Diversity of oil palm epiphytes in rainforest and Guinea savanna locations in Nigeria

This study investigates the diversity of oil palm epiphytes in rainforest (Ifaki-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria) and guinea savanna locations (Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria). Sampling of epiphytes associated with Oil Palm trees were carried out in each of the two locations. In each location, Five Oil Palm plantations were visited and sampling plot of 50m by 50m was laid out in each plantation. Epiphytes found growing on Oil Palm trees were observed, collected and identified. A total of 14 epiphytes belonging to 11 families were sampled in the two locations. While 5 epiphytes were obtained in Anyigba, the guinea savanna location, 11 were obtained in Ifaki-Ekiti, the rainforest location. 2 of the identified epiphytes were bryophytes and 3 were pteridophytes while 9 were angiosperms. Two of the identified pteridophytes in this study were common to the two locations thus an IS value of 0.25 was obtained in this study. The epiphytic species density and diversity of the rainforest location were higher than those of the derived guinea savanna location. Nephrolepis bisserata was the most common oil palm epiphyte in both the derived savanna and rainforest locations. The species has a relative frequency of 32.3% and 27.6% respectively. While the results obtained from the savanna location revealed the presence of some vascular plants of Ficus spp., A. conyzoides and C. odorata were the prominent epiphytic vascular plants sampled in the rainforest location. Features responsible for the ecological success of these epiphytes were discussed.