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Habitat degradation and fragmentation are eating deep into conservation areas and this is a serious threat to species diversity and abundance. Species like the antelopes have a sedentary and docile nature which makes them highly vulnerable to habitat degradation or human intrusion. The effect becomes complex as the remaining flora and fauna communities can be significantly impacted by changes in ecosystem structure and function. Population density, diversity and abundance of fauna species will either increase or decrease over time depending on the quality of the environment/habitat and the level of human interference or disturbance. Hence an updated checklist of species diversity and abundance is necessary to enable management and other stakeholders make pragmatic plans and policy towards sustainable species conservation. With the aid of a Global Positioning System (GPS), a 5 km transect was established per site and censured for Antelope species using the King Census method of enumeration. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA was used to analyze the data. Seven (7) species of Antelopes were recorded. Kobs (Kobus kob) were the most abundant (2019), while Reedbuck (Redunca redunca) was the least abundant with twenty-five (25) individuals. Kob is the most observed species in Oli Complex with 24.13%, ranking about 50% of kob in proportion. This was followed by roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus), and Red Flanked duiker, 4.02% and 3.63% respectively. Kobs had the highest density of 40.38 per square km followed by roan antelope (3.32) and RF duiker (2.36). Relative density followed a similar trend. The least encounter rate was observed in Sylvicapra grimmia (0.02) and increse further to Hippotragus equinus (0.4), Redunca redunca (0.06) and Alcelaphus buselaphus (0.09) respectively. It was low amongst Tragelaphus scriptus (0.2), and moderate, while it was very high amongst the kobs (5.0). The rate of encountering an antelope in the park is very high at a rate of 6.2 animals per kilometer. Species of antelopes are almost not found in other ranges due to anthropogenic activities around the park. These activities are fast entering into the core area of the park. Hence management should take effective measure to curb this fast-rising problem.

The Niger Delta in Nigeria is the largest wetland in Africa and the third largest mangrove forest in the world. The region is known for its richness in biodiversity as well as its oil and gas resources. Due to the high level of oil exploration, deforestation, hunting and insecurities in these areas, the wildlife especially endemic species like the Niger Delta red colobus becomes vulnerable to extinction. Most researches on their range have noted a significant reduction in their population and range distribution. Hence, up-to-date information on their current status is paramount to ensure proper and urgent conservation measures. Data was obtained through the use of field survey and secondary data. The species was recently discovered endemic to Niger delta region in Nigeria for about 23 years ago and recent studies observed that there has been a drastic reduction in their population and a shift in the range they formally occupied faulting this to anthropogenic activities. This study revealed that the location is under intense timber extraction and hunting and as a result, one of the location in the Apoi creek where it was reported to be present, record no species of Red colobus monkey. Only the red capped mangabey monkey (3) were sighted at the location with some evidence of alligator (10). Result also revealed that most of the communities (age ≤ 30) do not know or have seen the species. The situation at the location is exacerbated because of the level of poverty and insecurity in the areas. Going by the evidence of intense timber extraction and hunting at the location, the number of this species may have drastically reduced compared to what it was formally projected (±200 individuals). It is therefore strongly recommended that a follow up of the research is done in other location where it was reported to be present.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a spore-forming bacterium well-known for its insecticidal properties associated with its ability to produce crystal inclusions during sporulation. These inclusions are proteins encoded by cry genes and have shown to be toxic to a variety of insects and other organisms like nematodes and protozoa . The primary action of Cry proteins is to lyse midgut epithelial cells through insertion into the target membrane and form pores . Once ingested, crystals are solubilized in the alkaline environment of midgut lumen and activated by host proteases . On the other hand, the involvement of Bt proteases in processing inactive protoxins is also reported. These toxins are also highly specific and completely biodegradable, hence no toxic products are accumulated in the environment. In fact, Calderón et al. suggest the potential use of some crystal proteins as adjuvants for the administration of heterologous antigens.The activity spectrum of Bt toxins continually increases as result of the ongoing isolation of new strains around the world. The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (S. frugiperda) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and the variegated cutworm, Peridroma saucia (P. saucia) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), are two lepidopteran pests that cause severe damage to a variety of crops. While the first one mainly attacks corn, rice, peanuts, cotton, soybeans, alfalfa and forage grasses, the second one targets peanuts, sunflowers, soybeans and grapevines, among others . Currently, control of this pest relies on chemical insecticides. Nevertheless, the rapid increases in resistance to insecticides together with the potential adverse environmental effects produced by these chemicals have encouraged the development of alternative methods for Lepidoptera control . Among these methods the use of Bt as a biocontrol agent has shown to be extremely valuable. The diversity of Cry toxins produced by Bt allows the formulation of a variety of bioinsecticides by using the bacteria themselves or by expressing their toxin genes in transgenic plants. To date, many plant species have been genetically modified with cry genes, resulting in transgenic plants with a high level of resistance to insect . However, it has been reported that several pests have developed resistance against Cry proteins . The current approach used to delay evolution of resistance to transgenic crops uses a "high dose" and "refuge" strategy . In addition, it is important to use a combination of cry genes and/or other genes encoding insecticidal proteins within the same transgenic crop . Due to extensive use of transgenic crops in developing countries based on cry-type genes, there is a need for alternative cry gene sequences to meet the challenge of novel insect resistance . Crucial to this development is the identification of novel and more active strains with respect to insect pests of economically important crops. The cry genes of Bt strains are known to be related to their toxicity and identification of these genes by means of PCR has been used to characterize and predict insecticidal activity of the strains . Nevertheless, a more complete characterization should include alternative methods. Phenotypical analysis such as protein profile determination provides useful information for typing and comparative studies. The literature data report the possibility of using the whole-cell protein profile as a discriminating method with potency similar to RAPD with combined DNA patterns. However, there is not always a good correlation between these factors and insecticidal activity of Bt strains. In addition, there is a need to develop knowledge about the biological properties and diversity of Bt isolates since these data allow a better understanding of the biological factors that determine insecticidal properties. Extracellular factors such as phospholipases, proteases and chitinases have shown to contribute to insecticidal activity of Bt . During a screening programme of Bt isolates native to Argentina and toxic against Lepidoptera, several strains were characterized according to different biological parameters. In addition, promising isolates regarding their useful in biological control programmes -an environmentally safe technology of pest control- were exhaustively studied . The present work showed most relevant results obtained during a course of those investigations. The discovery of highly pathogenic isolates against devastating insect pests reveals the usefulness of screening studies for novel Bt strains. Fil: Alvarez, Analia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; Argentina Fil: Loto, Flavia del Valle. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; Argentina