Phenology of Plant Species Found in Ugwueme Hydrocarbon Seep Site, Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the phenological events of plant species for flowering, fruiting, shedding of leaves, regeneration/germination, yellowing of leaves and death, every month for three consecutive years from 2018 till 2020, at Ugwueme oil seep site vegetation. Phenological information from the phenological studies of plants can be used to detect patterns associated with climate change, address environmental issues on the timing of plants life cycle, and to predict changes in the habitat and ecosystem at large. The stratified random sampling design was adopted for the study. A sampling zone of 130×60 m2 was mapped out for the study. The zone was thereafter split into 60 grid plots, each measuring 13 x 10 m2 and 60% of these were selected at random. Date obtained from the study was represented in a phenological diagram. Vegetation phenology showed that flowering and fruiting occur through all the months of the year, although with variations. In March-April, most herbs and woody herbs germinated or regenerated in September/October, fruited in October/November towards the end of the rainy season and became senescent, die or lie dormant in February/March. Given that, the Savanna vegetation of Ugwueme showed variations in the timing of phenlogical events, however, the diversity of available flora species can be protected to sustain its ecological integrity, especially in this era of emerging climate change disasters and food insecurity, through a longer periods of study like 10 years to understand the relationship between changes of human impact and climate change.