BIO 304 — Nigerian Fauna and Flora: Lecture Note

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BIO la-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Course code: BIO 304 Course title: Nigerian Fauna and Flora Course credit load: 2 Units Series 1: Field Identification of Nigerian Plants and Animals • Part 1.1: Principles of Field Identification o Sub Part 1.1.1: Field identification: concepts and tools o Sub Part 1.1.2: Taxonomic keys and their use o Sub Part 1.1.3: Field safety and ethics • Part 1.2: Field Identification of Nigerian Plants o Sub Part 1.2.1: Vegetative features used in plant identification o Sub Part 1.2.2: Reproductive features and their diagnostic value o Sub Part 1.2.3: Identification of common Nigerian plant families in the field • Part 1.3: Field Identification of Nigerian Animals o Sub Part 1.3.1: Direct observation of Nigerian vertebrates o Sub Part 1.3.2: Indirect signs of animal presence o Sub Part 1.3.3: Field identification of common Nigerian invertebrates • Part 1.4: Field Recording and Documentation o Sub Part 1.4.1: Field notes, sketches, and photography o Sub Part 1.4.2: Voucher specimen collection and preservation o Sub Part 1.4.3: Digital tools and citizen science in field identification

BIO la-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Introduction Nigeria harbours one of the richest assemblages of fauna and flora on the African continent, spanning rainforest, savanna, montane grassland, freshwater wetland, and coastal mangrove habitats. Accurate field identification of Nigerian plants and animals is the practical foundation of ecology, conservation biology, forestry, agriculture, and wildlife management. Without the ability to name organisms correctly in the field, data collected on distribution, abundance, and ecology lack scientific validity and practical utility. This Series introduces the principles and tools of field identification, the morphological features used to identify Nigerian plants and animals, methods for detecting animals through indirect signs, and the techniques used to record and document field observations. These skills form the practical core of the course and are prerequisites for all subsequent series on biomes, museum identification, life history, and conservation. Series Learning Outcomes Upon completing this Series, you should be able to: • SLO 1.1 explain the principles of field identification and describe the tools and safety practices required for fieldwork in Nigeria (Linked to Part 1.1), • SLO 1.2 construct and use a simple dichotomous key (Linked to Part 1.1), • SLO 1.3 identify Nigerian plants in the field using vegetative and reproductive characters, and recognise common families (Linked to Part 1.2), • SLO 1.4 identify Nigerian animals by direct observation and by indirect signs including footprints, trails, scats, and runways (Linked to Part 1.3), • SLO 1.5 keep accurate field notes and describe the procedure for collecting and preserving voucher specimens (Linked to Part 1.4), and • SLO 1.6 use digital tools and citizen science platforms for field identification and biodiversity recording (Linked to Part 1.4).

BIO la-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS 1.1 Principles of Field Identification 1.1.1 Field identification: concepts and tools Field identification is the determination of the name and taxonomic position of an organism in its natural habitat using observable characters without laboratory equipment. It requires a systematic approach: first narrowing the organism to a major group (kingdom, phylum, class) by general form and habit, then progressing to family, genus, and species using specific morphological characters. Essential field tools include a hand lens (x10 magnification) for examining fine structures; a field notebook for recording observations; a measuring tape or ruler; a GPS device or smartphone for recording coordinates; binoculars (8x42 or 10x42) for observing birds and mammals at distance; and relevant field guides for Nigerian fauna and flora. Standard Nigerian botanical references include the Flora of West Tropical Africa (Hutchinson and Dalziel), Keay’s Trees of Nigeria, and Burkill’s Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. For animals, key references are the Field Guide to Nigerian Birds (Borrow and Demey), Kingdon’s Field Guide to African Mammals, and Spawls et al.’s Reptiles of East and Southern Africa (applicable to many species found in Nigeria). Photographic identification apps such as iNaturalist, Pl@ntNet, and Merlin (Cornell Lab) supplement printed guides and support citizen science data collection. Fill in the blank: Field identification proceeds systematically from the broadest taxonomic level (kingdom) to the most specific (species), using observable ________ characters to narrow the identity of an organism without laboratory equipment. 1.1.2 Taxonomic keys and their use A taxonomic key is a written tool that leads the user through a series of choices based on observable characters until the identity of an organism is determined. The most widely used format is the dichotomous key, in which each step (couplet) presents two mutually exclusive statements; the user selects the statement that matches the specimen and is directed to the next couplet or to the final identification. Characters used in dichotomous keys must be clearly observable, stable, and non-overlapping between the taxa being separated. A bracketed key lists

