Abstract
The remnant floral diversity of a naturally reclaimed area proximal to an abandoned mine was assessed. The coal mine site, the Incident zone (IZ) and an unsullied site, the Control zone (CZ), were sampled. Using a 5 m2 quadrat, the floristic composition was determined by the occurrence, distribution analysis, and species diversity indices. The study revealed a degraded vegetation type and recorded a total of 60 species, 53 genera and 27 families. Both the IZ and CZ shared 26.67% species similarity, while 36.67% are were unique to each zone. Five species were dominant (Ageratum conyzoides, Panicum maximum, Calopogonium mucunoides, Chromolaena odorata). While the dominant genera vary between IZ (Borreria, Dioscorea, Ipomoea, and Phyllanthus) and CZ (Desmodium, Euphorbia, and Ipomoea), Asteraceae and Poaceae were the dominant families in both zones. Forbs were the most dominant life forms in both zones; Cyclosorus sp. and Adiantum sp. were only found on the IZ, whereas, Kyllinga erecta and Mariscus alternifolius were exclusive to the CZ. Our results reflect that species composition and vegetation paradigm in the study area could be influenced by coal mining, farming, infrastructural installations and climate. Hence, we suggest future studies to investigate how the species adapt to the environment. Although most of the species encountered belonged to lower-risk conservation, the conservation of the species to this area is imperative.
Highlights
Coal is a significant source of energy globally (National Research Council [NRC], 1995; Zou et al, 2016; International Energy Agency [IEA], 2018; Ritchie and Roser, 2019)
F., Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn., Kyllinga erecta Schumach., Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet, Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeusch., Pennisetum pupureum Schumach., Urena lobata L.) and Oldenlandia corymbosa associated with the Artificial/Aquatic and Marine habitat
Other wetland species encountered without an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) status include Sida acuta Burm. fil., Desmodium triflorum (L.) DC., Centrosema pubescens Benth., Calopogonium mucunoides Desv., Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.) K
Summary
Coal is a significant source of energy globally (National Research Council [NRC], 1995; Zou et al, 2016; International Energy Agency [IEA], 2018; Ritchie and Roser, 2019). It is one of the most abundant fossil fuel resources present in Nigeria (Ezekwe and Odukwe, 1980; Ogunsola, 1991), comprising bituminous, sub-bituminous, and lignite belts (Behre, 2006). Due to plants’ inability to move, they have to deal with changes in their environment (Sanchita, 2018). Under a narrow range of conditions in the environment, plant community structure depends on plants’ capabilities to develop certain adaptive morphological and physiological features (Dazy et al, 2009)
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