Vegetation Patterns and Species diversity of Naraguta
Mountains in Jos, North-Central Nigeria
By
Iveren Abiem
June 2016
SUMMARY
It is essential to generate baseline information on species diversity and the population ranges
of plants in Nigeria in order for proper conservation decisions to be made. A detailed
description of vegetation composition was carried out of the Naraguta mountains of Jos Plateau
State between between June 2015 – May, 2016. Vegetation sampling was done by establishing
one hundred 20x20m plots.Within each plot, trees were investigated. Along diagonal lines of
the plots, 2 subplots (5x5m) were mapped out for the investigation of shrubs and 2 1x1m
quadrats for the investigation of herbs. The height and abundance of trees, shrubs and herbs,
as well as the basal area of trees was measured in each quadrat. Elevation and disturbance were
also measured for each plot. Elevation was measured using a Global Positioning System (GPS).
The intensity of disturbance by human activities was evaluated on the scale of 1 to 5 based on
the presence of stumps and logs, presence/size of farmlands, grazing activities, garbage
presence and quantity. Satellite imagery for years 1986, 1996, 2006 and 2015 from LandSat
Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) data was obtained from the Tropical Rain Forest
Information Centre, Global Observatory for Ecosystem Services, Michigan State University
(www.landsat.org) and analyzed to measure Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)
and form land cover maps. We recorded 161 woody plant species. The most species abundant
families were the Anacardiaceae, Caesalpinioideae, Combretaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae
and the Rubiaceae. We also recorded 130 herbs and grasses. The mountain has high species
diversity and this needs to be retained.
We involved the Naraguta community and carried out environmental sensitization programmes
to create awareness on the need to conserve the Naraguta Mountains.
INTRODUCTION
There is an increased concern for the status of Earth's biodiversity which has arisen from
observations of rapid depletion of its resources (Okali, 2010). Understanding vegetation
patterns and species diversity is basic for the conservation of natural areas (Zhang et al., 2013).
The savanna biome is characterised by heterogeneity in the physiognomy and spatial structure
of its vegetation (Ratter et al., 1997; Augustine, 2003; Bucini and Hanan, 2007; Levick et al.,
2009) where a mosaic with high and low-cover patches is created by the varied proportion of
woody plants interspersed in a grass matrix. Vegetation structure generally considers the
composition of plant communities in terms of specific morphological characteristics while
2
composition is the floristic assemblage of plant species that characterize the vegetation (Martin,
1996). Thus, knowledge on structural characteristics of vegetation is highly demanded both
globally and locally. On the global scale, more detailed and standardized data on biomass and
vegetation structure of vegetation units are needed (Brown & Gaston, 1996; FAO, 2001) in
order to parameterize global vegetation maps (Loveland et al., 1999). On the local scale,
information on structural characteristics of vegetation as well as standardized inventories of
these properties are important for detailed structural descriptions of woody plant species with
respect to the stratified vegetation types, and secondly, to compare the vegetation types in terms
of structural parameters (Jibrin and Jaiyeoba, 2013).
The Naraguta Mountains is one of the major mountains in the central region of Nigeria (9° 59'
0"North, 8° 54' 0" East), a typical Guinean savannah. The Naraguta Mountains are a major part
of the Jos-Plateau mountain range which are sources of several rivers that flow in the northern
part of the country. There was a proposal in 1996 for some part of the mountains to be gazetted
as protected area. However, due to insufficient data and changes in government regimes and
policies, the idea was abandoned. Over the years, there has been an increase of anthropogenic
activities in the Naraguta Mountains and its environs which has most likely affected some of
the flora and fauna of the region. The area has been subjected to farming, continuous source of
fuel wood, grazing (of cattle and sheep) by Fulani herdsmen and there exists no adequate and
proper documentation relating to its biodiversity. Studying the floristic composition and plant
diversity of Naraguta Mountains provides a concise and proper documentation of the
mountainous terrain, which could be helpful in advocacy for its protection.
