Distribution and relative density of trees species in Kainji Lake National Park, Nigeria

The importance of trees in the environment cannot be overemphasized. This present study, therefore, deals with the distribution and relative density of trees species in Kainji Lake National Park. Data were collected using plot sampling techniques. Therein, a 50 by 50 m2 plot was randomly laid. Within each sample plot, data on all trees ≥ 10 cm in diameter at breast height were enumerated. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The result shows that different types of plants species were enumerated in the selected plots. This included six families of trees: Fabiaceae, Caesalpiniaceae, Rubiaceae, Maliaceae, Annonaceae and Mimosaceae. The percentage score of tree species in the four plots reveals that Afzelia africana recorded the highest with a total number of 60 species, followed by Detarium macrocarpium with 47 species, while Anogeissus leiocarpus and Azadirachta indica recorded 31 and 17 species, respectively. Gardenia aqualla was the least species recorded. The density and relative density of Afzelia africana recorded the highest, with 1.2ha and 26.9%, followed by Detarium microcarpiuum with 0.94ha and 21.1%, respectively, while Gardenia aqualla was the least with 0.02 ha and 0.4%. In terms of mean height, Daniela oliveri recorded the highest, with 28.1m, followed by Afzelia africana with 21.8%, while Azadirachta indica was the least with 5.8%. The mean DBH of Entada africana and Anogeissus leiocarpus recorded was 28.7cm and 28.1cm, while Prosopis africana and Accacia gournmaensis recorded 14.0 and 13.4, respectively, which were the least. The Types of wild animal species that are associated with the tree species includes Baboon, Kob, Grim duiker, Francolin, Patas monkey etc. Relative abundance of the animal species shows that Papio anubis recorded the highest with 40.5 individuals, while Erythrocebus patas recorded the least with 2.5 individuals.