Abstract

The roles of woody vegetations and Africa savanna in human development and survival as attracted interest in their conservation to prevent the depletion or loss of those resources. However, there is need for accurate data on species composition, distribution and conservation of woody species in many parts of Africa for adequate planning, monitoring, management and conservation efforts. This study assessed woody species composition, distribution and diversity in Kwara State University, Malete Campus. Simple random sampling technique was applied using plot method which was achieved using geographic information system (GIS) application to overlay the area boundary with grids of cell of 100 x 100 m plots. Data were collected from each plot, all woody species were identified, counted, and trees basal covers were measured. Species frequency, density, abundant, dominance, importance value index (IVI) and diversity were determined. A total of 46 trees and 10 shrubs species belonging to 20 families of tree and 8 families of shrubs were identified. Abundant tree species were Daniella oliveri and Azadirachata indica while the abundant shrubs species were Piliostigma thonningii and Acacia nilotica. Shannon diversity index and Shannon measure of evenness revealed that the diversity for trees species was higher (H’=2.4309 and J= 0.6349) than shrubs species (H’=1.1166 and J= 0.4849). There was spatial variation in diversity of trees and shrubs within the university which has more tree species than shrubs species. Hence, university management and community should pay attention to conservation planning and management activities with special consideration on their ecological implication.

Key words: Diversity, tropical forest, savanna ecosystem, humid savanna, D. oliveri, A. indica, P. thonningii.