Thus, the aim of the study was to investigate the vegetation patterns and species diversity of
the Naraguta mountains of Jos Plateau State in order to generate baseline data that will be used
to advocate for the protection of the mountain.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study area
The study was carried out on the Naraguta Mountains (9° 59' 0" North, 8° 54' 0" East) which
has an elevation of about 1287m above sea level (a.s.l.). It lies within the central Guinea
savanna zone classified as woodland savannah vegetation (Figure 1) with the understory
dominated by grasses (Keay, 1953). The area is characterized by alternating wet and dry season
3
coded as ‘Aw’ by Koppen’s classification; with an elevation of about 1287 meters above sea
level. The area experiences a mean annual rainfall of 1260mm (1050 – 1403mm), peaking
between July and August and the mean temperature ranges from 19.4 oC – 24.5oC (Okpara et
al., 2015). The topography is undulating, sloping generally towards different directions in
different locations.
Figure 1: Map of Nigeria showing Plateau State and study area (Naraguta area)
4
Figure 2: A layout of the Naraguta Mountain (We calculated a total area of 15.433sq.km.)
Figure 3: Map of the Mountain showing sampled points
5
Data collection
Vegetation Sampling
Vegetation sampling was done by establishing one hundred 20x20m plots. One hundred
random sampling points were generated along a series of line transects using systematic
random sampling with a 100m spacing between points. A plot was established around each
sampling point. Species data was recorded in each plot. Within each plot, trees were
investigated. Along diagonal lines of the plots, 2 subplots (5x5m) were mapped out for the
investigation of shrubs and 2 1x1m quadrats for the investigation of herbs (Gao et al., 2009).
The height and abundance of trees, shrubs and herbs, as well as the basal area of trees was
measured in each quadrat. Plant height was measured using a height meter for trees and a
ruler for shrubs and herbs. Diameter at breast height for trees was measured using a diameter
tape (Zhang et al., 2013).
Elevation and disturbance were also measured for each plot. Elevation was measured using a
Global Positioning System (GPS). The intensity of disturbance by human activities was
evaluated on the scale of 1 to 5 based on the presence of stumps and logs, presence/size of
farmlands, grazing activities, garbage presence and quantity (1=no obvious disturbance, 2=
weak disturbance, 3= medium disturbance, 4= heavy disturbance, 5= very heavy disturbance).
Satellite imagery for years 1986, 1996, 2006 and 2015 from LandSat Enhanced Thematic
Mapper (ETM+) data was obtained from the Tropical Rain Forest Information Centre, Global
Observatory for Ecosystem Services, Michigan State University (www.landsat.org) and
analyzed to measure Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and form land cover
maps.
Plant identification was done using relevant texts (Hutchinson et al., 2014; Arbonnier, 2004).
Data collected will be used to estimate plant species diversity, density, evenness and richness.
The importance value (IV) of each species was calculated. Voucher specimens of sampled plant
species was collected for the herbarium.
Data Analyses
The species composition of the three habitats was described using the following parameters
a. Basal area (BA)
The basal area (BA) of all trees and shrub species in the sampled plots was calculated
using the formula
B𝐴 = 𝜋𝑟 2
6
Where
BA= Basal area
r= Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) divide by 2
π(Pie)= 3.142
b. Relative Density (RDe)
The relative density of each species was computed using the formula𝑛𝑖
𝑅𝐷𝑒 = { } 𝑋 100
𝑁
Where,
RDe= Relative Density
ni= Number of individual species
N= Total number of all tree species
c. Relative Dominance (RDo)
The relative dominance (RDo) of each tree species was calculated using the formular
𝑅𝐷𝑜 = {
𝐵𝑎𝑖
} 𝑋 100
𝐵𝑎𝑛
Where,
Bai= Basal area of individual species
Ban= total of the basal area of all species
d. The Importance Value Index (IVI)
The total sum of the Relative Dominance (RDo) and the Relative density divided by
two gives the importance value index of each species. This was used to express the
share of each species in the tree community.
