Checklist of Tree Species of Humid Forest Research Station, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (Frin), Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria
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Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies & Management 13(6): 707 – 718, 2020. ISSN:1998-0507 doi: https://ejesm.org/doi/v13i6.5 Submitted: August 31, 2020 Accepted: November 5, 2020 CHECKLIST OF TREE SPECIES OF HUMID FOREST RESEARCH STATION, FORESTRY RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF NIGERIA (FRIN), UMUAHIA, ABIA STATE, NIGERIA ARIWAODO, J.O., *OBIDIKE-UGWU, E.O., UGWU, R.A. AND EZEKWE, C.O. Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Umuahia, Nigeria *Corresponding author: [email protected] Abstract The study provided an updated checklist of tree species found within Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Umuahia premises. A total of 103 taxa belonging to 89 genera and 32 families were identified and documented. The family Fabaceae is the most diverse with 17 species. It was closely followed by the families: Sterculiaceae (8), Meliaceae (7), Moraceae (7), Euphorbiaceae (6) and Annonaceae (5). These six (6) families contributed about 48.5% of the tree flora diversity or 40.8% of the genera. About 34% of the encountered tree species are non-native and are naturalized to the region. Economic fruit trees registered were 34 taxa or 33.0% of the total tree list. Conservation status of each taxon determined using the IUCN Redlist V. 2014-2 classification showed that 3 endangered and 9 vulnerable tree species were recorded from the study area. Efforts should be intensified toward conservation of this important ‘Green Area’ in view of the challenging impact of global climatic change effect. Key Words: Checklist, Non-native taxa, Naturalized, Conservation, Endangered species Introduction more botanical inventories in Tropical Inventory taxonomy (description and Africa, in view of uncertainty regarding mapping of the world biota) is considered the actual number of tropical tree species. by conservation biologist as one of the Their various findings however, provided most important task facing modern a baseline data. Silk et al. (2015) estimated systematics (OPS, 2011). Evidently, the a minimum number of 4,626-5,984 tree ongoing effects of global climatic change species for Africa (including Madagascar) further accentuate the need for while, studies by Sosef et al. (2017) biodiversity analysis and conservation documented 3,013 tree species for measures particularly in species rich Tropical Africa, representing 5-7% of the Tropical Africa, where there exist a gap in estimated world’s tropical tree flora. In the knowledge about plant diversity and its West African region, its rain forest rank distribution. among the 34 most important biodiversity Recent studies (Silk et al., 2015 and hotspots in the world (Mittermeier et al., Sosef et al., 2017) underlined the need for 2004; Soladoye et al., 2015). Keay et al. This work is licensed to the publisher under the Creative Commons Attributions License 4.0 707 Checklist of Tree Species of Humid Forest Research Station ………….… Ariwaodo et al. ................ Adetuga et al. (1989) documented a total of 935 tree Based on the highlighted drawbacks, species belonging to 417 genera and 86 several authors (Oguntala et al., 1996; families (both native and non- Soladoye et al., 2005, 2015; Ariwaodo et native/naturalized taxa) for Nigeria. al., 2012; Nodza et al., 2014; Trees are important component of both Olowokudejo and Oyebanji, 2016) have urban and rural forest ecosystems and now shifted attention to the documentation directly impact on human habitation. of the nation’s rich flora diversity from Trees play key role as a structural various location with the aim of helping to component of forest ecosystems, build a floristic data bank for the country providing timber and non-timber products and to guide future conservation effort. It including ecosystem services with direct is against this background that this study impact on ameliorating climate change was embarked upon to provide an updated effect (a major Carbon ‘Sink’) cannot be checklist of the tree flora assemblage over-emphasized. However, the within the study area. increasing problem of forest deforestation caused by massive/uncontrolled timber Materials and Methods exploitation, agriculture and urbanization Study Area in Nigeria, with less than 10% of the The Humid Forest Research Station natural vegetation under forest cover calls (FRIN), Umuahia, occupies a 33 hectares for concern (Pelemo et al., 2011; piece of land in Umuahia North Local Ariwaodo et al., 2008). Ola-Adams (1981) Government Area of Abia State. About a had earlier highlighted the longevity of distance of 4 kilometers to the capital City forest tree species to be of great advantage Centre. It is a major ‘Green Area’ and to their genetic conservation if offered predates the creation of the state. The protection, as the same population can be location lies on latitudes 5 o30 ′48 ″ N to retained for a very long time unaltered. 