Research Papers/Topics in Animal Biology

Microhabitat and patch selection detection from GPS tracking collars of semi-free ranging Mashona cattle within a semi-arid environment

Abstract: Over the last 30 years, the global positioning system (GPS) tracking collars have significantly enhanced livestock grazing behavior studies. Practices designed to understand and improve livestock grazing distribution can now be accurately and cost-effectively monitored with GPS tracking. The behavior and spatiotemporal microhabitat selection of Mashona cattle relative to the season in a semi-free-range grazing system was evaluated using a low‐cost GPS herd activity monitoring (GP...

A Descriptive Analysis on the (in)fidelity of mangrove climbing sesarmid crabs to the mangrove trees in Cancabato bay, Philippines

Five years after Super Typhoon Haiyan, mangroves have regrown, and mangrove-climbing sesarmid crabs were found in Cancabato Bay. In a three-month surveillance, four species of mangrove-climbing sesarmid crabs: Aratus pisonii, Episesarma versicolor, Perisesarma bidens, and Selatium brockii were observed in mangrove trees: Avicennia marina, Aegiceras corniculatum, Rhizophora mucronata, and Rhizophora apiculata. They were observed moving into the different parts of the mangrove tree and from one...

Diel collections indicated increased species richness in seagrass associated epifaunal macroinvertebrates community

Diel patterns of epifaunal macroinvertebrates associated with seagrass beds are poorly investigated. This pattern indicated misconception in population and community dynamics, diel cycle, and overall functional activities in an ecosystem. A three-day diel sampling period was permanently established in four stations in Eastern Samar, Philippines, patterned of the same sites in an unpublished study by Pacoma, 2016. Collecting samples was done at 7:00-9:00 am and 7:00-9:00 pm, using a transect-q...

Analysis of Different Animal Feeds in Uganda Markets and Their Hematological and Biochemical Roles in Male Wistar

ABSTRACT The utilization of animal feeds and diets in Uganda prepared ti·om available and atlordable plants such as; soya bean, groundnut, maize, and pumpkin green leaves. sunflO er seeds and animal sources such as; milk, catfish or silverfish, and bones or shells. in the alleviation of poor nutritional status is to be studied, to determine comparative dietary efficiencies of some forti fled weaning formulae. This study was carried out in two places; Kampala International universityWestern c...

Review of Ethnoveterinary Medicine for Animal Healthcare in Nigeria

Abstract Poor animal health is a major problem limiting livestock productivity in sub-Saharan Africa including Nigeria. Decline in funding veterinary services, animal health and cost of veterinary medicines and services have pushed poor, rural farmers to search for alternative medicine. Ethnoveterinary medical practices play important roles in animal healthcare system in Nigeria. This work was done to provide information on some medicinal plants that are used to treat animal diseases in Niger...

Comparative Assessment of Growth Potential of Low-cost Formulated Diet for Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Production

A comparative assessment of growth potential of low-cost formulated diet for catfish (Clarias gariepinus) production was conducted using a low-cost formulated diet and commercial fish feed (Multifeed). An experiment was carried out to determine the effect of the locally-formulated feed and the commercial feed on the weight and length of catfish samples at 3% body weight (b.w) and 5% body weight (b.w) respectively. Forty (40) juvenile catfish samples, with average weight of 8.07g and average l...

Determination Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Odour Compounds Detected By Cricetomys Gambianus Rats For Diagnosis Of Pulmonary Tuberculosis In Low-Income Settings

ABSTRACT Novel methods for rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) are urgently needed to complement the widely used smear microscopy in low income settings. Trained TB detection rats offer a promising tool for rapid diagnosis of TB in resource limited settings. The Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) specific volatile compounds detected by trained Cricetomys gambianus rats in sputum of TB patients are unknown. It is also not known whether rats detect odour signals from other mycobacteria and micr...

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms In Insulin-Like Growth Factor (Igf) Genes And Their Associations With Growth In Local Guinea Fowls (Numida Meleagris) Of Ghana

ABSTRACT Due to the pivotal role of Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF1) and Insulin-like Growth Factor 2 (IGF2) in growth regulation of poultry, the IGF1 gene (gIGF1) and IGF2 gene (gIGF2) in guinea fowl were examined as candidate genes for early growth in helmeted guinea fowls (Numida meleagris) from three populations of Northern Ghana (TPNG). Keets hatched from eggs collected from 32 sample locations comprising 11 subpopulations across three main populations located in Upper East Region, U...

Three Species Of The Genus Rhabdosargus Fowler, With Special Reference To The Ffwhite Stumpnose", R.Globiceps (Cuvier)

The Zoology Department of the u.c.T. has been making an ecological survey of South Afr1,can estuaries. The plant and animal lif'e of many estuaries has been studied in relation to physico-chemical conditions, and bottom fauna has been dealt with in great detail. Not much is known about the fish populations that occupy these estuaries. It was theref'·ore decided that some information about typical estuarine fish might be of use. For the first four months nettings were made at two estuaries ne...

Life history of Chrysichthys catfish in Volta Lake, Ghana

ABSTRACT This study, undertaken during 1974 to 1977 in Volta Lake, investigated the identification, abundance and distribution, reproductive biology and weight-length relationships of four Chrysichthys species (C . a u ratus, C. walkeri, C. velifer and C. furcatus). The species were separated on basis of position of the dorsal fin, color of the barbels and the body and shape of the caudal fin and its lobes. Gill rakers also proved of some value. The Volta Lake, on the Volta River in Ghana, is...

Effects Of Larval Diet On The Fitness And Insecticide Resistance Profile Of Anopheles Gambiae S.L. (Diptera: Culicidae) From Opeibea Area In The Greater Accra Region, Ghana.

Malaria is a life-threatening disease and is hyper-endemic in Ghana. The Anopheles gambiae complex is established to contain the main vectors that transmit malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum in Sub-Saharan Africa and it has been implicated as the main vector of malaria in Ghana. Vector control remains the most effective measure to prevent malaria transmission. This can largely be achieved by the use of insecticides. However, the effectiveness of insecticide-based vector control is t...

Evaluation Of The Efficacy Of Wormatak® (Teflubenzuron And Cypermethrin) Against Anopheles Gambiae Sensu Lato And Its Impact On Non Target Organisms

This study investigated the efficacy of WormAtak® against Anopheles gambiae s.l. larvae, pupae and adults (Diptera: Culicidae) collected from Opeibea and Madina in Ghana and its effect on three non-target organisms under laboratory conditions. Anopheles gambiae s.l. and the non-target organisms were all exposed to five concentrations of WormAtak® (1.86 µM, 3.71 µM, 5.57 µM, 7.42 µM and 9.28 µM). Mortality was recorded for a period of 72 hours for Anopheles gambiae s.l. F1 third in...