𝐼𝑉𝐼 = {𝑅𝐷𝑒 + 𝑅𝐷𝑜}/2
Data was compiled using Microsoft excel 2007® and analyzed using R Statistical Software +
version 3.0.2 (R Development Core Team, 2013)
Plant species diversity was calculated using Shannon Weiner diversity index, Simpsons
diversity index, inverse Simpson’s and the Fisher’s alpha diversity index. Species richness also
was calculated along all the plots

Shannon – Weiner’s diversity index, H.
7
S
H   Pi ln Pi
i 1
Where Pi is the proportion of individual species and s is the total number of species in the
community.

Plant species evenness was calculated using Pileou’s evenness index
J(evenness) = H/LnS
Where H= Shannon’s Diversity index, S= Number of samples, and Ln= Natural log of the
species number.
Using data generated from supervised classification of satellite images of study area, the
calculated area of the various vegetation types will be used for simple plots to show changes
in density of the different vegetation types in the space of 10, 19 and 29 years.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
A total of 18,098 of woody plants were recorded during the study. These belong to 108 genera,
161 species and 47 families. The most species abundant families were the Anacardiaceae,
Caesalpinioideae, Combretaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae and the Rubiaceae. Other
substantially represented families are Apocynaceae, Meliaceae, Mimosoideae, Moraceae and
the Rutaceae. A comprehensive list of all plant families recorded is listed below (Table 1).
These families are common in most savannah-woodland mosaics in Africa and more typical of
the Sudano-Sahelian zone (Letouzey, 1985).
Anthropogenic activities recorded in sampled areas included farming, grazing, hunting and
logging and had a mean scale value of 2.79 i.e. medium disturbance.
The plant community structure analysis shows that the highest basal area in the study area was
contributed by Bombax sp which was closely followed by Holarrhena floribunda, Mangifera
indica L, Cussonia arborea and finally Hymenocardia acida. The least basal areas were
observed in Strychnos inoqua, Tithonia diversifolia, Ficus ovata and Senna sp having basal
area of 6.16, 5.31, 4.19 and 4.16 respectively.
A high diversity of plant species was observed of the Naraguta Mountain as shown by the
diversity indices on table 3. The high values of diversity indicate a potential for greater stability
8
of the community structure Isango, 2007) and this may be attributed to improved soil quality
as a result of high organic matter content and pH.
The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) result is found in table 4 and Figures 14. It shows that the mountain is losing its greenness now more than ever. The mean NDVI for
2015 was 0.05 while in 2006 it was 0.26.
9
Table 1: Sampled plant families and their species count.
S/N
PLANT FAMILY
SPECIES COUNT
1
Anacardiaceae
11
2
Annonaceae
3
3
Apiaceae
1
4
Apocynaceae
7
5
Araliaceae
1
6
Asperagaceae
2
7
Asteraceae
1
8
Asteraceae
1
9
Bignoniaceae
1
12
Bombacaceae
3
11
Caesalpinioideae
10
12
Caricaceae
1
13
Chrysobalanaceae
1
14
Combretaceae
10
15
Concvolvulaceae
1
16
Connaraceae
2
17
Dioscoreaceae
3
18
Ebenaceae
1
19
Euphorbiaceae
12
20
Fabaceae
10
21
Flacourtiaceae
1
22
Guttiferae
3
23
Hymenocardiaceae
2
24
Lamiaceae
1
25
Loganiaceae
1
26
Loranthaceae
2
27
Meliaceae
7
28
Mimosoideae
8
29
Moraceae
7
30
Myrtaceae
2
31
Ocnnaceae
2
10
32
Olacaceae
1
33
Olacaceae
3
34
Oleaceae
2
35
Opiliaceae
1
36
Poaceae
2
37
Polygalaceae
1
38
Proteaceae
1
39
Rhamnaceae
3
40
Rubiaceae
11
41
Rutaceae
5
42
Sapindaceae
2
43
Sapotaceae
2
44
Sterculiaceae
1
45
Tiliaceae
3
46
Verbenaceae
3
47
Vitaceae
2
Total
161
Table 2: Plant species, family, Relative Frequencies (RFR), Basal area (BA), Relative
density (RDe), Relative dominance (RDo) and Importance Value Index (IVI)
Plant family
Plant species
RFR %
BA/ha RDe (%)
RDo %
IVI
Anacardiaceae
Heeria insignis (Del)
0.895
314.2
0.871
1.358 0.723
Heeria reticulata (Bak. F.) R. & A. Fernandez
0.671
38.49
0.654
0.166
Lannea barteri (Oliv.) Engl.
