The use of ecological methods in vegetative studies of plant species and abundance in south-eastern Nigeria

Abstract

The study on ecological survey of plant species biodiversities and abundance in Southeastern Nigeria was conducted between January 2012 and 2013 at Anambra State, Nigeria to determine the plant species biodiversities and abundance in three forest fringes viz: community, shrine and reserves using measures based on floristic, stratified random sampling, plotless measure and point centre quarter methods, respectively. Shannon-wienners index of diversity analysis proved that Umunze community forest was highest in biodiversity (0.95) with Afzelia africana as the most dorminant species (148.93) while Pterocarpus sp. has the highest importance value index (25.36). Achala forest reserve has Chlorophora exdelsa as the most dominant (686.09), while Tectora grandis recorded the highest importance value index (62.53). The dominant species in Iyiocha forest was Pterocarpus species (451.31), while Newbouldia levis has the highest importance value index. Regression analysis showed that at P<0.05, there is a significant relationship between species abundance and species diversity.