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Background. Chemometrics can be used to analyze a wide range of food products for authentication, quality control, differentiation and the determination of nutrition quality. Owing to the scarcity of studies relating to the intrinsic physico-chemical characteristics of penaeid shrimps caught on the Nigerian coast, the aim of this research was to estimate the energy-supplying nutrients, mineral elements and functional characteristics of Farfantepenaeus notialis from the Lagos Lagoon. Materials and methods. The proximate composition was determined using the AOAC method while the energy-providing nutrients were multiplied by the Atwater factors. The samples were digested in HNO 3 /HCl for mineral determination and the functional properties were estimated using optical measurements. Results. Higher concentrations of moisture, crude protein, crude fat, and carbohydrate were recorded in the flesh while crude fibre and total ash were higher in the exoskeleton samples. The flesh had higher total metabolisable energy (1524 kJ 100 g -1 ) and utilizable energy due to protein (36.49 kJ). All the investigated minerals (Ca, Mg, K, P and Na) were more concentrated in the exoskeleton. In both samples, Na/K and Na/ Mg ratios were within acceptable ideal ranges of 1.4-3.4 and 2-6, respectively. All values of the MSI (calculated) were lower than their comparative standard index values, having positive contrasts in both exoskeleton and flesh samples. The exoskeleton sample had better functional properties, but the flesh sample was higher in swelling strength. Conclusion.In addition to good flesh quality, F. notialis contains considerable amounts of energy-providing nutrients. As the content of fibre is very low, F. notialis may be ideal as a weaning food for children.

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The bioaccumulation of heavy metals in organisms is as a result of pollutants discharge generated by anthropogenic and natural activities which has become a tremendous concern in developing nations. The levels of cadmium, copper, chromium, lead, zinc and nickel in the tissue of Callinectes amnicola and Farfantepenaeus notialis collected from Igbese River, Makoko and Lekki Lagoon were evaluated for a period of eight months. Heavy metals analysis was done using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer

The cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis is a well-known source of bioactive substances. Growth and the generation of bioactive ingredients of Arthrospira platensis depend mainly on the quantity of light in a controlled environment. Photoinhibition is a time, nutrient, and light intensity-dependent decrease in photosynthetic efficiency. However, too strong illumination can induce two harmful effects: (1) photoinhibition as a reduction in photosynthetic rate and (2) photooxidation which can have lethal effects on the cells, and which can lead to total loss of the culture. The results of this microscopical study demonstrate, that under the procedures described and very high photon flux den-sities, not only a decrease in the photosynthetic efficiency but beyond, also destruction of Arthrospira platensis can occur.