Assessing Herbaceous Vascular Plants Diversity and Conservation Needs on Kir and Tala Mountains, Bauchi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Kir and Tala mountains in Bauchi State, Nigeria, are recognized for their rich biodiversity, yet there remains a gap in understanding the diversity of herbaceous vascular plants within these ecosystems. The study was conducted between 2019 and 2022 to comprehensively assess the diversity of herbaceous vascular plants and potential conservation implications. Through systematic field surveys, specimen collections, and data analysis, we hypothesize that mountains harbor a diverse array of herbaceous vascular plant species. We found several distinct herbaceous taxa including native and endemic species, dominate the Kir and Tala mountains—Sixty-nine herbaceous angiosperms found in caves, crevices, rockpools, and mountain galleries. On Kir Mountain, Shannon and Simpson's diversity index of herbs are 1.63 and 0.77, respectively, with species richness of 7. On Tala Mountain, Shannon and Simpson's diversity index of herbs is 1.65 and 0.75, respectively, with species richness of 9. These findings contribute to the checklist of endemic and understudied plant taxa, including taxa with rare or no in-situ published photographs, such as Kinghamia angustifolia, Streptocarpus nobilis, Laportea mooreana e.t.c. Conservation measures are needed due to the accelerated rate of habitat degradation, deforestation, and agricultural activities at lower altitudes, which affects the diversity of herbs in the mountains.