Abstract:
The relative distribution was investigated of turaco-preferred food plants in the main forest and the forest fragments
of Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve in Taraba State, Nigeria. Data collection was carried out in three sections within the
forest reserve and these include (i) forest fragment, (ii) within the main forest and (iii) the boundary area of the main
forest. Ten plots with size of 25 m 25 m were laid at an interval of 50 m in each of the three selected sites making a
total of 30 plots for the sampling of turaco-preferred fruiting plant species. The numbers of fruiting tree species
identified were 22, 25 and 24, and out of these only seven (31.8%), eight (32%) and six (25%) were preferred by
turacos in the forest fragment, within the main forest and the boundary area of the main forest, respectively. The
preferred fruiting plant species in the forest fragment was Syzygium guineense (48.6%), in the boundary area of the
main forest was Ficus sp. (13.3%) and within the main forest was Polyscias fulva (3.9%). Many of the fruiting tree
species in the boundary area and within the main forest were not preferred by turacos. There is a need for effective
pro-conservative measures aimed at preserving the remaining forest patches (especially the forest fragment) of the
reserve.
