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Wildlife Species Diversity Indices and Seasonal Distribution Assessment in Road-Side Markets of South-West Nigeria

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Wildlife Species Diversity Indices and Seasonal Distribution Assessment in Road-Side Markets of South-West Nigeria Ghana60 J. Sci. 62 (1), 2021, 60 - 70 GHANA JOURNAL OF SCIENCEhttps://dx.doi.org/10.4314/gjs.v62i1.6VOL. 62 WILDLIFE SPECIES DIVERSITY INDICES AND SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION ASSESSMENT IN ROAD-SIDE MARKETS OF SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA M. O. Mustafa*, O. A. Lawal, O. O. Fafioye, A. A. Aladesida, F. B. Olowoyo, J. Q. Nwa- chukwu, A. N. Ejizu, C. C. Nwachukwu, C. O. Ezekwe, O. O. Ovuike And R. A. Ugwu. (M. O. M., F. B. O. & O. O. O: Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Federal College of Forest Resources Management, Ishiagu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria; O. A. L. & O.O.F: Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria; A. A. A.: Federal University of Agricul- ture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; J. Q. N., A. N. E., C. O. E. & R. A. U.: Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Humid Forest Research Station, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria; C. C. N.: Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria). *Corresponding author’s email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Wildlife species are under serious exploitation by the rural populace in Nigeria because hu- man beings have understood their ecology. The need to update the existing knowledge of wildlife population is therefore essential. Twenty-three games markets along five Roads in South-west Nigeria were visited to document the wildlife displayed for sale. Two hundred and fifty copies of structured questionnaire were administered using systematic random sampling (odd) method for wildlife species information from market stakeholders. Direct method was counting for species and their numbers. Data generated were analysed through Species Diver- sity Indices Assessment. All emergent species were compared with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) abundance rating. Road seasonal distribution of the marketed wildlife was determined by percentages, standard deviation, standard error of mean, mean differences, t-test, and tests of significance and Diversity Indices. Results revealed that 69,398 wild animals were displayed. Also more wildlife were sold during rainy than dry seasons. Appropriate recommendations of government sensitization of rural and urban settlers against over-utilization of wildlife resources, encouragement of the public towards animal domesti- cation and others were made. Keywords: Wildlife diversity, distribution, exploitation, conservation, habitat. Introduction Smithsonian Environmental Research Centre Species Diversity is an expression of (2020) argued that when scientists assess taxonomic variety of living organisms which an area’s biodiversity, they examine species is one among the three principal levels of richness (indicating different species) and biodiversity (genetic, species and ecosystem) the number of organisms presenting each (Chiarichi et al., 2011). Biological diversity species, they also predict a healthy ecosystem is an expression that refers to the variety of when enough predators, prey, producers and plants, animals, microorganisms and general decomposers keep the food web stable. ecosystem functioning (Kanieski et al., 2011). GJS is an Open Access Journal and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons (CC) License [CC BY 4.0] VOL. 62 GHANA JOURNAL OF SCIENCE 61 Weather, particularly rainfall and temperature Fund, 2015). Hunting in Bioko has reduced influence wildlife resources’ habitats, primate population in Equatorial Guinea distribution and abundance in their day-to- by 90% in some areas; beautiful forests are day life activities (Kupita et al., 2017). Taylor becoming increasingly silent as their wildlife and Dunstone (2020) also reported that it is is hunted (WCS, 2015). Klein (2015) also difficult to think of any wildlife that is not studied the health status of game animals from affected by humans or their actions; in the which meats are produced; he concluded that same vein Nyhus (2016) observed that human some meat samples harbour infectious agents interactions with wildlife are both positive that are not destroyed by smoking, salting nor and negative as they co-exist: people exploit brining. wildlife for food and other resources, in the process eliminating “dangerous” species, Experimental tame some and domesticate some others. Study area The same author wrote that wildlife destroys This study was carried out in roadside wildlife human investments especially on farms as markets in south-west Nigeria from January they forage for food. Roads have negative 2012 and December 2013. The study area impacts on biodiversity. To this effect, Parris were the catchments of five