0.447
21.24
0.436
0.092 0.264
Lannea microcarpa Engl. & K. Krause
0.671 201.09
0.654
0.869 0.762
Lannea velutina A. Rich
0.224
38.49
0.21
0.166 0.188
Mangifera indica L
1.119 1385.6
1.089
5.991
Rhus natalensis Bernh. Ex Krauss
2.685 26.424
2.614
0.114 1.364
Annonaceae
Annona senegalensis Pers
2.103 12.568
1.961
0.054 1.008
Apiaceae
Uvaria chamae P. Beauv
1.79 25.521
1.743
0.11 0.927
0.41
3.54
Steganotaenia araliacae Hochst
0.447
21.24
0.436
0.092 0.264
Steganotaenia sp
0.224 12.568
0.21
0.054 0.132
11
Apocynaceae
Holarrhena floribunda (G. Don) Dur. & Schinz
1.119 1963.8
1.089
Araliaceae
Cussonia arboreaHochst. Ex A. Rich
2.461 1256.8
2.397
5.434 3.916
Asteraceae
Aspilia sp
0.224 12.568
0.21
0.054 0.132
Tithonia diversifolia
0.895
5.31
0.871
0.023 0.447
Bignoniaceae
Stereospermum kunthianum Cham
0.224 188.72
0.21
0.816 0.513
Bombacaceae
Bombax costatum Pellegr. & Vuillet
1.119 962.24
1.089
4.16 2.625
Bombax ceiba
0.671 6362.6
0.654
27.509 14.08
Burkea africana Hook. F.
0.447 124.71
0.436
0.539 0.488
Daniellia oliveri (Rolfe) Hutch. & Dalz.
1.119 201.09
1.089
0.869 0.979
Isoberlinia tomentosa (Harms) Craib & Stapf
0.224 132.75
0.21
0.574 0.392
Senna singueana (Del.) Lock
2.103 95.046
1.961
0.411 1.186
Senna sp
0.671
4.155
0.654
0.018 0.336
Caricaceae
Carrisa edulis Vahl.
0.671 17.352
0.654
0.075 0.365
Chrysobalanaceae
Parinari curatellifolia Planch. Ex Benth
2.685 58.096
2.614
0.251 1.433
Combretaceae
Anogeissus leiocarpus (DC) Guill. & Perr.
2.103 28.278
1.961
0.122 1.042
Terminalia glaucescens Planch
2.103
78.55
1.961
0.34 1.151
Terminalia laxiflora Engl.
1.119 490.94
1.089
2.123 1.606
Terminalia mollis Laws
0.671 176.74
0.654
0.764 0.709
Connaraceae
Santaloides afzelii (R. Br. Ex Planch.) Schellenb.
0.224 95.046
0.21
0.411 0.311
Cycadaceae
Cycas revoluta
0.671 37.398
0.654
0.162 0.408
Dioscoreaceae
Dioscorea barbata
0.224 30.195
0.21
0.131 0.171
Ebenaceae
Diospyros mesipiliformis Hochst. Ex A. Rich.
1.119 95.046
1.089
0.411
Euphorbiaceae
Bridelia ferruginea Benth.
