Spatial Pattern and Distribution of Adansonia Species in the Sahel Savanna Ecosystem of Yobe State, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26740/vubeta.v2i3.39262Keywords:
Adansonia species, Spatial distribution, Sahel savannah, Nearest neighbour, QuadratAbstract
Adansonia species, particularly baobab, are ecologically and socioeconomically significant in the Sahel Savanna, yet their spatial
distribution patterns remain underexplored in Nigeria. This study employed a reconnaissance survey to delineate the study area and inform the establishment of purposively selected quadrats ranging from 100 x 100 m to 500 x 500 m, based on local Adansonia density and distribution. All individual trees were identified and measured for structural attributes, with their geographic coordinates collected using calibrated GPS devices and validated through multiple readings and inter-observer checks. Nearest Neighbour Analysis (NNA) in ArcGIS 10.8 was used to analyze the spatial patterns by comparing observed mean distances to expected values under random distribution. Results revealed that Adansonia species, predominantly A. digitata and A. kilima, exhibited a dispersed distribution pattern across 19 of 20 quadrats, with only one quadrat showing randomness. This pattern suggests influences from resource competition, seed dispersal strategies, environmental heterogeneity, and human management. The study provides critical insights for conservation planning and sustainable management of baobab in arid environments.
Author Biographies
Yahaya Ishaya Kuku, Department of Geography, Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna, Nigeria
Dr. Yahaya Ishaya Kuku is a serving officer of the Nigerian Army who lectures Geography in the Department of Geography Nigerian Defence Academy. He graduated with BSc Geography with second class upper division in 2008, MSc Geography with distinction in 2018 and a PhD Geography in 2023 all from the prestigious University of Abuja Nigeria. His research interest is in vegetation studies. He can be contacted at email: kukuishaya@yahoo.com
Jibril Abdullahi Edicha, Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Abuja, Nigeria
Prof Jibril Abdullahi Edicha is a lecturer in the department of Geography, Faculty of Geography and Atmoshperic Science University of Abuja Nigeria. He obtained his B.sc. from the University of Abuja and his postgraduate studies at the Universities of ibadan and Abuja, Nigeria . He can be reached through jibril.edicha@uniabuja.edu.ng.
Bitrus Eniyekenimi Daukere, Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Bitrus Eniyekenimi Daukere is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Geography, and Environmental Management, University of Ilorin, Nigeria. He obtained his B.Sc. from University of Ibadan and he obtained two M.Scs. in Remote Sensing and GIS, and Geography from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, respectively. His research interest is in land cover surveys, classification and scaling, social and cultural geography, applied spatial statistics and terrain analysis. He can be reach through dauksenies2010@gmail.com.
Jedidiah Precious Oru-Bo, Department of Construction Management and Engineering, University of Reading, United Kingdom
Jedidiah Oru-Bo is a PhD researcher at the Department of Construction Management and Engineering at the University of Reading, United Kingdom. He received his MSc in Sustainable and Environmental Management from Coventry University, United Kingdom. His research focuses on food system impacts and the opportunities for decarbonisation. Furthermore exploring how environmental impact assessment tools represent alternative production systems. He can be reached on j.p.oru-bo@pgr.reading.ac.uk
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