Yahaya Ishaya Kuku1, Jibril Abdullahi Edicha2 and Elizabeth Doosuur Jenkwe2
1Department of Geography, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Nigeria.
2Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Abuja, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author’s Email: kukuishaya@yahoo.com, doi.org/10.55639/607.02010027
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the abundance and distribution of Adansonia species in Yobe State, Northeastern Nigeria. A purposive sampling methodology was employed, dividing the study area into 20 quadrats of varying sizes (100x100m to 500x500m), determined by species-area relationships and graph plotting. Species identification and enumeration were conducted within each quadrat, yielding 791 trees. The results show that Adansonia digitata (775 individuals) and Adansonia kilima (16 individuals) are the only two species in the study quadrats area, consistent with previous studies suggesting their exclusive presence in sub-Saharan Africa. Frequency analysis revealed that Adansonia digitata exhibited a 100% presence in all 20, while Adansonia kilima had a 30% presence in 6 quadrats. The species-area curve demonstrated a positive relationship between quadrat size and tree abundance, indicating that larger areas support more species. This finding has important implications for conservation efforts, highlighting the need to protect larger areas to maintain biodiversity. The study’s results contributed significantly to understanding Adansonia species diversity and abundance in Northeastern Nigeria. The findings provided valuable insights for conservation and management efforts, emphasizing the importance of protecting the remaining Adansonia species and their habitats. Furthermore, this study highlighted the need for continued research into the ecological and environmental factors that influence the abundance of Adansonia species. The study’s methodology and findings have implications for developing effective conservation strategies for Adansonia species in Northeastern Nigeria. The results also contributed to the broader understanding of the diversity and abundance of Adansonia species in sub-Saharan Africa.
Keywords:
Adansonia, species,
Abundance,
Quadrat,
Ecosystem,
Sorghum