Aquatic macrophyte composition of some tropical tin-mined ponds in Jos, Nigeria

Abstract

A survey of aquatic macrophytes was conducted for nine tin-mined lakes located around Jos in September 1998 and February 1999 to coincide with the wet and dry season conditions. A total of 48 species were found in all ponds, 46 species classified into 14 families for the wet season and 24 species classified into 11 families for the dry season. Poaceae and Cyperaceae were most represented with 19 and 13 species in the wet season and 9 and 6 in the dry season respectively. In the wet season survey, Cyperus erythrorhizos , Polygonium sp and Pratia arenaria were of common occurrences in most of the ponds followed by Eragrostis atrovirens and Spermacoce natalensis in that order. However, Aeschynomene, Scirpus jacobii and Eragrostis atrovirens dominated in most ponds in the dry season. 15 species in the wet season had very rare occurrences, restricted in most instances to only one pond. While 7 of the species occurred throughout the year, only 2 occurred in the dry season as compared to 19 in the wet season survey. Similarity between ponds was compared based on species richness.

JOURNAL OF AQUATIC SCIENCES Volume 16, Number 2, October 2001, pp. 83-90




KEY WORDS:

Tropical flora, aquatic macrophytes, tin-mined ponds.