Kainji Lake Basin Research Articles

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Fisher Folk’s Response to Climate Change in New Bussa and its Environs of Kainji Lake Basin, Nigeria

Fisher Folk’s Response to Climate Change in New Bussa and its Environs of Kainji Lake Basin, Nigeria

English

This paper demonstrates the use of remotely sensed data and geographic information system (GIS) techniques for monitoring the land-use and vegetation cover changes in the Kainji Lake Basin between 1975 and 2006- a period of thirty one (31) years. Since 1968 when Kainji Lake was constructed, various activities such as agriculture, deforestation, irrigation, fishing and construction of roads and bridges have taken place. It is all these activities coupled with other natural factors that cause environmental degradation and the damage of the ecosystem of the lake basin. Landsat TM image of 1975, Landsat MSS image of 1986 and Landsat ETM+ images of 2001 and 2006 were acquired, classified and analysed with the use of Ilwis 3.3 and Idrisi 32 to study the landuse and vegetation changes in the Lake Basin between 1975 and 2006. Area calculations of Idrisi 32 were used to derive the trends, rates and magnitudes of changes, while map overlay was employed for assessing the nature and location where the changes have taken place. Map overlay technique was also used to create a matrix to discuss the location of the changes within the study periods. The study reveals that the Lake Reservoir and settlements around the lake were gradually increasing; intensive agriculture was capturing the basin at alarming rate, while the lake surface itself is recently been occupied by weeds. The woodland vegetation in which the first and the most popular National Park in the country where it is located is also discovered to be changing to other land-use types. Various conservation and control measures were suggested for the sustainable utilization of the Lake Basin. Key words: Remote sensing, geographic information system (GIS), image classification and land-use and land-cover, change detection.

Livelihood Strategies and Rural Income: The Case of Fishing Communities in Kainji Lake Basin Nigeria

Livelihood Strategies and Rural Income: The Case of Fishing Communities in Kainji Lake Basin Nigeria

Landuse and Landcover Change Detection in the Kainji Lake Basin Nigeria Using Remote Sensing and GIS Approach

One of the problems associated with dams anywhere in the world, is environmental degradation. On the context of Kainji Lake, the period of over four decades when the dam was constructed has witnessed remarkably, rapid expansion, growth and developmental activities such as agriculture, deforestation, irrigation, fishing, and construction of bridges and roads. In the course of carrying out these activities, the environment is degraded and thereby damaging the ecosystem and the landscape, and offsetting the already fragile ecological balance. Landsat MSS Landuse/landcover map of 1978 and Spot XS landuse/landcover map of 1995 was used to study the landuse/landcover changes of the Lake area between 1978 and 1995 – a period of 17 years. Ilwis for Academic, Arcview 3.0 and Idrisi 32 were used for georeferencing, digitizing and map analysis respectively. The two main methods of change detection that were used were area calculations (trends, rates and proportion), and overlay for the nature and the location of the changes. The study revealed that about 71.92% of the area has been subjected to changes, while, 28.08% had not been subjected to any changes. Within the study period, the lake basin has recorded -239.8842km magnitude of changes, -345.23 percentage change and -57.3% annual rate of changes.Keywords: Landuse, Remote sensing, GIS, Landcover

Population dynamics, life-history traits of and habitat use by two sympatric nothobranchiid fishes in a tropical stream, Kainji Lake Basin, Nigeria

Population dynamics and life-history traits of two sympatric nothobranchiid killifishes, Epiplatys bifasciatus and E. spilargyreius, were studied for 24 months in an intermittent stream in the Kainji Lake Basin, Nigeria. Epiplatys bifasciatus was more abundant throughout the study period, but monthly abundance of both species followed the same pattern. For both species, growth parameters and life-history strategies are characterised by small size, high growth rate, early maturity, high reproductive effort through daily spawning, short generation time, short life span and high mortality rate. Both species reproduce throughout the year, with peak periods of recruitment during the February to April and October to November periods. The population structures showed a preponderance of females over males, while males attained a larger total length than females. Three habitat types (vegetated pool, vegetated riffle, and marsh) were preferred by both species, whilst unvegetated habitats were avoided. Epiplatys spilargyreius was fairly specific in its habitat preference, with a significant positive correlation (r = 0.65, p < 0.05) to marshy habitat, whereas E. bifasciatus showed some habitat-use plasticity.

Effect of disturbance on laying pattern and hatchability of feral helmet guinea fowl (&lt;i&gt;numida meleagris galleata&lt;/i&gt; pallas) egg.

The effect of breeding nest disturbance and hatchability potential of feral helmet guinea-fowl was studied. Ten (10) breeding nests were identified and monitored for number of eggs laid per week for eight weeks within the Kainji Lake Basin. Eggs were collected as a form of disturbance at different percentages i.e 0, 50, 60, 80 and 100. The eggs were later incubated and tested for their hatchability. The bird's egg laying pattern changed drastically in response to egg collection. The trend in nests where 100%, 80% and 60% of their eggs were collected presented sharp decrease in number of egg laid per week immediately after the collection. Incidentally, there was significant difference (P

Effect of sundrying on the proximate composition and lipid characteristics of two freshwater clupeids

Two freshwater species of clupeids ( Pellonula afzeliusi and Sierrathrisa leonensis) found in Kainji Lake, Nigeria, were analyzed to assess their nutritive constituents. The effects of sundrying (the only processing method in the Kainji Lake basin) on the nutrient composition and lipid characteristics of these species were also studied. Proximate analysis showed that fresh samples of Sierrathrisa leonensis and Pellonula afzeliusi have crude protein levels of 14·1 ± 1·0% and 16·0 ± 1·1%, respectively. Sundried samples of S. leonensis contained 62·1 ± 3·2% protein, 11·0 ± 1·0% lipid and 1·6 ± 0·2% ash, while P. afzeliusi contained 57·3 ± 2·3% protein, 14·1 ± 0·9% lipid and 2·4 ± 0·8% ash. The effect of sundrying was monitored on the extracted lipids of both species. Lipid characteristics, such as iodine value, peroxide value, lipid class composition analysis and fatty acid analysis (by GLC) showed that the lipids underwent lipolysis and autoxidation through sundrying. The analysis calls for a more efficient drying method so that the clupeids could be effectively utilized as sources of protein and good edible fish oil.

