DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2013.v01i06.015

Pages: 313-317

A study of airborne palynomorphs of Derived Savanna environment, Nigeria during the dry season (October-December) and wet season (April-June) in 2012, revealed the presence of great diversity of palynomorphs consisting of pollen grains, fungal spores, algal cysts, diatoms, dinoflagellate cysts and spores of pteridophytes (ferns). In addition to pollen grains and spores, other minute plant parts such as trichomes, charred/ burnt epidermis of leaves, cells and tissues were also airborne. A total of 20027 palynomorphs consisting of 8574 pollen grains, 6679 fungal spores, 213 diatoms, 51 dinoflagellate cysts, 167 pteridophyte spores, 2930 burnt plant epidermis/ trichomes and 1413 charred poaceae cuticle were encountered. The trapped pollen grains of plants were representatives of the major phytoecological zones (Forest, Savanna, Human impact/ Introduced) of the catchment area. The major pollen and spores contributors include those of Poaceae, Elaeis guineensis Jacq, Lannea acidaA.Rich, Nauclea latifoliaS.M., Syzygium guineense, Daniellia oliveri, Alchornea cordifoliaSw, Berlinia grandifolia, Albizzia zygia, Commiphora africana, Botryodiplodia, Curvularia, Pithomyces, and Syncephalastrum. All these are characteristic species of the Forest- Savanna ecozone. The presence of pollen record of Corylus avellana, Encephalartos species and Ecbolium speciesis a valid evidence of long distance transport. The excessive increase in the relative abundance of burnt plant parts is an indication of annual bush fire and residual precipitation associated with the vegetation of the study area. The presence of burnt plant parts and fungal spores in the atmosphere affirms the great influence of anthropogenic activities on the local vegetation. Analysis of variance for the various phytoecological indicator species shows that there was no statistical significant difference (P>0.05) between the pollen recorded for the various indicator species. Indicators of Savanna species were the highest pol