Tree Species Composition and Diversity of Ipinu-Igede Sacred Forest in Oju Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

The role of sacred forest/sacred groves in the conservation of biodiversity is well recognised and documented. Despite the importance of sacred forests in conservation, data of flora species composition and diversity in many sacred forests still remain scanty. The study was conducted to provide baseline data on tree species composition and diversity of Ipinu-Igede sacred forest with a view to promote the role of sacred forest in flora conservation in the area. Systematic sampling technique was adopted for the study. A base line transect of 2 km long was established and five (5) other transects 2 km long were laid at regular interval of 500 km apart. On each transect, 4 sampling plots of 50 mx50 m were established at a regular interval of 500m apart. Within the 50 m x50 m plots, trees with diameter at breast height (DBH)≥10 cm were identified and enumerated. Species Important Value Index (IVI), species richness, species evenness and species diversity were estimated. A total number of 50 tree species in 19 families were recorded. Cola gigantea was the most important tree species with IVI of 14.56, this was followed by Harungana madagascariensis with 13.14. Caesalpinioideae was the dominant family with 6 species, 48.15% of the families were represented by only one species. The species richness was D=9.436, Species JAERI, 18(3): 1-10, 2019; Article no.JAERI.48054 2 Evenness was E´=0.7668 and species diversity was H=3.646. Thirty percent (30%) of the tree species were in the DBH class of 1-40cm indicating good regeneration status of the sacred forest. Acknowledgement of the traditional practices by scientists and other actors in natural resources conservation will help in promoting forest conservation. Original Research Article

Understory species diversity, regeneration and recruitment potential of sacred groves in south west Nigeria

“…In Nigeria and elsewhere, sacred groves have been observed to play important role in biodiversity conservation (Bhagwat and Rutte, 2006;Khan et al, 2008;Kokou et al, 2008;Onyekwelu and Olusola, 2014). Many studies have assessed the forest population, structure and biodiversity conservation potentials of the overstory layers of sacred groves in Nigeria (Onyekwelu and Olusola 2014;Salami and Akinyele, 2018;Ikyaagba et al, 2019). However, studies on understory tree species diversity in sacred groves are rare while no known study has assessed the regeneration and recruitment potentials of sacred groves in Nigeria.…”

Woody Species Composition and Diversity of Wawa-Zange Forest, Gombe State, Nigeria

“…This indicates a moderate level of species variety and variable species distribution in the study area, as well as an old assemblage with diversified and abundant vegetation. When compared to (H'= 3.646) from Ipinu-Igede Sacred Forest as reported [19]; (H'= 3.21) as found by [17], and [18] reported (H' = 2.6). A higher level of anthropogenic disturbance in the studied area could explain the difference in diversity indicators.…”

“…The amount of woody (tree and shrub) plants discovered is comparable to that found in the Kanawa Forest Reserve, which has 25 tree species and 35 shrub species, as reported by [16]; (Abdullah MB, 2010, unpublished data) in Yankari Game Reserve in 2003 with 38 tree species, in 2004 with 42 tree species, and 2005 with 43 tree species; [17] reported 37 tree and shrub species belonging to 17 families in the Falgore wildlife reserve in Kano state, and also [18] collected 16 woody species in Girei forest reserve in Adamawa State. Direct comparisons with other studies of a comparable nature are challenging such as [19], which collected 50 woody species in the Ipinu-Igede sacred forest in Benue State, North-Central Nigeria and [20] obtained 14 species in North-Eastern Nigeria. Due to the fact that the floristic data that are now accessible are either site-specific or span a wide range of vegetation zones.…”

“…According to Harris [23], no family has a wider worldwide spread in a wider variety of ecosystems than the Fabaceae, with the possible exception of the Poaceae. Also [24,19] identified Fabaceae as the dominant family in Benue State, Nigeria. The highest IVI for trees was Combretum hypopilinum (9.0) while the lowest IVI for trees was Pericopsis laxiflora and Pterocarpus erinaceous is 1.06 each.…”

Cataloguing Phytosociological Pattern of Flora in Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve, Western Ghats, Southern India

“…ii) Species diversity, Abundance and Evenness Among the four different types of ora, TL registered maximum taxa (54) followed by SL (25), GL (24) and HL (22). The expected species richness was similar to the observed species richness except TL (55.67).…”