This study investigated the distributional patterns of species in response to salinity gradients. The vegetation was systematically sampled using a quadrat of 50 x 10 m. Vegetation variables were measured. At depths of 0-15 and 15-30 cm, sediment samples were dug and analyzed using standard methods. Fourteen species were encountered. Rhizophora mangle and Mytragyna ciliata had highest and least density values of 6664±687.16 and 3.00±0.42 st/ha. The most frequent species were Rhizophora mangle and Nypa fruticans (100 %). Rhizophora mangle and Mytragyna were tallest (12.45±1.20 m) and shortest species (3.11±0.24 m). Elaeis guineensis and Alchornea cordifolia had the largest (1.79±0.05 m 2 /ha) and least (0.008±0.0002 m 2 /ha) basal area values. Highest crown cover value was recorded by Rhizophora mangle (9.14±0.08 m2/ha) while by Alchornea cordifolia had the least value (0.04±0.001 m 2 /ha). Gradient analysis revealed that Ipomoea involucrata, Paspalum vaginatum, Dracaena mannii, Piptadeniastrum africanum, Elaeis guineensis, Staudtia stipitata, Alchornea cordifolia, Terminalia superba and Mytragyna ciliata belonged to ecological group 1 with ecological optima of 8.14, respectively. Acrostichum aureum (ecological optimum of 29.32), Avicennia africana (ecological optima of 19.56 and 30.12) and Phoenix reclinata (ecological optima of 8.14 and 29.32) belonged to ecological group 4 while Nypa fruticans (ecological optima of 8.14 and 29.32) and Rhizophora mangle (ecological optima of 19.56 and 30.12) belonged to ecological group 0. This study provides information on species adaptation and performance in relation to environmental stress and will form the basis for the future and effective management of this ecosystems.

The overlap between vegetation and environmental factors in wetlands has always been a key area in plant ecology. Studying vegetation components in wetland without allusion to the environmental factors governing their distribution is inconclusive. To this end, mathematical models were applied to predict floristic components using soil variables in seasonal lacustrine wetlands. A quadrat size of 5m×5m was used to systematically sample the vegetation for density, frequency, height, basal area and crown cover. In each quadrat, soil samples were obtained at different rooting depths (0 -15cm and 15–30cm). Results obtained showed variations in the floristic composition in the wetlands seasonally. Rural wetland had seventeen (17) plant species during the dry season and fourteen (14) plant species during the wet season while urban wetland had eleven (11) plant species in the dry season and thirteen plant species (13) in the wet season. Variations in density, height, frequency, basal area and crown cover occurred in the wetlands. The physicochemical properties of the soil in these wetlands varied seasonally. A prediction model using stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed the vegetation and species responses to the environment on the basis of soil variables and also showed their relationship with each other. It also showed the various predictors (soil properties) of the vegetation components such as density (exchangeable acidity, sand, pH, Na, Zn, Cd, Ca and total nitrogen), height (base saturation, Ni and sand), crown cover (exchangeable acidity, clay and electrical conductivity) and basal area (exchangeable acidity). In summary, it is established that using mathematical models, environmental variables (soils) can serve as good predictors of vegetation components in wetlands by elucidating the soil-vegetation interrelationships.