Urban Sprawl Effects on Biodiversity in Peripheral Agricultural Lands in Calabar, Nigeria

Abstract

The main objective of the paper is to determine the effects of urban sprawl on biodiversity in peripheral lands in Calabar, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study are: To examine the effects of farm size and farm density on selected species in peripheral agricultural lands such as birds, butterflies and bumblebees and to compare faunal diversity on farmlands within sprawl (FLWS) and farmlands outside sprawl (FLOS) areas. 20 farms were sampled for the study, 10 in FLWS and 10 in FLOS. The relationship between farm size, tree diversity and diversity of avian fauna (birds) on agricultural lands was tested with multiple correlation analysis. Result of the analysis revealed that FLOS had more butterfly diversity with 42 (62.69 per cent) than FLWS with 25 (37.31 per cent). It was also observed that the joint contribution of the two independent variables to the variance of bird species in agricultural lands is positive with multiple correlation coefficient value of r = 0.50. This r value is significant, implying that there is a significant relationship between farm size, tree diversity and the diversity of avian fauna in agricultural lands. This finding implies that species diversity in agricultural lands are declining while others, such as those in the Satyridae family are in danger of becoming extinct due to encroaching sprawl development. It is therefore, recommended that eco-farming techniqus such as the cultivation of specific plants that attract pollinators such as Ranvolfia volmitoria be integrated into farmlands.

Key words: Agricultural, Biodiversity, Peripheral, Urban sprawl