DIVERSITY, DISPERSION PATTERN AND UTILIZATION OF WOODY PLANTS WITHIN HOUSEHOLD FARMLANDS AND OPEN PARKLANDS IN THE TALESI AREA OF NORTHERN GHANA

Abstract

Generally, biodiversity measurement typically focuses on the species diversity which is one of the most important indices used for the evaluation of ecosystems at different scales. These are used as indicators of the degree of complexity of the species under study. One of the most fundamental problems faced by community ecologists is that of measuring population sizes and distributions. They are necessary for impact assessments (measuring effects of disturbance) and restoration ecology (restoring ecological systems). In the orthern Savanna region, the survival of indigenous land varieties of important food crops tree species and an increasing number of medicinal plant species are being threatened. This study examined the diversity of woody plant species in household farmlands and open parklands and also examined their dispersion pattern and uses. The study was conducted in the Talensi area of orthern Ghana. The study area was structured in four zones so as to fairly cover all geographical sections of the area. In total, 839 individual woody plants belonging to 78 species were identified in all study quadrats. Of this, a total of 652 and 187 were identified in household farmlands and open parklands, respectively. Tree species commonly identified in the study area were Adansonia digitata L., Azadirachta indica A. Juss., Ceiba pentandra (L.)Gaertn, Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. Ex A. Rich, Ficus trichopoda Baker, Lannea acida A. Rich and Mangifera indica L. Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H) was used to analyze for diversity. The Talensi area showed a diversity (H) of 1.15 and 1.34 for household farmlands and open parklands, respectively. An analysis of variance showed no significant difference (p>O.05) in diversity between these two land types. The dispersion pattern of woody plant species in both land types could be described as clumped. The study also revealed a low level of species disturbance in household farmlands thus giving a better option for the incorporation of the concept of farm forestry. This study of diversity has provided important information about rarity and commonness of species in the Talensi area, this is a very important tool for biologists, foresters, agents of development and all who are trying to understand community structure.