BIO la-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS both statements of a couplet together (e.g. 1a, 1b); an indented key indents successive choices to show the hierarchy visually. To use a key correctly: read both statements of each couplet before deciding; select the statement that best fits all the characters of the specimen; follow the instruction to the next couplet; repeat until a name is reached; then verify the identification by comparing the specimen with a full description and illustration of the named taxon. Common errors include making a choice based on a single character when multiple characters should be checked, and failing to verify the final answer. For plants, the best keys are used when flowers or fruits are present. Fill in the blank: A ________ key presents each couplet as two mutually exclusive statements; the user selects the matching statement and is directed to the next couplet or to the final identification of the organism. 1.1.3 Field safety and ethics Fieldwork in Nigeria requires awareness of personal safety and ecological responsibility. Safety precautions include: informing supervisors of the planned route and estimated return time before departure; wearing long-sleeved clothing, boots, and a hat to guard against insect bites, thorns, and sun exposure; carrying water, a first-aid kit, a charged mobile phone, and insect repellent; being alert to venomous snakes (e.g. Bitis arietans, Naja nigricollis) and stinging insects particularly in savanna and forest edges; avoiding fieldwork alone in remote areas; and knowing the location of the nearest medical facility. Ethical field practice requires minimising disturbance to organisms and habitats. Collecting voucher specimens should be limited to the minimum necessary and must comply with national regulations under the Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic) Act and permits required for protected species or collection within national parks. Nesting birds and breeding animals should not be approached. Observations of rare or sensitive species should be reported to the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) or relevant state forestry department rather than publicised in ways that could attract poachers.

BIO la-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Fill in the blank: Two venomous snakes that fieldworkers in Nigerian savanna and forest habitats should be aware of are the puff adder (Bitis arietans) and the ________ cobra (Naja nigricollis), which can spit venom accurately at the eyes. Pilot questions 1.1 1. List five essential tools for field identification work in Nigeria and state the purpose of each. 2. Explain the difference between a bracketed and an indented dichotomous key. 3. Describe the correct procedure for using a dichotomous key and state two common errors to avoid. 4. State four safety precautions a student should take before and during a field excursion in Nigeria. 5. State three ethical obligations of a field biologist when collecting specimens in a Nigerian national park. 1.2 Field Identification of Nigerian Plants 1.2.1 Vegetative features used in plant identification Vegetative features are plant characters observable when no flowers or fruits are present and are particularly important in the field. Growth form (tree, shrub, herb, climber, epiphyte) is the first character noted. Leaf arrangement on the stem is described as alternate (one leaf per node), opposite (two leaves per node), or whorled (three or more per node). Leaf type is simple (one blade) or compound (divided into leaflets); compound leaves are further described as pinnate (leaflets along a central rachis), bipinnate, or palmate (leaflets radiating from a central point). Leaf shape, margin (entire, serrate, lobed), venation (pinnate, palmate, parallel), surface texture (glabrous, pubescent, tomentose), and the presence of stipules are all recorded. Stem characters include cross-sectional shape (round, square, triangular), surface features (smooth, hairy, spiny, warty), and the presence of latex or coloured sap (milky sap in Euphorbiaceae; yellow sap in Garcinia). Bark texture (smooth, fissured, flaky, corky) and colour are important for trees. Root system type (taproot, fibrous, adventitious) and the presence of specialised roots (buttresses in rainforest trees; pneumatophores in mangroves; aerial prop roots

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