An inventory of edible fruit species in Delta State University Abraka, Site 3, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

University campuses in southern Nigeria hold untapped botanical resources vital for biodiversity and food security, yet these edible fruit species often remain undocumented. This study provides an inventory of edible fruit species within Delta State University, Abraka, Site 3, Delta State, Nigeria, aimed at documenting their diversity, distribution, abundance, and fruiting patterns. Field surveys were carried out through systematic walks, direct visual observation, and photographic documentation, with species identification verified using botanical references and plant identification applications. Recorded data included botanical names, families, growth habits, and fruiting seasons. A total of twenty-two edible fruit species were documented, representing both cultivated and wild plants across multiple botanical families. Most species fruited mainly during the rainy season, while a smaller number produced fruits in the dry season. Species diversity was assessed using Margalef’s richness index, along with calculations of frequency and percentage occurrence. From the result, Elaeis guineensis recorded the highest species abundance of 42.90 %, closely followed by Cucumis sativus (11.75 %) and Abelmuschus esculentus (9.84 %), while Dacryodes edulis and Irvingia gabonensis represented plants with the least species abundance of 0.27 %. The results indicated the presence of both dominant species with high abundance and rare species of notable nutritional or ecological importance. This inventory provides a valuable baseline for biodiversity monitoring and serves as a reference for conservation planning, agroforestry development, and sustainable land-use strategies within the university environment. It further emphasises the role of campus green spaces in supporting food security, preserving local biodiversity, and maintaining ecological balance in semi-urban landscapes of southern Nigeria.