Structure and Regeneration Potentials of Plant Species in a Secondary Forest in Akwa Ibom State

ABSTRACT In this study, the structure and regeneration potentials of plant species were examined in a secondary forest in Akwa Ibom State. Four vegetation plots were used for this study. In each plot, two (2) belt transects were laid and in each transect, vegetation was sampled systematically in ten (10) 10 m × 10 m quadrats spaced at regular intervals of 20 m. In each quadrat, plant species were identified to species levels and their density, frequency, height basal area and crown cover were determined. Thirty (30) plant species belonging to twenty (20) families were also encountered. The most frequent species were Calamus deeratus (60 %) and Palisota hirsuta (60 %) while Aframomum daniella, Alchornea cordifolia, Anchomanes difformis, Guara cedrata, Coula argentea, Coula edulis, Khaya senegalensis, Erythrophleum ivorensis, Alstonia boonei, Cnestis ferruginea, Pycnathus angolensis and Piptadeniastrum africanum had the least frequency value of 10 %, respectively. Podococcus barteri had the highest density (510.00 ± 28.51 st/ha) while Erythrophleum ivorensis (10.00 ± 0.80 st/ha), Guara cedrata (10.00 ± 1.10 st/ha) Coula argentea (10.00 ± 1.03 st/ha), Alstonia boonei (10.00 ± 1.00 st/ha), Coula edulis (10.00 ± 1.00 st/ha), Piptadeniastrum africanum (10.00 ± 1.02 st/ha), Pycnathus angolensis (10.00 ± 1.68 st/ha) and Khaya senegalensis (10.00 ± 3.00 st/ha) had the least density values. The tallest species was Berlinia confusa (19.03 ± 3.05 m) and the shortest was Anchomanes difformis (2.05 ± 0.03 m). Khaya ivorensis (12.08 ± 2.30 m2/ha) and Alstonia boonei (0.38 ± 0.09 m2/ha) had the highest and least crown coverage. Khaya ivonresis also highest value for basal area of 6.21 ± 1.06 m2/ha while Maesoboytra dusenii recorded the least value (0.01 ± 0.003 m2/ha). Podococcus barteri was the most adaptive species with the highest Important Value Index (IVI) value of 30.12 while Alchornea cordifolia had the least IVI value of 2.15. The regeneration status of individual species followed this pattern; not regenerating (63.33%), new (16.67%), poor (13.33%), good (3.33%) and fair (3.33%). The result of this study upholds forest protection, conservation, afforestation and ecosystem stability.