idea within the growing trend of green buildings, is a creative way to...


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