Ecological Implication of Habitat Fragmentation and Introduction of Alien Species on Biodiversity Condition in Ikogosi Environs, Southwestern Nigeria

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VI, Issue IV, April 2019 | ISSN 2321–2705

Ecological Implication of Habitat Fragmentation and Introduction of Alien Species on Biodiversity Condition in Ikogosi Environs, Southwestern Nigeria

Opeyemi Aniramu¹, Olabiyi Coker ² and Raphael Odelola²

¹ Space Application and Environmental Science Laboratory, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
² Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Corresponding Author: Opeyemi Aniramu

Abstract:-The impact of landscape fragmentation and exotic species introduction to the Ikogosi environs was assessed through the rate of deforestation, habitat degradation and displacement of indigenous species in the community. The study aims to enquire the state of biodiversity condition and alien species introduction. In all, 264 copies of questionnaire were successfully retrieved from the respondents and were subjected to statistical analysis. Furthermore, geospatial technique was employed to evaluate the modification done to the forested area in the study area. The 30 meter Landsat image of TM 1991, ETH+ 2002 and OLI 2015 were digitally processed using ArcMap 10.3 while Fragstat 4.0 was employed to complete the fragmentation analysis for the study. The findings revealed that the Number of Patches (NP) increased by 257, 268 and 281 while Shannon Diversity Index (SHIDI) correspondingly decreased by 0.54, 0.47 and 0.21 for species diversity in the year 1991, 2002 and 2015 respectively; indigenous respondents (70.1%) affirmed the extinction of biodiversity. In addition, respondent listed a host of plants and animals that had gone extinct, and these include: antelope, bat, monkey, squirrel, cassia and waterleaf. Respondents (76.1%) affirmed that exotic flowers have replaced indigenous species. The study concluded that anthropogenic activities had bastardized the natural ecosystem, increased deforestation and degrade the forest resources; hence, triggered wildlife disturbance. The study recommends ecotourism and restriction of human encroachment to avoid poaching.

Keywords: Biodiversity; Ecosystem; Environment and Habitat Fragmentation

I INTRODUCTION

Deforestation plays an important role in habitat fragmentation which has been regarded as threat to the maintenance of biodiversity (Adriaens et al., 2006). Thomas et al. (2004) reported that habitat fragmentation resulted from changes in the arrangement of the remnant forest leading to the loss of ecosystem community; and these spatial changes affect the biological population as well as ecological process that may aggravate the ecosystem imbalance.

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