Abstract
Floristic composition, plant species diversity, tree canopy structure and regeneration were assessed in a degraded tropical humid rainforest in Nigeria using a systematic line transect sampling technique for plot demarcation. All plants in a plot were identified and classified into families while the diameters and heights of trees with diameter at breast height (Dbh) >10cm were measured. Tree basal area, total volume, density, dominance, frequency, Importance Value Index (IVI), Shannon-Weiner diversity (H1) and Equitability Indices (EH) were then computed. A species-area curve was used to determine the relationship between forest area and number of species encountered while tree height was used to assess canopy structure. Eighty-three plant species belonging to 78 genera in 39 families were identified. Trees were the predominant plant form with 46 species (172 trees ha-1) while 7 shrubs, 15 lianas, 13 herbs, 1 grass and 1 fern species were recorded. Tree basal area and total volume were 10.29±0.88 m2 ha-1 and 22.43±1.85 m3 ha-1 respectively. The tallest tree height (35m) was recorded for Terminalia superba while the shortest (9.3m) was Ficus mucuso. The three most abundant families were Fabaceae (15.9%), Sterculiaceae (9.8%) and Moraceae (7.3%) while the most dominant species were Trema orientalis (4%), Terminalia superba (4%) and Mansonia altissima (6.29%) with IVI of 14.92%, 14.79% and 13.73%, respectively. A high level of tree species diversity was observed with H1 and EH of 3.65 and 0.97 respectively. There were 29 tree species found to be naturally regenerating (seedlings and saplings) and no species was found in the emergent layer. Despite the high level of anthropogenic interference in the ecological processes, Akure–Ofosu forest reserve remains highly diverse in plant species composition and it has great potential for restoration if properly managed with silvicultural interventions such as seed supplementation and/or enrichment planting which would encourage the rapid return of the complex forest conditions.
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Claims 18
Claim · model-written summary
The forest contained 83 plant species in 78 genera and 39 families.
Verbatim
e0“Eighty-three plant species belonging to 78 genera in 39 families were identified.”
Claim · model-written summary
Trees predominated with 46 species and 172 trees per hectare.
Verbatim
e0“Trees were the predominant plant form with 46 species (172 trees ha-1)”
Claim · model-written summary
Seven shrubs, 15 lianas, 13 herbs, one grass and one fern species were recorded.
Verbatim
e0“7 shrubs, 15 lianas, 13 herbs, 1 grass and 1 fern species were recorded”
Claim · model-written summary
Tree basal area was 10.29±0.88 m2 per hectare.
Verbatim
e0“Tree basal area and total volume were 10.29±0.88 m2 ha-1 and 22.43±1.85 m3 ha-1 respectively.”
Claim · model-written summary
Total tree volume was 22.43±1.85 m3 per hectare.
Verbatim
e0“Tree basal area and total volume were 10.29±0.88 m2 ha-1 and 22.43±1.85 m3 ha-1 respectively.”
Claim · model-written summary
Terminalia superba was tallest at 35 m.
- Taxon
- Terminalia superba
Terminalia superbae0 - Outcome
- tree heighte0
- Direction
- talleste0
- Value
- 35me0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The tallest tree height (35m) was recorded for Terminalia superba”
Claim · model-written summary
Ficus mucuso was shortest at 9.3 m.
- Taxon
- Ficus mucusoFicus mucusoe0
- Outcome
- shorteste0
- Direction
- shorteste0
- Value
- 9.3me0
Verbatim
e0“the shortest (9.3m) was Ficus mucuso”
Claim · model-written summary
Fabaceae was the most abundant family at 15.9%.
Verbatim
e0“The three most abundant families were Fabaceae (15.9%), Sterculiaceae (9.8%) and Moraceae (7.3%)”
Claim · model-written summary
Sterculiaceae accounted for 9.8%.
Verbatim
e0“Sterculiaceae (9.8%)”
Claim · model-written summary
Moraceae accounted for 7.3%.
Verbatim
e0“Moraceae (7.3%)”
Claim · model-written summary
Trema orientalis had 4% dominance and IVI 14.92%.
- Taxon
- Trema orientalis
Trema orientalee0 - Outcome
- Trema orientalise0
- Value
- 4%e0
- Qualifier
- 14.92%e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Trema orientalis (4%), Terminalia superba (4%) and Mansonia altissima (6.29%) with IVI of 14.92%, 14.79% and 13.73%, respectively”
Claim · model-written summary
Terminalia superba had 4% dominance and IVI 14.79%.
- Taxon
- Terminalia superbaTerminalia superbae0
- Outcome
- Terminalia superbae0
- Value
- 4%e0
- Qualifier
- 14.79%e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Trema orientalis (4%), Terminalia superba (4%) and Mansonia altissima (6.29%) with IVI of 14.92%, 14.79% and 13.73%, respectively”
Claim · model-written summary
Mansonia altissima had 6.29% dominance and IVI 13.73%.
- Taxon
- Mansonia altissima
Mansonia altissimae0 - Outcome
- Mansonia altissimae0
- Value
- 6.29%e0
- Qualifier
- 13.73%e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Trema orientalis (4%), Terminalia superba (4%) and Mansonia altissima (6.29%) with IVI of 14.92%, 14.79% and 13.73%, respectively”
Claim · model-written summary
Tree species diversity was high, with H1 3.65 and EH 0.97.
Verbatim
e0“A high level of tree species diversity was observed with H1 and EH of 3.65 and 0.97 respectively.”
Claim · model-written summary
Twenty-nine tree species were naturally regenerating.
Verbatim
e0“There were 29 tree species found to be naturally regenerating (seedlings and saplings)”
Claim · model-written summary
No species was found in the emergent layer.
Verbatim
e0“no species was found in the emergent layer”
Claim · model-written summary
The forest reserve remained highly diverse despite anthropogenic interference.
Verbatim
e0“Despite the high level of anthropogenic interference in the ecological processes, Akure–Ofosu forest reserve remains highly diverse in plant species composition”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend seed supplementation or enrichment planting to aid restoration.
Verbatim
e0“it has great potential for restoration if properly managed with silvicultural interventions such as seed supplementation and/or enrichment planting which would encourage the rapid return of the complex forest conditions”