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Unsustainable fuel wood utilisation and poorly articulated habitat reforestation strategy could pose serious threats to the survival of animal species. However, few areas have provided the opportunity to compare the twin effects of these factors on local biodiversity which may be useful for shaping conservation strategies at local levels. Thus, this study examined utilization patterns of plant species used for fuelwood in five Local Government Areas of Plateau State, Nigeria and the extent of avian and insect diversity that they support in natural habitats in comparison to the exotic Eucalyptus camaldulensis used in the reforestation of mined areas in the state. Pattern of fuel wood utilisation was obtained through direct survey of fuel wood markets. Biodiversity survey was also carried out to determine avian and insect visit rates, species richness and diversity on the three most utilised plant species (Parkia biglobosa, Syzygium guineense and Terminalia macroptera) and the exotic E. camaldulensis. Fuel wood utilisation appeared to involve a wide range of plant species. Most utilised plant species also supported higher local biodiversity as compared to the exotic E. camaldulensis suggesting that future reforestation in the area could achieve a wider ecological significance if some native plant species are considered. Keywords: Fuel wood, reforestation, biodiversity, birds, insects.

The relationship between mistletoes and their host trees constitutes one of the unique host–parasite interactions in ecosystems. Most West African studies have reported on the parasitic nature of the relationship between Tapinanthus dodoneifolius mistletoes and Parkia biglobosa trees. However, there is little on bird species’ use and subsequent dispersal of the mistletoe on P. biglobosa, and consequently, we investigated aspects of this relationship in the present study. We conducted our study in Amurum Forest Reserve, located in the central part of Nigeria, from May to September 2017. The study area consists of a mosaic of savanna, gallery forest, and rocky outcrops. Of the bird community in this area, the yellow-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus chrysoconus had the highest number of visits to T. dodoneifolius fruits, while the Senegal Eremomela Eremomela pusilla spent the most time foraging on the fruits. Four sunbird species were recorded feeding on T. dodoneifolius flowers for nectar; all but the Copper Sunbird Cinnyris cupreus were observed opening the flowers of T. dodoneifolius. Other bird species were recorded foraging on insects on T. dodoneifolius, and some simply perching on twigs or pecking on mistletoe fruits. This was a mutualistic relationship between the respective bird species and the mistletoe. This indirectly benefitted the parasitised host by attracting potential pollinators, seed dispersers, and insectivores for the host, hence, improving the rate of visitation to the host. These patterns of visitation behaviours highlighted the ecological importance of T. dodoneifolius within the reserve, particularly in enhancing the survival of other taxa within the reserve. Findings from this study contribute to developing more-nuanced conservation strategies for mixed high savannah habitat types across the tropics.

Monitoring the distribution of bird species across a landscape provides information on habitat occupancy and utilization. This study determined the distribution of the five sunbird species (variable sunbird, scarlet-chested sunbird, green-headed sunbird, copper sunbird and pygmy sunbird) known to exist within the Amurum Forest Reserve. Distribution was determined both within and outside the Amurum Forest Reserve and across the habitat types in the area (gallery forest, savannah scrub and rocky outcrop) and anthropogenic scales (roads, houses and farmlands). The study was conducted between September to October 2014 using presence and absence data. A total of 60-sample points were selected using stratified random sampling. The presence or absence of the candidate bird species was determined across all points after two visits. The study revealed the variable sunbird, Cinnyris venustus as the most widely distributed of the five sunbird species this sunbird species also occurred across all habitat types equally as compared to the scarlet-chested sunbird, Chalcomitra senegalensis which was more skewed in distribution towards the rocky outcrop areas of the reserve. The sunbirds also appeared to utilise areas of anthropogenic disturbance when outside the reserve perhaps due to the presence of several green areas outside of the reserve. The uneven distribution of the birds across the landscape may as a result of niche partitioning to avoid competition. Also, lack of presence of the other sunbird species throughout the period of study was linked to their migratory behavior as reported in some literatures. The study re-emphasizes the importance of the Amurum Forest Reserve as a good refuge for birds in the area.

Occasional screening of food and water quality available to organisms in protected areas could be beneficial to their successful conservation. This is important for areas receiving regular human visitors and exhibiting activities that may be detrimental to ecosystem health. This study determined the intestinal protozoan species harboured by insectivorous and granivorous birds within the Jos Wildlife Park, Nigeria and whether the two avian feeding guilds are more susceptible to protozoan infection through water or food (grass seeds and insects). Special boxes were used to collect faecal samples from trapped birds. Samples were later analysed in the laboratory for protozoans. Both food and water utilised by the birds in the area were microscopically screened. The composition and abundance of intestinal protozoans between the two feeding guilds did not show significant differences. However, considering parasite species individually, the degree of infection by protozoans such as Giardia lamblia was highly related to the range of infection sources that a feeding guild was exposed to. The composition of parasites observed in the two feeding guilds was strongly linked to both water bodies and avian diet obtainable in the Park. These observations showed that birds in the Park are orally susceptible to infection with protozoans, some of which have been reported to cause health implications in birds. Thus, any measure to curtail environmental contamination by the parasites may improve ecosystem health and survival of avian species in the Park.

Flowering plants and insects dominate the flora and fauna of earth's land surface and interactions between them are dominant elements of the terrestrial ecosystems. This study, determined the insect fruit utilizers of the plants Carissa and Jasmine. The study further compared the two plant species in terms of the diversity of insect fruit utilizers and their frequency of visits. Data was collected in the Amurum Forest Reserve, north central Nigeria, between June and July 2011 through video recordings to identify the insect species and their frequency and duration of visits on the two plants. A total of 322 individual insects spread across 20 species were recorded during the study. C. edulis had the highest diversity and abundance of insect species as compared to J. dichotomum. Thirteen insect species were observed exclusively on C. edulis while 3 insect species were exclusive to J. dichotomum. Insect species diversity and frequency of visits differed significantly between the two study plants in favour of C. edulis. The insect family Formicidae was the most common on both plant species. 99.7% of individuals were observed foraging on the fruits of the two plants while only one individual insect (i.e. 0.31%) exhibited perching behaviour.

Detailed investigation of the foraging site utilised by avian species may reveal the habitat factors important in their conservation. This study compared the foraging sites of the Sunlark, Galerida modesta and Familiar Chart, Cercomela familiaris (both African resident insectivorous birds) a week after fire engulfed about one third of the 300 ha of the Amurum Forest Reserve, Nigeria. Foraging sites were compared based on proxies of food availability (ant, grasshopper and other insect abundance) and vegetation structure. Data on food availability and vegetation structures were obtained by quadrate sampling while foraging spots were determined from four stratified transects each surveyed four times during the study. Food availability was not a significant predictor of foraging site characteristics between the two bird species. However of the nine vegetation variables measured, grass height and proportion of burned grass cover per foraging site significantly distinguished the foraging sites of the two bird species; Sunlark foraged more at sites with shorter grasses and high proportion of burned grass cover as compared to the Familiar Chat. The characteristics of the foraging sites observed might have implications on the foraging success of the birds in line with literature on the Influences of vegetation structure on avian foraging behaviour. Key words: Foraging site, Insectivorous birds, Burn, Vegetation structure, Food availability