Factors associated with the adoption of recommended practices for maize production in the Kainji lake basin of Nigeria

The study investigated in this paper indicates that the variables of occupation, number of individuals in household, levels of education, literacy, social participation and contact with extension agents were found to be significantly related to the adoption of recommended farm practices (innovation). Using a stepwise regression analysis, four of the significant variables explained 38 per cent of the variability in adoption behaviour.

The biology and utilization of helmeted guineafowl (Numida meleagris galeata Pallas). I. The habitat and distribution of guineafowl in the Kainji Lake Basin area, Nigeria

SummaryThe main characteristics of guineafowl feeding habitat consist of a rich herb‐grass species layer growing luxuriantly in the feeding sites where the cation minerals as well as nitrogen levels of the soils are high. The nesting sites are located under canopies of bushes and the trees are utilized as roosting sites. Birds dusted in sandy soils along the river beds during the dry season and also in pulverized soils in which high mineral contents suggest that past burning of wood had taken place.The average density of guineafowl within the Kainji Lake National Park is between 4.64±4.29 and 9.13 ± 12.66 km‐2. In the Park the average home‐range size was estimated between 0.79 and 1.77 km2 but outside the Park particularly in the vicinity of farmlands and villages home‐ranges vary between 7.55 and 21.24 km2.RésuméLes caractéristiques principales des sites de nourrissage du francolin consistent en une couche riche en espèces de graminées qui poussent abondamment dans les zones dont le sol est riche en minéraux cationiques ainsi qu'en azote. Les sites de nidification sont situés sous les buissons et les arbres sont utilisés comme site de perchage. Les oiseaux se ‘baignent’ dans les sols sablonneux le long des berges des rivières en saison sèche ainsi que dans des sols poussiéreux dans lesquels la portion élevée en minéraux suggère que des feux de bois anciens y ont eu lieu. La densité moyenne de population de francolins dans le Parc National du Lac Kainji se situe en 4.64±4.29 et 9.13 ± 12.66 km2. Dans ce Parc, la dimension moyenne du domaine vital fut estimée entre 0.79, et 1.77 km2 mais en dehors du Parc, particulièrement dans le voisinage des terres cultivées et des villages, le domaine vital varie entre 7.55 et 21.24 km2.

Rangeland problems in the Kainji Lake Basin area of Nigeria

There is a continous overlap of interests within the Kainji Lake Basin, Nigeria, resulting in conflicts between land users such as the nomadic Fulanis, peasant farmers and wildlife/forestry conservation authorities. The basin is a major agricultural crop producing area of Nigeria. It is also a main traditional source of dry season supply of pasture and water for the migratory livestock from the Sudan and Sahelian vegetation zones in the north. Within the basin is the Kainji Lake National Park which is fast becoming a big-game tourist centre of international standard. Between Yelwa and Jebba, and within a distance of approximately 50 km around the lake and the River Niger, about 200 000 cattle, 100 000 sheep, 25 000 other livestock (goats, horses, donkeys and dogs), as well as 10 000 wildlife comprised of 14 species are estimated. The physical developments and proposals for agricultural improvement by the Niger River Basin Development Authority are reported upon. Recommendations (with national implications) are advanced ffor eliminating conflicts in the utilization of rangeland within the basin.

Rangeland Problems of the Kainji Lake Basin Area of Nigeria

The development of much-needed grazing reserves and pastures in the Kainji Lake Basin area of Nigeria is being initiated by the Kainji Lake Research Institute with generous support from the States' and Federal Governments. However, there is a continuous overlap of interest which results in conflict among land-users such as the nomadic Fulanis, peasant farmers, and wildlife/forestry conservation authorities. Currently the Kainji Lake Basin is a major ‘food basket’ for agricultural crop production in Nigeria. The Basin is also an attractive big-game tourist centre and a traditional source of dry-season water and green grass for the migratory livestock.Suggestions are made for a rational resource-management approach within the Basin, with establishment of rangeland reserves. Regular meetings between the representative of the Niger River Basin Development Authority, Kainji Lake National Park, States' Departments of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the local Governments in the Basin area, should go a long way towards eliminating the sources of conflict.

Arthropod-borne virus antibodies in sera of residents of Kainji Lake Basin, Nigeria 1980

A survey for haemagglutination-inhibiting arthropod-borne virus antibody was carried out in the Kainji Lake area of Nigeria. Of 267 persons tested, 139 (52%) and 158 (59%) had alphavirus and flavivirus group HI antibody, respectively. The prevalence of antibody to individual virus antigen is as follows: Chikungunya, 45%; Semliki Forest, 25%; Sindbis, 33%, Yellow fever, 31%, Dengue type 2, 46%; and Zika 56%. The presence of high antibody rates to Chikungunya, Dengue type 2 and Yellow fever viruses is of public health significance. These viruses have been identified as the most important arthropod-borne viruses causing human infections in Nigeria.