Analyzing the Distribution Patterns of Nutmeg (Myristica spp.) in Busama Forest Area Using Quadrat Size Technique

Abstract

Trees in natural forests are scattered across and along altitudinal gradients. The mode of dispersion varies within a natural forest and is influenced by natural translocation phenomena of biotic and abiotic factors acting on the environment. It is understood that dispersion in a natural forest can be in random, uniformed or clumped and assumed to be in random at a certain degree. This study was carried out in Busama forest area in a permanent sampling plot to describe the distribution pattern of trees within the forest area with Myristica spp. used because of its dominance within the forest. The index of dispersion technique was used to assess and analyze the distribution patterns of Myristica spp. where quadrat sizes are increased from 1m² to 2,500m² using Microsoft EXCEL to generate subplots within the PSP and f – test was used to test the significance of the departure or closeness of the distribution to randomness at F 0.01 ≥ 1.36 (at 1% level of significance). It was found that as the quadrat size increase the distribution pattern of Myristica spp. becomes random and also the population density increases but it is predicted that it will become random but in clumps (F 0.01 ≥ 1.36), as the quadrat size increased to about 200m² and above, there is a significant departure from the randomness of closeness. However, the distribution pattern of Myristica species in this case is general and can be applied to other tree species in other locales.