FUW TRENDS IN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(A Peer Review Journal)
e–ISSN: 2408–5162; p–ISSN: 2048–5170
keywords: Distribution, moss plants, Northwestern, Nigeria, substrates
This study was carried out to determine the distribution of Moss plants in some parts of northwestern Nigeria which include Zaria, Kamuku (Birnin gwari), Kano and Ringim. Samples were collected from different substrates (bark of trees, uncompleted buildings,wall of buildings, gutter walls, rock surfaces and forest floor/soil/sand) and a total of 144 samples of moss plants were collected throughout, representing eight (8) different species. The percentage occurrences of moss species in all locations, on all the substrates and on each substrate were calculated. More species were found in Zaria and Kamuku and the least found in Kano and Ringim. Hyophila crenulata had the highest percentage of occurrence (58.33%) while the least percentage of occurrences was recorded for Fissidens grandifolius (1.39%). Hyophila crenulata were found growing on all substrates with majority on sandcrete materials; Barbula lambarenensis, Bryum coronatum and Splachnobryum subjulaceum were found only on sancrete materials (100% occurrence each); Erpodium pobeguinii majorly on bark of trees with some on sandcrete materials; Fabronia pilifera completely on bark of trees (100% occurrence) and Fissidens grandifolius found growing only on sand/soil/forest floor (100%). This indicates that mosses require specific substrates for occurrence or growth. Moss species were distributed among different substrates including bark of trees, sandcrete materials (plastered and un-plastered walls, blocks, rock surface) and sand/soil/forest floor.
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