Assessment of Ficus L. Diversity in Amurum Forest Reserve in

Abstract

A Study Was Carried Out In Amurum Forest Reserve Of Jos, Nigeria To Measure The Diversity Of Ficus In The Three Habitat Types Of The Reserve. Forty-Nine Plots (25 In The Rocky Outcrop, 8 In The Savanna Scrub And 16 In The Gallery Forest Habitats) Each Measuring 100x100m Were Established After A Pilot Study Was Done To Establish The Positions Where Ficus Occurred In The Reserve. In Each Plot, The Various Ficus Species Encountered Where Identified And Counted. A Total Number Of 720 Individuals Were Sampled Belonging To Twenty-Two (22) Species Of Ficus Were Identified. Mean Ficus Richness And Diversity Was Significantly Different Across The Different Habitats. Mean Richness And Diversity Was Highest In The Rocky Outcrop Habitat, Followed By The Savanna Scrub Habitat And Then, The Gallery Forest Habitat. NonMetric Multidimensional Scaling (Nmds) Ordination Revealed A Strong Grouping Of Species By Habitat Types. The Results From The Study Revealed That The Genus Ficus Is Widely Distributed In Amurum Forest Reserve And The Rocky Outcrop Habitat Holds Most Of The Species. Ficus Richness And Diversity Being Significantly Higher In The Rocky Outcrop Could Be Because Rocks Are Rich In Minerals And So Provides Them With A Medium For Germination. Ficus Species Also Have The Ability To Withstand Dryness. The Study Confirms That Ficus Are Important Species Of Conservation Value.