Department of Animal and Environmental Biology

Animal and Environmental Biology

Dr Miebaka Moslen

Ag. Head of Department

Animal and Environmental Biology

The BSc degree in Applied Biology was one of the pioneer programmes of this University as it evolved from the Higher National Diploma in Applied Biology in the Department of Biological Sciences of the former College of Science and Technology. The College of Science and Technology was upgraded first to Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt in August 6, 1980 and now Rivers State University.

The programmes were rigorously revised and enlarged to include Botany option (with specialised interest areas such as Plant Physiology, Plant Pathology, Taxonomy and Systematics), Microbiology option (with Microbial Systematics, Environmental Mi-crobiology, Industrial Microbiology, Food and Veterinary as well as Pharmaceutical Microbiology) and Zoology option (Entomology, Marine Biology and Environmental Biology). As the department got involved in environmental impact studies due to our peculiar environment (the Niger Delta Eco-logic zone and oil exploratory / industrial activities), our departmental programmes became en-larged to accommodate Postgraduate programmes that reflect environmental studies. In October 2002, The Senate approved a change of name from Department of Biological Science to the De-partment of Applied and Environmental Biology so as to reflect the current interests of the pro-gramme to the surging awareness of the place of Biology to man’s environment.

The Department of Animal and Environmental Biology was created from the Department of Applied and Environmental Biology in 2014. The Department runs a four-year programme that leads to the award of BSc. in Animal and Environmental Biology. The undergraduate programme in the first three years provides fundamental knowledge and deepens the students’ grasp of Animal and Environmental Biology. In the last year of study, the students are introduced to techniques and tools of research, developing in them the spirit of enquiry which launches them into areas of specialization such as Parasitology, Entomology, Wildlife Biology and Biodiversity Conservation, Endocrinology and Reproduction, Environmental Management, Animal Bioinformatics, Forensic and Medical Entomology among others. Postgraduate programmes leading to the award of PGD, MSc and PhD include Marine Biology and Pollution Studies, Ecology and Environmental Biology, Hy-drobiology and Ecotoxicology and Applied Entomology.

Staff list in the Department

Name | Rank | Area Of Specialisation | Email Prof. I. K. E. Ekweozor | Professor | Marine Biology/Ecotoxicology | [email protected] Prof. E. R. Daka | Professor | Hydro Biology/Ecotoxicology | [email protected] Prof. E. E. Orlu | Professor | Reproductive Physiology/Genetics | [email protected] Prof. G. C. Akani | Professor | Wildlife/Conservation Biology | [email protected] Prof J. Onwuteaka | Professor | Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity/GIS | [email protected] Prof. A. P. Ugbomeh | Professor | Aquatic Ecology Fisheries | [email protected] Prof. B. B. Fakae | Professor | Parasitology | [email protected] Prof. Asita O. Asita | Professor (Contract) | Genetics | [email protected] Prof N. Ebere | Professor | Entomology/Fisheries Biology | [email protected] Prof. Barikpoa Uedeme-Naa | Professor | Aquatic Biology | [email protected] Dr. M. Miebaka | Reader/Ag.HOD | Toxicology Hydrobiology/Aquatic | [email protected] Dr. K. Bob-Manuel | Senior Lecturer | Marine Biology | [email protected] Dr. C. C. Amuzie | Senior Lecturer | Environmental Parasitology | [email protected] Mr. C. Wala | Lecturer l | Vertebrate Biology/Fishers | [email protected] Dr. G. A. Obulor | Lecturer 1 | Molecular Biology/Genetics | [email protected] Dr. A. Green. | Senior Lecturer | Marine Biology | [email protected] Dr. I. B. Ekerette | Senior Lecturer | Entomology | [email protected] Mr. H. O. Chukwu | Lecturer l | Parasitology | [email protected] Dr. G. N. Anaero-Nweke | Lecturer ll | Physiology/Histology | [email protected] Dr N. Amadi | Lecturer l | Wildlife/Conservation Biology | [email protected] Ms. Membere Okorite | Assistant Lecturer | Entomology | [email protected] Dr. Grace Alawa | Assistant Lecturer | Wildlife/Conservation Biology | [email protected] Mrs. Kelechi Nwachukwu | Assistant Lecturer | Environmental Biology | [email protected] Mr. Albert Andrew Owoh | Assistant Lecturer | Aquatic Ecology | Mr. Robert Belema | Lecturer II | Parasitology | Dr. Owhoeli O. | Lecturer II | Parasitology | Dr. John-Amadi V. S. | Lecturer II | | Dr. Wekhe-Amenike A. | Lecturer II | Molecular Biology/Genetics | Ms. Sotonye Wodi | Assistant Lecturer | Parasitology | Mrs. Evelyn Godwin-Amaewhule | Assistant Lecturer | Parasitology | Mr. Orluoma C. A. | Assistant Lecturer | Public Health Parasitology | Mrs. Ofuru R. O. | Assistant Lecturer | Environmental Parasitologist | Mrs. Orlu Regina C. | Assistant Lecturer | Environmental Biology | Mrs. Amadi Ndidi P. | Assistant Lecturer | Environmental Parasitologist | Mr. Chindah Given C. | Assistant Lecturer | Environmental Biology | Mrs. Timothy Chioma | Assistant Lecturer | Ecology | Mrs. Udauk Inyang Dorathy | Assistant Lecturer | Marine Biology | Mr. Owhonda Ihunwo | Assistant Lecturer | Environmental Specialist | Miss P. Itolima | Senior Technologist | | [email protected] Mr. Nsirim Dimkpa P. | Technologist II | | Mrs. Dimkpa Victoria O. | Technologist II | | Ms. Perebi Jennifer Berezi | Technologist II | | Ms. Jerry Robert S. C. O. | Technologist II | | Mr. A. S. Orotankpo | Senior Store Assistant | | Mr. G. C. Nwokocha | Departmental Librarian | | [email protected] Mrs. Edith Owuala | Chief Confidential Secretary | | [email protected] Mrs. F. George | Principal Executive Officer | | [email protected] Mr. Walter Emmanuel | Administrative Officer | | Mrs. N. Chukwuemeka | Cleaner | |

