International Journal of Mol. Ecol. and Conserv. 2015, Vol.5, No. 1, 1-6
Research Report
Open Access
Vegetation Assessment of Sclater’s Guenon Habitat in Ikot Uso Akpan Forest,
ITU, Southeastern Nigeria
Jacob D. E.
1
, E. A. Eniang
1
, I. U. Nelson
2
, U. I. Udoakpan
1
1 Forestry and Wildlife Department, University of Uyo, Nigeria
2 Biodiversity Preservation Center, Uyo, Nigeria
Corresponding author email:
International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation, 2015, Vol.5, No.1 doi: 10.5376/ijmec.2015.05.0001
Received: 25 Oct., 2014
Accepted: 17 Nov., 2014
Published: 30 Jan., 2015
Copyright
©
2015 Jacob et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Preferred citation for this article:
Jacob et al., 2015, Vegetation Assessment of Sclater’s Guenon Habitat in Ikot Uso Akpan Forest, ITU, Southeastern Nigeria, International Journal of Molecular
Ecology and Conservation, Vol.5, No.1, 1-6
Abstract
This study was aimed at assessing the vegetation structure of Sclater's guenon habitat in Ikot Uso Akpan forest, Itu,
Southeastern Nigeria. Two sample plots (50 m × 50 m and 70 m × 50 m) were used for the vegetation assessment. Descriptive
statistics and Computer program (Tree Draw and Stand Visualization System (SVS)) were used for the vegetation analysis. A total of
72 tree species belonging to 20 families were enumerated. Habitat degradation was severe in the study area negatively impacting on
the habitat of the endemic primate species in the area. Urgent conservation measures are needed to restore and preserve the forest
fragment to ensure the survival of the primate species in the study area.
Keywords
Lowland rainforest; Vegetation structure; Conservation; Sclater's guenon; Nigeria
Introduction
Biodiversity is the foundation of human existence as it
constitutes the resource upon which virtually everyone
depends, its conservation therefore becomes very
pertinent (Groves, 2000). However, the modification
of the ecosystem by human actions has threatened
biodiversity at a global scale (Cowlishaw, 1999;
Cowlishaw and Dunbar, 2000; Chapman and Peres,
2001). A report by the Food and Agriculture
Organization quoted by Ettah (2008) indicate that
tropical countries are losing 127,300 km
2
of forest
area annually. This does not include the vast area
being selectively logged which is estimated to cover
55,000 km
2
(Chapman and Lambert, 2000; Bennett,
2000).
In Africa, deforestation is a major problem, and
natural habitat (e.g., lowland rainforest) is destroyed
at a relative rate that is higher than those of other
tropical regions (Archad et al., 2002). Furthermore,
there is a prediction that an unabated continuation of
the tropical forest destruction will result in the loss of
about three-quarters of original forest cover by the
turn of the next century (Archad et al., 2002). The
issue is particularly serious because the tropics is the
world’s highest ranking region in terms of species
richness and endemism (Mittermeier et al., 1997;
Myers et al., 2000) and more than forty two percent
(42%) of its biodiversity could be lost (Sohdi et al.,
2004).
The Nigerian environment is presently exposed to factors
that may induce species loss and decimation as a result of
anthropogenic perturbation resulting from urbanization,
agriculture, deforestation, industrialization as well as other
sundry activities (Eniang, 2001; Eniang and Ebin, 2002;
Egwali et al., 2005). Consequently, many mammalian
species, especially the primates, are currently threatened at
various levels which are inimical to their continuous
survival. This study therefore examined the vegetation
structure and constituent trees population density within
the study area.
Materials and Method
Study Area
The study area is located in the southern part of
Nigeria in Akwa Ibom State between 5º7’49’’ North
and 7º56’47’’ East and lies between Ikot Uso Akpan
and Obong Itam villages in Itu Local Government
Area (Egwali et al., 2005). Itu Local Government Area
occupies a landmass of approximately 606.10 km
2
(onlinenigeria.com). It is bounded in the North and
North-East by Odukpani in Cross River State and
Arochukwu in Abia State, in the West by Ibiono Ibom
and Ikono Local Government Areas, in the South and
South-East by Uyo and Uruan Local Government
Areas, respectively.