1.119 14.524
1.089
0.063 0.576
Bridelia sp
0.224
7.07
0.21
0.031 0.121
Bridellia periginii
0.671 18.098
0.654
0.078 0.366
Margaritaria discoidea (Baill.) Webster
1.342 32.174
1.307
0.139 0.723
Phyllanthus muellerianus (O. Ktze.) Exell
1.566 283.57
1.525
1.226 1.376
Desmodium velutinum
0.447 216.45
0.436
0.936 0.686
Erythrina sigmoidea Hua
0.224
78.55
0.21
0.34 0.275
Pericopsis laxiflora (Benth.) Van Meeuwen
0.224 58.096
0.21
0.251 0.231
Pterecarpus Erinaceus Poir
0.447 19.638
0.436
0.085 0.261
Caesalpinioideae
Fabaceae
12
8.49
4.79
0.75
Pterecarpus sp
0.895 31.176
0.871
0.135 0.503
Garcinia ovalifolia Oliv
0.224 34.216
0.21
0.148 0.179
Harungana madagascariensis Lam. Ex Poir.
0.224 50.272
0.21
0.217 0.214
Hymenocardiceae
Hymenocardia acida Tul
2.103 1075.4
1.961
4.649 3.305
Lamiaceae
Osimum canum
0.224
8.554
0.21
0.037 0.124
Lauraceae
Persea americana
0.224 346.21
0.21
1.497 0.854
Loganiaceae
Strychnus inoqua Del
0.224
6.158
0.21
0.027 0.119
Meliaceae
Khaya senegalensis (Desr.) A. Juss.
1.342 13.204
1.307
0.057 0.682
Trichilia ematica Vahl.
0.895
254.5
0.871
1.1 0.986
Acacia ataxacantha Steud. Ex A. Rich.
0.224
9.622
0.21
0.042 0.126
Albizia malacophylla (A. Rich.) Walp.
0.224 19.638
0.21
0.085 0.148
Albizia zygia (DC.) J. F. Macbr.
1.342 18.098
1.307
0.078 0.693
Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn.
3.579
7.07
3.486
0.031 1.759
Entada africana Guill. & Perr
1.119 397.66
1.089
1.719 1.404
Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) R. Br. Ex G. Don
2.461
254.5
2.397
1.1 1.749
Ficus benjamina Miq
0.671 490.94
0.654
2.123 1.389
Ficus cordata (Warb.) CC Berg
0.224 176.74
0.21
0.764 0.487
Guttiferae
Mimosoideae
Moraceae
Ficus glumosa Del.
531
1.743
2.296
2.02
Ficus ingens (Miq.) Miq
1.566 183.88
1.525
0.795
1.16
Ficus ovata Vahl.
0.224
4.909
0.21
0.021 0.116
Ficus sp
2.103 102.08
1.961
0.441 1.201
Ficus sur Forssk.
2.908 660.61
2.832
2.856 2.844
Myrtaceae
Syzygium guineense (Wild.) DC.
Ochnnaceae
Olacaceae
1.79
12.752
38.49
12.418
0.166 6.292
Ochna schweinfurthiana F. Hoffm.
4.474
78.55
4.357
0.34 2.349
Ximenia americana L.
0.224 28.278
0.21
0.122 0.166
Olax subscoides
0.671 44.184
0.654
0.191 0.423
Oleaceae
Jasminum dichotomum Vahl.
0.447 12.568
0.436
0.0543 0.245
Poaceae
Oxytenanthera abyssinica (A. Rich.) Munro
0.895 286.56
0.871
1.239 1.055
Polygalaceae
Securidaca longependunculata Fres.
0.224 11.343
0.21
Rhamnaceae
Ziziphus mucronata Willd.
0.895 28.278
0.871
13
0.049
0.13
0.122 0.497
Crossopteryx febrifuga (Afzel. Ex G. Don)
Benth.
0.224 113.11
Keetia cornelia Cham. & Schlecht
1.119
38.49
1.089
0.166 0.628
Keetia venosa (Oliv.) Bridson
1.119 415.53
1.089
1.797 1.443
Macrosphyra longistyla (DC.) Hiern
0.447
7.07
0.436
0.031 0.236
Sarcocephalus latifolius (Smith) Bruce
2.103 380.18
1.961
1.644 1.803
Clausena anisata (Willd) Hook. F.. Ex Benth.