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The administrative procedure in the department is outlined in the Fig below. The different units of administration are manned by a staff whose telephone number is made available for easy access to students and staff within the University. The Head of Department runs the department through committee system with assistance of the Departmental Board.

Student advisers

Public Lecture Coordinator

Registration Officer

SIWES Coordinator

STRUCTURE OF THE UNIT

The programme operates on the University modular system, incorporating mandatory, i.e. pre-req-uisite, core and elective courses (modules).

PHILOSOPHY OF THE PROGRAMMES

Animal and Environmental Biology is essential for value creation and value capture in health and environmental sciences today. In accordance with the philosophy of the Rivers State University, the programme in Animal and Environmental Biology aims at promoting general and practical educa-tion in the study of animals, their environment and role in public health, agriculture and other di-verse areas of human endeavour. Such training is essential for the development of human intellect as well as management of our national resources and overall socio-economic, scientific and techno-logical development of the country. The biologist has a lot of challenging opportunities such as problems from soil infertility and food production, pest management, higher productivity from ma-rine resources, oil pollution, economic use and conservation of the mangrove and tropical rain for-est, parasites and disease control. The biologist is poised to find solutions to these challenges.

The Rivers State University is situated in a unique ecological zone. Within easy reach are the man-grove swamps, ocean, fresh and brackish waters, rain forest etc. Urbanisation, industrialisation and population growth are causing radical changes in the environment and these are best solved by the biologist who should have both the knowledge and technique to tackle them.

The Department currently runs programmes at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The pro-grammes are:

• BSc Animal and Environmental Biology

• PGD Animal and Environmental Biology

• MSc. And PhD Ecology/Environmental Biology

• MSc and PhD Ecotoxicology/Hydrobiology

• MSc and PhD Applied Entomology

• MSc and PhD Marine Biology and Pollution Studies

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of the degree in Animal and Environmental Biology are developed to:

• Provide a comprehensive education in Animal and Environmental Biology that stresses sci-entific reasoning and problem solving across the spectrum of disciplines within the curricu-lum;

• Prepare students for a wide variety of post-undergraduate paths, including graduate school, professional training programs, or entry level jobs in any area of Animal and Environmental Biology;

• Provide extensive hands-on training in biotechnology, statistical analysis, laboratory skills, and field techniques;

• Provide thorough training in written and oral communication of scientific information

• Enrich students with opportunities for alternative education in the area of Animal and Envi-ronmental Biology through undergraduate research, internships, and study-abroad.