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The Impact of Land Fragmentation on Flora and Fauna Species of Ondo state Bitumen Belt
(Nigeria Chapter of Society for Conservation Biology, 2020-10-27) Ogunsusi, Kayode
The effects of random clearing of land and consequent impact on habitat fragmentation through human activity such as Bitumen mining could have profound impacts on flora and fauna resources. The study was carried out at Ode-Irele bitumen belt in Ondo State, Southwest of Nigeria to find the effects of land fragmentation and habitat loss on fauna resources. Biotic indicators for each of the following assemblages of trees, shrubs, herbs, and fauna were selected on the basis of their occurrence in 50% of the habitats sampled. Life table format was used to describe the mortality schedule of the biotic assemblage of trees on fauna resources. Findings of the study proved that as tree cover declines, there was increased rate of fauna decline and mortality. The results also indicated that there were 14 tree plant species, 27 shrub species, 18 herb species, and 12 fauna species of the study area which were identified as key ecological indicators. The ecological spread of the key indicators in terms of flora and fauna will likely make them to be more vulnerable to removal and destruction during bitumen mining which inadvertently will decrease the stability and ecological integrity of the ecosystem. Nonetheless, the ecological key indicators can be exploited as key approaches for biodiversity conservation and monitoring.