highways within and Schneider (2010) studied effects of roads Southwest Nigeria: Ibadan-Ife-Ado Ekiti road on environment and linked road transportation named Road 1 (264 km), Ibadan-Ife-Akure with habitat loss and fragmentation, air, water road tagged Road 2 (204 km), Ibadan-Oyo- and soil pollution with constraints in acoustic Ogbomoso road or Road 3 (120 km), Lagos- communication. Benin road (from Sagamu Interchange to Ore Watson (2005) checked impact of road Junction in Ondo State (153 km) labelled construction on wildlife habitats, he reported Road 4 and Lagos – Ibadan (from Sagamu that roads divide large landscapes into smaller Interchange to old Ibadan Toll Gate) or Road 5 patches and interior habitats where logging that covers (62 km) (Fig. 1). Wildlife markets that reduces availability of cover brings within 100 metres off the road on both sides together species that might otherwise not of the expressways were demarcated /mapped interact, leading to predation; intense hunting, and used for the study. Materials used were disease and parasitism. Each year, hundreds of field notes, pens and pencils, structured millions of plants and animals are lost from the questionnaires and Global Positioning System wild as food, pets, ornamentals, leather, tourist (GPS) equipment: Trimble Juno SD indicated curios and medicine, while a lot is illegal the markets’ geographical locations. The and survival threatening, many lead to over- markets are listed in Table 1. exploitation and habitat loss (World Wildlife 62 GHANA JOURNAL OF SCIENCE VOL. 62 Fig. 1: The study area showing the roads and major neighbouring settlements. VOL. 62 GHANA JOURNAL OF SCIENCE 63 TABLE 1 Market locations along the study roads. Market Locations km Markets and the Coordinates States Roads Covered 1 Ibadan-Ife-Ilesa- 264 Ijebu Jesa,70411N4о491E, +223m; Oyo, Osun Ado-Ekiti Road Itawure Junction 7о441N, and Ekiti 4о571E,+265m; Aramoko Junction 7о431N, 5о31E,+300m; Aba Ebira (Ado-Iyin Road) 5о341N, 4о121E, +313m Total: 4 Markets 2 Ibadan-Ife- 204 Asejire 1: 7о201N, 5о31E, +137m Oyo, Osun Akure Road. Asejire2(Olokere) 7о221N,4о71E, +145m and Ondo Iyana-Ikoyi/Wasinmi 7о241N, 4о131E, +213m Ife-Interchange: 7о301N, 4о281E, +275m. Ipetu-Jesa 7о411E, 4о491E +294m Total : 5 Markets 3 Ibadan-Oyo- 120 Fiditi Market,7о391N, l 4о411E, +302m Oyo Ogbomosho Odo-Oba:7о271N; 4о451E, +306m Road Tewure Market 7о251N; 4о341E,+277m Iluju: 7о271E; 4о461E, +299m Total: 4 Markets 4 (Sagamu– Ore 153 Odogbolu Junction 6о511N; 4о331E, Ogun, Ondo road) +63m J4 Junction 6о441N; 4о191E, +72m Onipetesi 6о 441N; 4о331E, +98m IyanaOluwa: 6о441N; 4о331E, +99m Akinfosile Junction: 6о521N; 3о591E,+101m Omotosho: 6о531N; 4о71E. +259m Total: 6 Markets 5 Lagos-Ibadan- 62 Toll Gate 7о 201N; 3о 561E, +233m Oyo, Ogun Sagamu Guru-Maharaj-Ji: 7о221N; 3о561E, +189m Interchange Odo-Ona Kekere:7о141N; 3о521E, +165m Arapaja Junction: 7о181N, 3о521E, +183m. Total: 4 Markets Source: Field Survey, (2013). 64 GHANA JOURNAL OF SCIENCE VOL. 62 Survey was conducted to locate the wildlife through species numbers and their percentages markets. This assisted in documenting the through Shannon-Weinner Equitability Index communities within the catchments of the (Margurran, 1988) expressed as (H’) five highways. A pre-test of 50 (retrieved) structured questionnaires administration was H= carried out for one month using systematic All emergent species (mammals, birds and random sampling (odd numbers) method in reptiles) were compared with International all the 23 markets to collate the list of animals Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN, found in the surrounding forests and markets 2016) abundance rating. from time immemorial through farmers, Road seasonal distribution of traders and hunters around the markets. This the marketed wildlife was determined by stage was a guide to know the wildlife species percentages, standard deviation, standard displayed for sale in the markets and their error of mean, mean differences, t-test, and survey for distribution and diversity. tests of significance using Statistical Package Visits to all the wildlife markets for Social Scientists (SPSS). This was done identified (Table 1) were done monthly for using Simpson’s Diversity Index (Simpson, two years (January 2012 to December 2013) 1949) through the formula 2, where, n is excluding the period for reconnaissance survey the number of individual species encountered to assess animal diversity and distribution in along each road and N is the total number of the markets species encountered along all Market Roads Indirect method was questionnaire in the study area. English and scientific names administration: three professional associations were confirmed with scientific publications were interacted with: Hunters association, that had previously established the names Farmers’ association and Traders’ Association. (Ayodele et al., 1999; Odewo et al.; 2008 and Through their leaders, the sample size was Soewu, 2008). established at 1,400.Using 25% enumeration
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