This study examined the ornamental plant nursery business in Nigeria, using Akure Metropolis, Ondo State as a case study. The study specifically identified the factors affecting ornamental plant nursery operations and income generated and challenges of ornamental plant nursery business in the state. For the study ornamental nursery operators/owners households were surveyed across the study area and interviewed via the use of the questionnaire. Descriptive and the regression analysis were the tools used in analysing the study data gathered. The study results showed that ornamental plant nursery operators are aging. Inadequate land and pest attack was indicated as a major constraint to ornamental plant nursery production. The study therefore recommends the education of youths and others alike to appreciate ornamental plant nursery business considering the business profitability.

This study was carried out to assess the impacts of human activities on insect diversity and abundance in Akure Forest Reserve, Nigeria. Three land uses (fallow land, cocoa agroforest and unlogged forest) were selected for field work within the forest reserve. An hectare block was centrally demarcated in each of the land use types where insects collection and enumeration of trees species took place. 13,578 insects distributed among 30 families belonging to 15 orders were collected and identified and preserved in the insect boxes in the Museum. Within the fallow land, a total of 5,182 insects belonging to 46 families and 8 orders were encountered, while in the cocoa agroforest, 5,884 insects distributed among 50 families and 10 orders and unlogged forest, consist of 2,490 insects distributed into 10 orders and 56 families. The families and order with the highest number of individual insects are Lepidoptera (4,000) and Orthopetera (1,260). These insects are mainly defoliators. The Shannon-weiner diversity index shows that unlogged forest is more diverse than the cocoa agroforest and fallow land. The tree species with the highest frequency per hectare is Cordia platythrsa (Boragiaceae) (6) in fallow land, Theobroma cacao (50) in cocoa agroforestry land Celtis zenkerii (Ulmaceae) in unlogged forest land. A total of 14, 26 and 41 species of tree were identified in the fallow land, cocoa agroforestry land and untouched forest respectively.

A field survey was conducted in Okomu Forest Reserve Edo State, to assess the diversity and seasonal dynamics of arthropod species in selected land use systems (Okomu national park, Okomu rubber plantation and Okomu oil palm plantation). Samplings of arthropods were carried out between February and September 2020, arthropods were collected by hand picking and sweep net in each sampled plots at 25 m x 25 m in the study area. Insects encountered were killed and preserved by chloroform. Arthropods samples were taken to the laboratory for oven dry and identification. A total of 382 arthropods spread across 15 orders, 34 families and 81 species were recorded. The most dominant orders were Hymenoptera (Ants) followed by Odonta (dragonfly) and Lepidoptera (butterfly and Moth) during dry season while highest abundance of orders were Spirostreptida (millepde) followed by Hymenoptera (Ants) and Araneae (spider) during rainy season. Okomu National Park has the highest (220) insect species abundance follow by Okomu Rubber Plantation (136) while the least was Okomu Oil Palm Plantation (72) in the study area. Study revealed that Okomu Rubber Plantation has no record of Scolopendromorphra (centipede) andHemiptera (bug) while in Okomu Oil Palm Plantation no record of Scolopendromorphra (centipede), lepidoptera (butterfly), also there were norecord of blattodea (crockroach) order of insect species in Okomu National Park. The highest species diversity and evenness was observed in Okomu National Park (H’ = 3.03 and E’= 0.83) follow by Okomu Oil Palm Plantation (H’=1.89 and E’=0.86) while Okomu Rubber Plantation was the least (H’ = 1.53 and E’= 0.60). ANOVA showed significant (P≤0.05) different on diversity and abundance between land use systems while there is nosignificant (P≥0.05) different seasons in the study area. Observation was made on seasonal variation of arthropods species in different land use systems and dominant species as bio-indicators in the study area.

The abundance and species diversity of mesofauna were surveyed in the unpolluted site, remediated site and crude oil polluted sites to examine the effect of crude oil on the abundance and diversity of mesofauna. The samples were collected on a line transect. Soil samples were collected and taken to the laboratory to isolate and identify mesofauna found in the soil samples. The pH, moisture content and moisture content of the soil samples were also obtained, where the unpolluted site has the highest pH followed by remediated site while the crude oil polluted site recorded the least pH. During the research work 37 individuals of mesofauna were encountered (distributed in 15 species) in the entire studied sites. Mesofauna abundance was highest in the unpolluted site (31 individuals) followed by the remediated site (4) while crude oil polluted site recorded the least abundance (2 individuals). Highest species diversity of mesofauna was also recorded in the unpolluted site (11). The results further explained that the effect of crude oil is significant (P≥0.05) on the abundance of mesofauna). The relationship between pH and mesofauna abundance and diversity showed that there were no significant differences (P<0.05). It was further observed that the pH of the unpolluted site with the mean value of 6.79 is higher than those of remediated (6.33) and crude oil polluted site (6.12). This work showed that abundance and species diversity of mesofauna in the study habitats were significantly different. Soil moisture content of the polluted site (32.29%) is higher than those of remediated (20.17%) and unpolluted site (20.32%). Soil temperature in the remediated site is the highest value (31.03°C) followed by the unpolluted site (29.14°C) while the crude oil affected site recorded the least temperature value (23.11°C).