Understanding the significance of butterflies in an ecosystem as an environmental healthy indicator and pollination of flowering plants is crucial to achieving sustainability and conservation of floral diversity. The aim of the study was to investigate the butterfly species diversity and abundance and compare the relationship between physical factor and butterfly species. Line transect were used to survey three habitats around botanical garden with scooped-net between June and July, 2010. Diversity varied from habitat to habitat. A checklist was made comprising a total of 57 butterfly species that were surveyed belonging to 9 families. There was a relationship between temperature and butterfly species diversity and abundance. There was no correlation between physical factors (relative humidity and temperature) and the total number of species and families. Moreover, butterfly numbers were not related to relative humidity in any species and family. However, temperature was significantly correlated with species. Therefore, understanding of the factors that affect butterfly species diversity and abundance in University of Ibadan Botanical Garden is important for conservation.

This study examines how fragmentation through changes in patch size and increasing distances between forest patches affects bird species richness. Numbers of bird species were higher in large forest patches and decrease with decreasing patch size. Bird species richness also decreased with increased isolation of forest patches. Suitable trees should be planted in the gaps between the forests that will create wildlife corridors to maintain connectivity. RésuméCette étude examine comment la fragmentation causée par des changements de la taille des parcelles forestières ou par une distance croissante entre ces parcelles affecte la richesse en espèces d'oiseaux. Le nombre d'espèces d'oiseaux était plus élevé dans les grandes parcelles forestières et diminuait en même temps que la taille des parcelles. La richesse en espèces diminuait aussi avec l'augmentation de l'isolement des parcelles. Il faudrait planter des arbres appropriés dans les vides existant entre les forêts pour créer des corridors pour la faune et préserver la connectivité.

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Effect of mango mealybug and sooty mould attack on mango and the impact of the released Gyranusoidea tebygi Noyes on yield. Abstract-Introduction. The mango mealybug Rastrococcus invadens is a pest of horticultural crops, especially mango. Though this fact has been demonstrated and its parasitoid, Gyranusoidea tebygi, released for its control in many countries, quantitative information on the damage inflicted by the mealybug and post-release mango fruit production are still scanty. This study was therefore undertaken to investigate the damage caused by mango mealybug and its associated sooty mould on mango plants and to assess mango fruit production after the release of G. tebygi in 1989. Materials and methods. Laboratory experiments were set up to determine the effect of different populations of mango mealybug (0, 5, 10, 20, and 40 adults/cage) on the chemical constituents of mango leaves. The mould associated with the mango mealybug was identified and its effect on leaf temperature was studied. A mango orchard was studied for fruit production from the time of fruitlessness in 1990 to 1998 when fruit yield peaked. The resultant effect of the parasitism of mango mealybug by G. tebygi was monitored on the chemical composition of mango leaves during this period. Results. Protein, fat, carbohydrate, ash, crude fibre and moisture contents were depleted with increase in mealybug population. The isolated mould fungus Capnodium mangiferae was found to raise leaf temperature of infected mango seedlings. The population density of G. tebygi was found to be negatively but significantly correlated with mango mealybug population and positively correlated with mango fruit yield. Parasitism was highly correlated with mealybug population and yield, and was considered a major factor in the control of the pest and the subsequent increase in mango fruit yield. Rainfall did not have a significant impact on yield, mealybug population or sooty mould score. Discussion. The injury inflicted by R. invadens and its associated mould, and the enhancement of mango fruit production by the activities of G. tebygi on the mealybug were discussed. Nigeria / Mangifera indica / pest control / Rastrococcus invadens / Gyranusoidea tebygi / biological control organisms / yields Effet des attaques de la cochenille farineuse et de la fumagine sur manguiers et impact de la libération de Gyranusoidea tebygi Noyes sur leur rendement. Résumé-Introduction. Rastrococcus invadens, la cochenille farineuse du manguier, est un ravageur des productions horticoles, et du manguier en particulier. Bien que ce fait ait été démontré et que son parasitoïde, Gyranusoidea tebygi, ait été libéré dans de nombreux pays afin de contrôler le ravageur, des informations quantitatives sur les dommages qu'il inflige à la production en mangues sont encore minces. L'étude engagée a permis d'étudier les dommages provoqués sur manguiers par ce parasite et par la fumagine qui lui est associée et d'évaluer l'évolution des rendements après un lâcher de G. tebygi en 1989. Matériel et méth...

This research surveyed some socio-economic activities of communities around Pandam Game Reserve (PGR) central Nigeria to determine their implications for biodiversity Conservation in PGR. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and field observations. Results showed a 100% response to questionnaires administered. Eighty three percent (83%) of the respondents were males while 17% were females. Eighty percent  (80%) attended at least primary school level of education while 20% had no form of formal education. Prominent among occupation of respondents was farming with 40% and the occupation of respondents with list response was hunting with 1%. Field observations showed the presence of the following human activities: logging, firewood collection, fishing, farm encroachment, cattle grazing and poaching. The implication of these socio-economic activities in PGR if left uncontrolled could result to biodiversity lost. A multi-stakeholder approach and participatory management of the  reserve which will consider the socio-economic concerns of locals have been suggested as a critical component for building cooperation. These if properly exploited is believed will contribute substantially to biodiversity sustainability in PGR. Keywords: Communities, Biodiversity, Conservation, Pandam Game Reserve