Egor B. Etigale^{1<\/sup>, Oluwayinka S. Oke2<\/sup>, Shadrach O. Akindele2<\/sup>, Victor A. J. Adekunle2<\/sup>and Opeyemi Olajide<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n}

ABSTRACT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mangrove forest in Cross River State was assessed for information on its current plant species composition and density as well as trees stem-diameter distribution. Simple random sampling technique was used to select ten sample points on a gridded map of the mangrove forest. The ten selected sample points were located on the ground using their coordinates. At each sample point, one cluster consisting of five 20 m x 20 m nested plots laid alternately at 20 m intervals along a 200 m long transect was established. At the centre of each plot, a 2 m x 2 m quadrat was established as a nest. All living trees, shrubs and palms (with erect stems) \u00b3 5cm in dbh were identified, counted and measured in the 20 m x 20 m plots, while trees\u2019 and palms\u2019 juveniles (<5cm in dbh), Acrostichum aureum<\/em>, Nypa fruiticans <\/em>fronds and their stumps were identified and counted in the 2 m x 2 m quadrats. The data were analysed using Microsoft Excel. A total of 22 plant species, belonging to 20 genera and 15 families were encountered in this study. These consisted of 15 species of trees, 2 species of shrubs, 4 species of palms and 1 species of ferns. Nypa fruticans<\/em> was the most abundant species in the area. Total number of adult trees recorded was 547. Rhizophora racemosa<\/em> (156), with a population density of 78 stems per hectare was the most abundant tree species. The stand structure showed an inverse J-shaped diameter distribution pattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keywords<\/strong>:\u00a0 species Composition, Density, Trees Stem-Diameter Distribution, Mangrove Forest, Cross River State.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n