5o31 ′15 ″ N and longitude 7 o31 ′32 ″ E to This may prove useful for purposes of 7o31 ′03 ″ E of the Greenwich Meridian, at molecular genetic studies and other related altitude area of up to 122 m above sea scientific work to improve their growth level (Fig. 1). The vegetation is typical of performance and utilization potentials. the lowland rainforest of southeast Generally, native tree species in Nigeria. The rainfall pattern is bimodal Nigeria have been reported (Osemeobo, with peaks around June to July and 1993; Borokini, 2014) to possess a long September to October. Annual rainfall is gestation period, slow growth rates of 2238 mm. Minimum and maximum between 1.5 m3/ha/year to 2.5 m3/ha/year temperature are 23 oC and 30 oC at juvenile stages, irregular fruiting within respectively. Relative humidity is 86.4% species of different types, low viability (Ariwaodo and Harry-Asobara, 2015). rates of seeds, low seed production among The soil of the area is derived from the majority of trees, few species population Precambrian basement complex and the in a unit area of land, low success rate of soil type is sandy loam. regeneration and low coppicing abilities. 708 Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies and Management Vol. 13 no.6 2020 Fig. 1: Map Showing the Study Area Data Collection in alphabetical order under each category. The study involved intensive The conservation status of each taxon taxonomic field collection, identification were determined following the IUCN and registration of both native and non- Redlist V. 2014-2. Binomial nomenclature native/naturalized tree species (either of registered taxa follows International planted or naturally regenerated) found Plant Names Index (IPNI). within the Humid Forest Research Station (FRIN) Premises, Umuahia. The Results and Discussion taxonomic keys provided in the flora of A total of 103 tree species belonging West Tropical Africa (Hutchinson and to 89 genera and 32 families were Dalziel, 1972) and Trees of Nigeria (Keay, identified and documented (Table 1 and 1989) were used in the identification of the 2). The family Fabaceae was the most taxa. Furthermore, the plant specimens diverse with 17 species (Ceasalpinaideae- collections were compared and 5; Mimosoideae-8; Papilonoideae-4). It authenticated with Registered Voucher was closely followed by the families- Specimens deposited at the Forest Sterculiaceae (8), Meliaceae (7), Herbarium Ibadan (FHI), listed in Moraceae (7), Euphorbiaceae (6) and Holmgreen (1990) in accordance with Annonaceae (5). These 6 families conventional taxonomic practice. The contributed about 48.5% of the tree flora concept of families follows Hutchinson diversity or 40.8% of the genera. The and Dalziel (1972). Families are arranged dominance of the legume family 709 Checklist of Tree Species of Humid Forest Research Station ………….… Ariwaodo et al. ................ Adetuga et al. (Fabaceae) as shown in Figure 2, may be sensitive to diversity and increase with the attributed to its reproductive biology number of species in the sample. especially the dispersal mechanisms Furthermore, 35 tree species or 34% of which allow widespread distribution the registered taxa (Fig. 3) are non-native across most of the diverse habitat and are naturalized plant species, having condition found in Nigeria (Soladoye et been introduced in the distant past into the al., 2011). West African region and Nigeria. Table 3 The genera Terminalia L and Cola and Fig 4 shows representative economic Schott and Endl have the most diverse fruit tree species documented from the number of species with a total of four (4) study. Thirty-four (34) or (33.0%) of the species recorded. Eleven (11) families or total number of tree species encountered 33.4% of the total family list are are readily recognisable fruit trees, represented by a single tree species and consumed as fruit, soup condiments and this has a strong implication for the masticatories with a high economic return conservation of the studied area. The in the south-eastern part of Nigeria. taxonomic structure of the tree flora Meregini (2005) observed that most of the diversity showed that the genus-to-species registered native fruit tree species are (G/S) ratio was 1:1.16 and family-to- endangered locally and need to be offered genera (F/G) ratio was 1:2.78. The ratios priority in any conservation programme. obtained were similar to other regions in Following the IUCN Redlist V. 2014-2 the world (Chawla et al., 2012). classification, 3 endangered and 9 Generally, the taxonomic structure of vulnerable tree species were encountered biotas which is a tool in biodiversity in this study. Cedrala odorata L. assessment as reported by (Krug et al., (Meliaceae) and Shorea roxgburghii G. 2007 and Jarvienen, 1982, cited by Don (Dipterocarpaeceae) documented in Chawla et al., 2012) can be measured as this study are both exotic trees, classified the ratio of family-to-genera, genera-to- as vulnerable and endangered in their species and family-to-species, does not native ranges though introduced into vary randomly on regional or global Nigeria (Borokini, 2014). scales. The species-genus (S/G) ratio are Table 1: Comprehensive List of Tree Specie Enumerated S/n Plant groups Habit Conservation status Gymnosperms Cupressaceae 1 * Callistris intratropica R.