PLANT SPECIES BIODIVERSITY, COMPOSITION AND REGENERATION POTENTIAL IN KURBA FOREST RESERVE, BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study area is endowed with few tree species which the diversity, classification based on utility and regeneration potential have not been documented. This study aimed at generating data on the species composition and diversity; determine the regeneration status of plant community of the Kurba Forest Reserve. A kilometer line transect was laid with four sample plots established (30 × 30 m) which was used for measuring the tree on interval of 100m from each plot. 5×5 m subplot was laid out at the center of each plot for measuring sapling while 2×2 m subplots was also used to determine the frequency and abundance of wildings. Species diversity was determined using the Shannon-Wiener index. A total of forty four (44) tree species belonging to 6 families; 88 sapling distributed into 10 families and 76 wildlings were identified in the study site. Fabaceae was the richest family represented by seven (7) species while Cassia arereh had the highest number of individual with an average of (10) followed by Tamarindus indica (9) and Diospyros misfiliformis (8) trees per hectare. Cassia arereh had the highest number of Important Value Index of 58.174. Shannon-Wiener diversity index was evaluated to be (1.94) and (2.21) for tree species and saplings respectively. The regeneration status of the forest indicated that there is high forest degradation and severe anthropogenic activities in the area, dominated by Dichrastachys cinerrea, Cissus quandrangularis and Lepidendron stemberg. Therefore, it is highly recommended that conservation of species, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable use of the forest genetic resources must be encouraged.

Key Words: Biodiversity indices, Kurba, Regeneration potential, Species composition

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