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Relationship between Vegetation and Pollen Spectrum in South East Nigeria

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Author Affiliations

  • 1Palynological Research Unit, Department of Applied Biology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi, Nigeria
  • 2Plant Taxonomy/Biosystematics, Palynology/Paleoecology, and Conservation Biology Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi, Nigeria
  • 3Palynology Unit, Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Int. Res. J. Biological Sci., Volume 5, Issue (5), Pages 57-66, May,10 (2016)

Abstract

Modern pollen rain has been considered important in simulating the vegetation of an area; this is attributed to the fact that airborne pollen released into the atmosphere represents the vegetation around the area of study. Monitoring of airborne pollen in three contiguously lying areas in Nsukka plateau was carried out from October to December, 2015. The aim was to study the vegetation and assess the possible simulation of the vegetation of Nsukka Plateau through airborne pollen. Airborne samples were trapped using modified Tauber-like pollen Traps, the recipient solutions were subjected to standard acetolysis protocols. Thirty – four pollen types belonging to 19 families were identified. Dominant pollen include Alchornea cordifolia (Schum. and Thonn) Mull.-Arg, Elaeis guinensis Jacq., Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC., Amaranthaceae/Chenopodiaceae and Asteraceae sub Tubuliflorae complex. Pollen recorded in Aku and Lejja were more diverse with predominance of arboreal pollen. Quantitatively the pollen from Savanna taxa were the highest pollen contributors of 4265(62.09 %). There was no significant different P>0.05 in the absolute pollen and fungal spores counts in the three contiguous areas. The recovered pollen reflected distinctive sub-vegetation types among the contiguous areas which are relics of Lowland Rainforest and derived Savanna ecotype.

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