Ecological Survey on Species of Poaceae Family Present in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Campus Awka, Anambra State

Abstract

An ecological survey was done on the species of poaceae family present in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka campus. Data was collected from eight different zones of the campus which was randomly divided for adequate coverage and proper representation. Species dominance, percentage cover of species, abundance and diversity of poaceae species were recorded. The result of the study showed that a total of 24 poaceae species were identified in the study area; Eleusine indica had the highest species abundance across the eight zones, with a total frequency of 36 and a total average cover of 28.59, while Sporobulus pyramidalis is the second most abundant with a frequency of 35 and Pennisetum polystachion is the third most abundant with a frequency of 25. The result went further to show the various distributions of the poaceae species across the different zones. Eleusine indica had a relative abundance of 19.4%, followed by Sporobulus pyramidalis (16%) and Pennisetum polystachion (13.5%). More so, Andropogon gayanus had a relative abundance of (8.1%) while Andropogon tectorum, Brachiaria falcifera, Dactyloctenium aegyptium and Digistaria horizontalis as well as Eragrostis tenella, Eragrostis tremela, Panicum maximum and Pennisetum violaccum all had the lowest relative abundance of 0.5 % each. The result of Shannon Wiener index for species of poaceae family in the study area was 2.59 and this showed that there is high diversity of species of poaceae family in the study area which invariably indicates a great potential for utilization in conservation and ecological purposes.