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Species composition and diversity in IITA Forest Reserve, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria


A O Akinyele
D Bown
B D Appiagyei

Abstract

Assessment of plant species composition
and diversity of International Institute of
Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Forest Reserve,
Ibadan, Nigeria was carried out to facilitate
forest conservation and restoration. Two
transects, each measuring 500m long were
laid systematically for the study. Next, ten
25m x 25m sampling plots were demarcated
on each transect for enumeration and
identification of trees, shrubs and climbers.
Further, 1m x1m subplots were demarcated
for enumeration and identification of herbs
and lianas. Shannon-Wiener diversity and
Simpson indexes were used to assess species
diversity, evenness indices and richness.
Species richness in the Reserve was: trees
(58), shrubs (26), climbers (15), herbs (6)
and lianas (4). Species diversity (H´) and
species evenness (E) were: trees (3.18,
0.41), shrubs (2.97, 0.72), climbers (2.31,
0.67), herbs (1.36, 0.78), and lianas (0.73,
0.69), respectively. Stand density was 1255
trees/ha while basal area was 23.10m2ha-1.
There was a decrease in the number of
individual trees in various diameter classes
as size increased. The Forest Reserve was
dominated by Malvaceae, Leguminosae,
Apocynaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Moraceae
families. Newbouldia laevis, Sphenocentrum
jollyanum, Acacia ataxacantha,
Chromolaena odorata, and Cnestis
ferruginea were the most abundant trees,
shrubs, climbers, herb and lianas,
respectively. Species population structure
indicated high species diversity; therefore,
management plan should be put in place for
species conservation.

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eISSN: 2408-8137
print ISSN: 2408-8129