Effects of Agricultural Practices on the Population of Crickets in Southern Crossriver State

Student: John Obinna Obasi (Project, 2025)
Department of Forestry and Wildlife
University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State

Abstract

ABSTRACT
This study investigates the factors contributing to the population reduction of crickets in
Southern Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. The research focuses on seven Local
Government Areas: Calabar South, Akpabuyo, Akampka, Odukpani, and Calabar
Municipality, Biase and Bakasse. These areas encompass a diverse range of habitats, from
urban environments to dense tropical rainforests, offering a comprehensive landscape for
examining the ecological and anthropogenic pressures on cricket populations. The study
employs questioners to assess the impact of habitat loss, climate change, pesticide application,
and predation on cricket populations. Pesticide use in agricultural areas, particularly in
Akpabuyo, Akampka, and Odukpani, has been identified as a critical factor, with residues
found in sampled crickets correlating with decreased population densities. The study
underscores the need for integrated conservation strategies that address habitat protection,
sustainable agricultural practices, and climate change mitigation to prevent further decline of
cricket populations in Southern Calabar. These findings have broader implications for
biodiversity conservation in similar tropical regions facing rapid environmental changes.

Keywords
Entomophagy livestocks habitat ecosystem conservation
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