NAME:

AISHA AMINU ABUBAKAR

REG. NO.:
COURSE:

U2/15/BIOED/0023
INTRO TO ECOLOGY (BIO 2201)

1.0 Introduction
Biomes are very large ecological areas on the earths surface,
with fauna and flora (animals and plants) adapting to their
environment. Biomes are often defined by abiotic factors such as
climate, relief, geology, soils and vegetation. A biome is NOT an
ecosystem, although in a way it can look like a massive
ecosystem. If you take a closer look, you will notice that plants or
animals in any of the biomes have special adaptations that make
it possible for them to exist in that area. You may find many units
of ecosystems within one biome.
A biome is a formation of plants and animals that have common
characteristics due to similar climates and can be found over a
range of continents. Biomes are distinct from habitats, because
any biome can comprise a variety of habitats.
A biome contrasts with a microbiome. A microbiome is also a mix
of organisms that coexist in a defined space, but on a much
smaller scale. For example, the human microbiome is the
collection of bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms that are
present on a human.

A biome is a major, geographically extensive ecosystem,

structurally characterized by its dominant life forms. Terrestrial
biomes are usually distinguished on the basis of the major
components of their mature or climax vegetation, while aquatic
biomes, especially marine ones, are often characterized by their
dominant animals. Most of the oceans are considered part of a
single biome, although areas with particularly unusual or unique
physical characteristics or inhabitants may be considered as
separate biomes.
Similar biomes can occur in widely divergent places as long as the
environmental conditions are appropriate for their development.
Some environmental conditions affecting the location of biomes
include climate, latitude, topography, and fire. Often, different
species having similar, convergent growth forms will dominate at
different places within the same biome. For example, the boreal
coniferous forest occurs in suitable environments of northern
North America and Eurasia. In northeastern North America this
biome is dominated by stands of black spruce, while in the
northwest white spruce is dominant. Norway spruce is most
important in this biome in northwestern Europe, while in parts of
Siberia species of pine and larch are dominant. Because biomes
are described according to the structural characteristics of their
dominant organisms (in this example, coniferous trees growing
under a particular climatic regime) all of these different forest
types are considered convergent ecosystems within the same
biome, the boreal coniferous forest.

2.0 Features Of Nigerias Biomes and Climates

Mangrove Swamps: These are found in the tropics, along coastal
regions and river months. In Nigeria, mangrove swamps are found
in the delta regions of Lagos, Delta, Edo, Rivers, Ondo and Cross
Rivers States.
* The climate is hot and wet throughout the year.
* The total annual rainfall is heavy, usually above 2500mm, and
the

average monthly temperature is around 26 oC for nearly all

months

of the year.

* They are forests of small, evergreen, broadleaved trees

growing in

shallow, brackish waters or wet soils. Many

mangrove trees have prop roots and breathing roots. These

features enable them to grow well in the soft swampy areas of
this region of Nigeria. However, evaporation from rivers in the
fresh water swamp forests is low.
* Shrubs and climbers form clumps of thick bush. The floating
plants in standing waters include species of water lettuce, Lemna
and Salvina. Trees occurring near the waters include Alstonia and
Spondiathus.

Tropical Rainforest

* These occur in regions that lie between the equator and

latitude 5 -10o N and S. The forests areas are mainly in the
lowlands and they also extend uphill slopes to a height of 600 or
1000 metres.
* In Nigeria, rainforest regions are hot and wet throughout the
year. The mean annual temperature is 27 oC while the mean total
annual rainfall is 2000mm. Relative humidity is atleast 70%. Rainy
season is long and the dry season is short and very severe.
* The tropical rainforest is dense and made up of many types of
broad-leaved trees that are mostly evergreen i.e. the trees drop
their leaves gradually throughout the year, and new leaves grow
continuously to replace them.
* The trees form three layers; the tree tops form a thick canopy
that prevents sunlight from reaching the forest floor. As a result,
the vegetation on the forest floor is sparse. It is also possible to
identify five layers, called strata, forming stratification in a forest.
* Epiphytic plants and woody climbers (Lianas) are common
features of these forests. The animal species found here are
diverse and. Examples include monkeys, gorillas, chimpanzees,
leopards, bats, beetles, bees, ants, termites, spiders, cobras,
squirrels, lizards, birds, frogs, insects and scorpions.
The Savanna
Savanna: Tropical grasslands are often called savanna. The
savanna is usually flat for miles at a stretch. The main savanna

region is in Africa. It occurs in tropical and subtropical regions. It

contains scattered trees and shrubs. The West African savanna
has three belts (Guinea savanna, bordering the rainforest, the
Sudan and Sahel savannas, bordering the desert). The savanna
regions have hot, wet season, which alternates with cool, dry
season. The average monthly temperatures are around 29 oC
during the hot season and around 18 oC during the cold season.
The total annual rainfall varies a great deal from around 500mm
in regions on the semi desert fringes to about 1500mm in regions
bordering the rainforest. Most of the rain falls during the hot
season, i.e. from May to October in the West African savanna
regions. The rainfall of the savanna is sufficient to support a rich
growth of trees but is enough to prevent deserts from forming.
Thus, perennial grasses with chimps of trees mostly dominate the
savanna. In the moist Guinea savanna, the grasses grow tall
during the rainy season. Trees occur quite close together
especially along the rainforest fringe.
Southern Guinea Savanna: Southern Guinea Savanna occurs in
parts of Oyo,
Ondo, Osun and Kwara states.
* The mean rainfall is above 500mm.
* Dry season is shorter and less intense than in the northern
Guinea

savanna.

