VEGETATION ANALYSIS OF HERBACEOUS SPECIES IN THE UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS, NIGERIA

Abstract

Vegetation is under increasing pressure by critical factors of urbanization and climate change in most industrialized parts of the world. Thus, vegetation inventory and analysis is important to reveal the species richness and abundance in a given locality for biodiversity conservation and management. This study measured the herbaceous species diversity in the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Akoka campus using simple random sampling. Vegetation data was collated from five different sites: Faculties of Social Science, Management Science, Science, Distance Learning Institute (DLI), and New Hall. Five grid plots of 1 x 1 m each were laid per site in the five different sites. Data analysis estimated species richness and abundance, frequency and relative frequency, density and relative density of species per site. A total of 47 herbaceous species with 9353 individuals were found across the sites. Vegetation composition was significantly different across all sites (p < 0.001). Dominant herbaceous species were Cyperus difformis (11.6%) and Tridax procumbens (11.4%), whereas species with low abundance were Lycopersicum esculentum (0.09%) and Chromolaena odorata (0.07%). Herbaceous species richness and abundance was highest in the Faculty of Science, whereas Management Science had the least species richness and density across the sites. In conclusion, various anthropogenic pressures affected the abundance and diversity of herbaceous species across the sites. High species richness and abundance around Faculty of Science strongly indicates the minimally disturbed condition of this site, in contrast to Management Science with new construction sites. Sites with low species diversity, such as Management Science and New Hall can be improved by greening these areas.