Eco-taxonomic assessment of plant species regeneration status in a postremediated crude oil impacted site in parts of Ibibio-I-Oil field in Ikot-Ada Udo, Ikot-Abasi local government area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This research paper describes the floristic structure, composition and status of plant species natural regeneration in a post-remediated crude oil impacted site in Ikot-Ada-Udo, Ibibio -1- oil field in Ikot Abasi LGA of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, with special attention to the scope of biodiversity sustainability. A simple random sampling method based on a standard procedure for ecological assessment along specific transect was adopted for the study. Result shows that the regenerating vegetation is a complex of heterogeneous life-forms following the trend of both biotic and abiotic influence. A total of 52 representative plant species under 21 families were recorded with mosaic heterogeneity. The species were establishing through coppicing, seedling, rhizome and sapling. Few species exhibited a single mode of regeneration while many others exhibited multiplier mode of regeneration. By the quantitative structure a total density of 782 regenerating species was recorded in the study area with the highest density record (d= rd) of 50 = 6.40 by Manihot esculenta among other species. Manihot esculenta also had the highest species abundance of 200 = 9.45, highest IVI of 17.3 while C. odorata had the highest frequency of occurrence (100 = 4.71) among other species. There was increase in herbaceous habit dominated by the seedlings/saplings indicting a primary regenerative succession which seems to be progressive toward trees and shrubby habits. Ratio of abundance to frequency (A/F) indicates a contiguous distribution pattern of species regeneration in the study site with Manihot esculenta having the highest contiguous distribution pattern. Generally, there is complete view of successive regeneration status in the study area, rich in regenerating species capable of bringing the depleted site under complete forest cover and establishing diverse heterogeneous natural forest again if protected to conserve the seedlings or saplings of the regenerating species.

Author(s): Edwin-Wosu N. L. and E. A. B. Edu

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