http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1085 2026-04-14T23:09:13Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/11339 Pollination ecology of shea (vitellaria paradoxa c.f. Gaertn.) In the guinea savanna zone of Ghana Nasare, Latif Iddrisu Vitellaria paradoxa (shea) is an economic tree endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa. Shea fruit contributes to food security, while the edible fat from shea kernel is used industrially in cosmetic, pharmaceutical and confectionary products. However, optimum fruit yield is limited by inadequate pollination services. This study investigated floral phenology and explored managed bee (Apis mellifera) for enhanced pollination in shea parklands of six sites in three regions (Upper West, Upper East and North East) from August 2020 to December 2021. The study specifically sought to establish the relationship between climatic conditions and floral phenology, and the effect of apiary on shea flower visitors and fruit yield at four distances (100, 500, 1000 and 4000m) from the apiary. Alternative floral resources visited by shea pollinators (bees) were also surveyed monthly for one year. Shea flowering was significantly associated with soil moisture and temperature but the onset of flowering and morphometric traits of floral parts varied significantly between regions. Tree proximity to apiary had a positive effect on fruit set but not fruit weight and size. Presence of apiary did not have any effect on diversity and flower visitation frequency of other bees. Similarly, weather conditions had a minimal effect on flower visitor composition. Alternative forage survey identified 32 woody plants, 75% of which were visited by shea primary pollinators. The study concluded that beekeeping in shea parklands had some positive effects on pollination and fruit set. However, further studies are required to determine the optimal hive density per acreage of shea parkland and the long-term effects of beekeeping on other florivorous insects. xiv, 207p,; ill. 2022-10-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/11336 Pollination ecology of shea (vitellaria paradoxa c.f. Gaertn.) In the guinea savanna zone of Ghana Nasare, Latif Iddrisu Vitellaria paradoxa (shea) is an economic tree endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa. Shea fruit contributes to food security, while the edible fat from shea kernel is used industrially in cosmetic, pharmaceutical and confectionary products. However, optimum fruit yield is limited by inadequate pollination services. This study investigated floral phenology and explored managed bee (Apis mellifera) for enhanced pollination in shea parklands of six sites in three regions (Upper West, Upper East and North East) from August 2020 to December 2021. The study specifically sought to establish the relationship between climatic conditions and floral phenology, and the effect of apiary on shea flower visitors and fruit yield at four distances (100, 500, 1000 and 4000m) from the apiary. Alternative floral resources visited by shea pollinators (bees) were also surveyed monthly for one year. Shea flowering was significantly associated with soil moisture and temperature but the onset of flowering and morphometric traits of floral parts varied significantly between regions. Tree proximity to apiary had a positive effect on fruit set but not fruit weight and size. Presence of apiary did not have any effect on diversity and flower visitation frequency of other bees. Similarly, weather conditions had a minimal effect on flower visitor composition. Alternative forage survey identified 32 woody plants, 75% of which were visited by shea primary pollinators. The study concluded that beekeeping in shea parklands had some positive effects on pollination and fruit set. However, further studies are required to determine the optimal hive density per acreage of shea parkland and the long-term effects of beekeeping on other florivorous insects. xiv, 207p,; ill. 2022-10-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/11161 The Effects of Habitat Disturbance on Adult Odonata Assemblages in Urban Freshwater Habitats of Southern Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana Badu, Isaac Kwame Members of the insect Order Odonata have been widely used as indicators of the integrity of freshwater ecosystems. However, the effects of anthropogenically induced factors continue to affect their assemblages especially in urban areas. As such, this study was conducted to investigate the influence of human and natural habitat conditions on Odonate assemblages in freshwater habitats of southern Cape Coast Metropolis in the Central Region of Ghana. This was important to address the existing gap in knowledge on the Odonata species within the Metropolis and consequently, the effects of urban habitat conditions on Odonate assemblages in a tropical ecosystem. A total of four sampling visits per each of the 16 sites used for the study from January to June 2022, provided data on Odonata species. A habitat integrity index was generated for each site and used to categorise sites into 3 levels of disturbance: high, moderate, and least. Local climatic variables were measured and recorded for each study site. Twenty-six species of dragonflies and damselflies were recorded within the Metropolis. Generalised mixed effect model showed a varying significant effect of pH, water retention mechanism, condition of the riparian vegetation, preservation of the riparian vegetation and the presence or absence of cropland on dragonfly and damselfly abundance, diversity and compositions. A dragonfly biotic index was developed for habitat quality assessment within the Metropolis which showed that freshwater habitats within the Metropolis are experiencing some level of disturbance. There is therefore the need for conservation efforts to restore the integrity of the habitats surveyed and the entire Metropolis and the success of these actions can be monitored using the DBI. i, xiv; 129p 2022-11-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/10434 Effects of Urban Land-use Type on Avifauna Assemblage Structure in Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly Afrifa, Joseph Kwasi ABSTRACT Given the global trend of increasing urbanization, the need to preserve and improve urban biodiversity has become critical. This study examines the relative influence of different land-use types as well as environmental resources (small trees, large trees, flowering trees, fruiting trees, shrubs, telecommunication mast, pylons, electric poles, buildings) on bird diversity indicators in the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly in Ghana. Remote sensing was used to estimate the extent of conversion of natural habitats into urban settlements. Using point count survey, bird species were recorded and compared in randomly selected plots of four land- use types of farmlands, remnant forest, residential and commercial areas. The relative influence of habitat resources on bird diversity indicators as well as the comparative use of natural and artificial resource by birds in built-up areas within the study area was also evaluated. The study found a significant extension of built-up areas into natural habitats in the study area with a significant increase in sparse vegetation coupled with a drop in the area covered by dense vegetation over the last three decades. Avifauna diversity indicators differ significantly across the four land-use types with urban farmlands being the most species diverse, followed by remnant forest, then residential and finally commercial areas. Findings from the study suggest that avian species diversity indicators decreased significantly with increasing land-use intensity and revealed that the study area still possesses significant conservation potentials for urban birds and by extension biological diversity as long as vegetation fragments are maintained within a sustained urban expansion framework. Biodiversity can be improved by improving the complexity and quantity of plant cover in residential areas by supporting citizens to establish private yards to increase the city’s green networ ii,ill:83 2021-12-01T00:00:00Z