Impact of Crude Oil Exploitation on Plant Diversity Stock in Wetland Ecosystems in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

This study investigated the impact of crude oil exploitation on plant diversity stock in wetland ecosystems in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Three crude oil-impacted communities—Ayamasa, Ibelebiri, Ikarama, and Okumbiri—that have never experienced a crude oil spill served as a control in this study. To get the required data, four 50 x 10 m line transects were set up at each study site, 20 meters apart. From each of the 50 × 10 m plots, five 10 × 10 m subplots were additionally marked out (labelled A, B, C, D, and E).  The data was processed using Paleontological Statistical Software (PAST). The findings showed that, in dry season samples, there were more trees in the control area than in crude oil-impacted areas (8<14<16<28); in wet season samples, the numbers were similar (8<14<19<28). Weak stem species were more prevalent in the sites of the crude oil spill particularly in the wet season. Plant species in the control group exhibit more diversity as measured by the Shannon-Weiner Index (3.695/3.987), whereas regions that have previously undergone cleanup efforts for crude oil spills showed signs of recovery with a comparatively diversity index (2.312-3.629) in both sample seasons. In total there was more plant abundance in the control compared to the crude-oil-impacted sites. The families of Poaceae and Asteraceae were dominant throughout the studied area in both the dry and wet seasons especially in the crude oil impacted locations.  A total of 44 plant families and 86 plant species were found in the dry season while 56 families and 137 plant species in the rainy season. Results showed crude oil spills are detrimental to plant variety. As a result, precautions must be taken to prevent future spills, and stakeholders should approach crude oil spill remediation projects proactively rather than reactively.