Browsing by Author "Amosu, Albert O."

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    Impact of climate change and anthropogenic activities on renewable coastal resources and biodiversity in Nigeria
    (Academic Journals, 2012) Amosu, Albert O.; Bashorun, O.W.; Babalola, O.O.; Olowu, Rasaq A.; Togunde, K.A.
    Climates related disaster is greatly human induced warming, leading to substantial fluctuations in earth temperature which is currently a global issue of environmental concern. Human proximity and pressure in and around the coastal region has threatened flora, fauna and micro-organic resources of economic importance in most developing nations. Two-third of the word populations lives in or around the coast and 16 of the 23 world mega cities are currently in the world coastal belt. Transitively, the coastal environment, which harbors the highest percentage of biodiversity, is significantly important for economic activities and leisure. Nigeria's climate may witness increases in temperature, rainfall, storms, and sea levels throughout the twenty-first century and improper management of these desiccations can result into degradation in some parts of the country. Apart from climate change, coastal environment is subject to various anthropogenic impacts, often associated with high population, industrial and agricultural activities. Both disasters have led to heat stress, sea level rise, and erosion, salinization of the soil, evapo- transpiration, desertification and others. The overall resultant effects are feasible on environmental indicators including renewable coastal resources. It is therefore recommended among others that thinking globally and acting locally on environmental issues could save our coastal nation.
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    South African seaweed aquaculture: A sustainable development example for other African coastal countries
    (Academic Journals, 2013) Amosu, Albert O.; Robertson-Andersson, Deborah; Maneveldt, Gavin; Anderson, Robert J.; Bolton, John J.
    The green seaweed Ulva is one of South Africa's most important aquaculture products, constituting an important feed source particularly for abalone (Haliotis midae L.), and utilized as a bioremediation tool and other benefits such as biomass for biofuel production and for integrated aquaculture. Besides Ulva spp, Gracilaria spp. are also cultivated. Wild seaweed harvest in South Africa totals 7,602 mt, compared to 2,015 mt of cultivated Ulva. To mitigate for the reliance on wild harvesting, the South African seaweed aquaculture industry has grown rapidly over the past few decades. On-land integrated culture units, with paddle-wheel raceways, are now widely viewed as the preferred method of production for the industry. The success of seaweed aquaculture in South Africa is due to a number of natural and human (industrial) factors. The development of the seaweed aquaculture industry has paralleled the growth of the abalone industry, and has been successful largely because of bilateral technology transfer and innovation between commercial abalone farms and research institutions. In South Africa seaweeds have been used commercially as feedstock for phycocolloid production, for the production of abalone feed, and the production of Kelpak and Afrikelp, which are plant-growth stimulants used in the agricultural sector. Additionally, Ulva is being investigated for large-scale biogas production. The South African seaweed industry provides a template that could be used by other coastal African nations to further their undeveloped aquaculture potential.