0.224 16.621
0.21
0.072 0.141
Clausena sp
0.224 19.638
0.21
0.085 0.148
Sapindaceae
Allophylus africanus P. Beauv.
2.685
7.07
2.614
0.031 1.323
Sapotaceae
Vitellaria paradoxa Gaertn. F.
0.895 494.87
0.871
2.14 1.506
Tiliaceae
Grewia bicolor Juss.
0.224 15.906
0.21
Grewia venusta Fresen
0.224 83.334
0.21
0.36 0.285
Clerodendrum capitatum Gurke
0.447 56.752
0.436
0.245 0.341
Gmelina arborea Roxb.
0.671 81.723
0.654
0.353 0.504
Lantana camara L
0.671 28.278
0.654
0.122 0.388
Vitex doniana Sweet
1.119 95.046
1.089
0.411
Vitex madiensis Oliv.
0.447 201.09
0.436
0.869 0.653
Adenolicus paniculatus
0.447 11.343
0.436
0.049 0.243
Nestospodias sp
0.224
8.044
0.21
0.035 0.123
Zanha Africana
0.224 502.79
0.21
2.174 1.192
Rubiaceae
Rutaceae
Verbenaceae
Table 3: Diversity indices
Diversity indices
Shannon-Weiners Diversity Index
Simpson’s Diversity Index
Inverse Simpson
Fisher’s alpha diversity index
Plant species richness
Pileous’s evenness index
0.21
Mean ± S.E.
2.20 ± 0.09
0.81 ± 0.02
7.60 ± 0.68
8.96 ± 0.69
17.30 ± 1.24
0.81 ± 0.02
Table 4: NDVI values across four years
Year
1986
1996
2006
2015
Min NDVI
0.04
-0.20
0.08
-0.02
Max NDVI
0.46
0.11
0.40
0.22
14
Mean NDVI
0.25
0.06
0.26
0.05
0.489
0.069
0.35
0.14
0.75
Figure 1: Land cover map of Naraguta mountains in 1986
Figure 2: Land cover map of Naraguta mountain in 1996
15
Figure 3: Land cover map of Naraguta mountain in 2006
Figure 4: Land cover map of Naraguta mountain in 2015
16
CONTRIBUTION OF STUDY
The results from this study provides baseline vegetation information on the biodiversity found
on the Naraguta Mountains. Biodiversity is being exploited at much faster rates than before
with negative implications for sustainable human livelihood. The North central area of Nigeria
has in recent time, been experiencing a high influx of people especially from the North-eastern
region of the country due to insurgency. The result of which is the rapid rate at which remnant
vegetation are been lost to agricultural and construction activities. Thus, results from this study
will be used to propose conservation strategies to the Plateau State Ministry of Environment so
that anthropogenic activities can be controlled on the mountains. From this study, we hope to
convince to the government and the local community on the need to designate the Naraguta
mountains as a protected area as was once intended so that its remnant bio-resources can be
conserved. Dialogue is ongoing with the leaders of the local community who are very keen that
the mountains be protected. Interestingly, a small portion of the mountain is currently under
strict protection for religious purposes and the community assures us that are against the
destructive practices and advise its members to collect resources sustainably. Data collected
from this study will be made available to the agency compiling data on the red list of threatened
species in Nigeria so that proper conservation priority can be given to them. The study also
provides a background for future studies on biodiversity to be carried out in the area.
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33(2):170-178.
Standing beneath a giant Bombax ceiba tree on the mountain (Myself with Jaja(L) and Victor
(R)).
At a meeting with some members of the community in the community leader’s compound
(Chief sited in the middle with white)
20
Taking a photo of a plant in the field for Identification later
Pressing plant samples for the Herbarium
21
During an excursion to the Mountain with Senior Secondary School students in the community.
I (Iveren Abiem) was explaining to them the importance of the vegetation to the livelihood of
the Naraguta Community.
Field assistants standing in front of a traditional site that has been repaired for the raining
season.
Photos by Elisha, E. B and Abiem, I.
22