Species diversity and successional dynamics in the secondary forest of Obafemi Awolowo University Biological Gardens Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract

Forests worldwide are being continuously disturbed by human activities and natural events, and tropical rainforest disturbance is specifically pronounced as indicated by its low biodiversity status. This study examined the floristic composition, species diversity and evenness in seven sample plots (100, 200, 400 and 2500 m 2 ) in a secondary forest of different ages in the Biological Gardens of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. The aim of this study was to determine changes in these parameters with succession. In each sample plot, all vascular plant species were accounted for and enumerated. The data collected were used to establish the floristic composition, density, diversity and evenness of plant species in the forest. There were 85 woody species (69%), 3 grass species (2%), 13 forb species (11%) and 21 climber species (17%) in the forest. These concern 113 genera and 52 families. The number of woody species in the plots varied with the age of the plots, however, there were no clear trends in the density and diversity of species with plot age. The forest was dominated by early successional species (50%) against the 33% contributed by the late successional species. Also, the youngest plot (Plot I) was dominated by early successional species while the older plots were dominated by a mixture of both early and late successional species. The similarity between plots during succession in the tropical forest was higher between plots of the same age. Also, this study showed that because of the directional pattern of succession, the species that converge to make up the diversity of forest of ages under consideration may be predictive of its recovery.

Effect of some environmental factors on liana abundance in a regenerating secondary lowland rainforest in Nigeria three decades after a ground fire

“…The study was carried out within a 205 000 m 2 secondary rain forest in the Biological Gardens of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria which was ravaged by a ground fire in 1983, and was recommended to Protected Area establishing (Uwalaka et al, 2018). Ile-Ife lies established in the secondary forest in locations undergoing different degrees of regeneration for this study (Muoghalu & Okeesan, 2005;Uwalaka & Muoghalu, 2017).…”

Usage of Fermental Traps for the Study of the Species Diversity of Coleoptera

“…Forests are biologically diverse ecosystems that represent some of the richest communities of living organisms on Earth. Due to the diversity of these ecosystems, they are home to a significant species diversity of insects [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. While many insect species thrive, some forest species are on the verge of extinction due to forest degradation, pollution, fragmentation, changes in tree composition, climate change, and other factors, such as fires, tree felling, and draining [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ].…”

Usage of Fermental Traps for Studying the Species Diversity of Coleoptera

“…Forests are biologically diverse ecosystems that represent some of the richest communities of living organisms on Earth. Due to the diversity of these ecosystems, they are home to a significant species and diversity of insects [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. While many insect species thrive, some forest species are on the verge of extinction due to forest degradation, pollution, fragmentation, changes in tree composition, climate change, and other factors, such as fires, tree felling, and draining [9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16].…”