Tree flora and their environmental services to man: a case study of University of Benin

Abstract

University campuses may be characterized by their plant species which add value to the environment. Tree species in the Ugbowo campus of University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria were identified in this study. Using field surveys and structured questionnaires, trees species were inventoried based on their names, habit, environmental roles, and economic values. The study area was divided into 3 sites to enable accurate sampling of tree species. Number of individual species, total count of tree flora, relative density and relative abundance were assessed using appropriate ecological models. A total number of 268 trees comprising 24 species of trees from 14 families were encountered. Tectona grandis had the highest relative density and abundance of 27.99 and 0.28 respectively. About 181 trees (67.54 %) were dicots, and 87 (32.46 %) were monocots. More so, 202 (75.37 %) of the trees were exotic and 66 (24.63 %) were native. Margalef species richness was 2.339, 1.717 and 2.463 for sites A, B, and C respectively. Furthermore, Shannon-Wiener diversity index were 4.926, 57.555 and 227.654 for sites A, B, and C respectively. The different diversity values are supported by Sorenson’s similarity index, which suggest the sites are not similar. Some of the environmental services of the campus tree flora include; nutrient sink, add to the overall campus aesthetic, serve as shield from UV rays, contribute to student education, environmental monitoring, reduce air pollution, erosion control and bio resource conservation. Therefore, majority of the respondents (72 %) strongly disagreed with continuous felling of trees. This study suggests an increase in the cultivation of native tree species as an avenue to improve the diversity of trees in the campus.