* The vegetation is an open savanna wood land type, with tall

grasses up to 3 meters high.
* The trees have short, large and broad leaves.
* Major characteristics of the savanna are the common
occurrence of fires in the dry season. Several of the trees are
adapted to fires by the possession of thick, fore resistant barks.
Trees include Daniellia oliveri; Hypmemocardia, alida, vitex
doniana and Afzelia
Africana. Species of grasses include Andropogan, Hypharrenia
and Pennisetum.
* The animal forms include guinea fowl, deer, rats, grasshoppers
and snakes.
Northern Guinea Savanna: In Nigeria, Northern Guinea Savanna
is found in parts of Kaduna, Kwara, Benue and Kogi states.
* Grasses with scattered trees and shrubs dominate the
vegetation.
* Trees are shorter and thorny and are fewer in numbers than in
the southern Guinea savanna. Tree species found in the Northern
Guinea Savanna include Isoberlina doka, Uapola somon and
Monotes kerstingii.
Sudan Savanna: The Sudan savanna is found in Kano and parts of
Borno, Yobe, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Niger, Taraba, Adamawa,

Bauchi and Gombe states. In the drier Sudan savanna, the

grasses are shorter and the trees are fewer and more scattered.
Sahel Savanna: The Sahel savanna is found around Lake Chad. It
extends across West Africa from Senegal in the West to Chad in
the east and from Sahara in the north to the Northern Guinea
Savanna belt in the south. In Nigeria, it occurs only at the
northeast corner, in Borno and Yobe states near Lake Chad.
Rainfall is very variable. The mean annual rainfall is 629mm. The
zone is arid.
* Typical vegetation is an open thorn savanna, with trees up to
10metres tall, having small leaves and thorns. In the Sahel, there
are

clumps of short grasses and a few isolated shrubs and

trees. During

the dry season, the grasses are usually dry and

brown, and bush

fires are often are of common occurrence.

* The underground parts of the grasses survive the dry season

and
grasses

fires, and grow again when the rain comes. Common

are;

Pennisetum,

Andropogan,

Panicum,

Aristida,

Stipoides etc. While common trees include Afzelia, Acalia,

Balanites, Leptodenia, datepalsete.
* The fauna include gazelle, antelope, buffalo, giraffe, elephant,
zebra, eland, bush cow, lion, hyena etc.

Various Classifications of Biomes with states, species and

animal
Mangrove Swamps States: Lagos, Delta, Edo, Rivers, Ondo and
Cross Rivers States.
Species: Water lettuce, Lemna and Salvina. Trees occurring near
the waters include Alstonia and Spondiathus.
Tropical Rainforest:
Species: Epiphytic plants and woody climbers (Lianas) are
common features of these forests. The animal species found here
are diverse and.
Animals:

monkeys,

gorillas,

chimpanzees,

leopards,

bats,

beetles, bees, ants, termites, spiders, cobras, squirrels, lizards,

birds, frogs, insects and scorpions.
Southern Guinea Savanna States: Southern Guinea Savanna
occurs in parts of Oyo, Ondo, Osun and Kwara states.
Species: Daniellia oliveri; Hypmemocardia, alida, vitex doniana
and Afzelia, Andropogan, Hypharrenia and Pennisetum.
Animals: guinea fowl, deer, rats, grasshoppers and snakes
Northern Guinea Savanna States: In Nigeria, Northern Guinea
Savanna is found in parts of Kaduna, Kwara, Benue and Kogi
states.
Species: Isoberlina doka, Uapola somon and Monotes kerstingii

Sudan Savanna States: The Sudan savanna is found in Kano

and parts of Borno, Yobe, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Niger, Taraba,
Adamawa, Bauchi and Gombe states
Sahel Savanna: Borno and Yobe
Species: Pennisetum, Andropogan, Panicum, Aristida, Stipoides,
Afzelia, Acalia, Balanites, Leptodenia, datepalsete.
Animals: gazelle, antelope, buffalo, giraffe, elephant,
eland, bush cow, lion, hyena etc.

zebra,

4.0 MAP OF VEGETATION IN NIGERIA

The map indicates the type of vegetation found in every region

for example:
i.
ii.

Marginal: in Borno and Yobe State

Short grass Savanna: In Sokoto, Katsina, Kano and Borno

iii.

State
Wooland and tall grass Savanna: in Kaduna, Niger, Bauchi,

iv.

Plateau, Kwara, Benue, Enugu and partly in Borno State.

Rainforest: In oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Imo, Corssriver

v.
vi.
vii.

Rivers
Fresh Water Swamp: In River State
Mangrove: in Lagos and part of Rivers State
Montana: Partly distributes in north-eastern Nigeria

Conclusion
Rainfall takes the centre stage from the birth of a new year in
Nigeria, moving from the south to the east and after getting to
the northern part in late May and June. The northern part of
Nigeria has the lowest amount of rainfall in a year sometimes as
little as 120 to 130 rainy days in Kano, Katsina and Sokoto.
With the adequate resources Nigerian climate can be perfectly
regulated unlike the western world where the snow keeps people
at home.

References
Biomes. Encyclopedia of Earth.
http://eschooltoday.com/ecosystems/what-is-a-biome.html
http://science.jrank.org/pages/897/Biome.html

http://passnownow.com/classwork-exercise-and-seriesbiology-ss1-biomes/