Match each Nigerian vegetation zone listed on the left with its corresponding defining ecological characteristic and indicator flora on the right.
- Mangrove Swamp ForestHalophytic stilt-rooted trees (e.g., Rhizophora racemosa) with pneumatophores adapted to daily tidal inundation and saline mudflats along the coast.
- Northern Guinea SavannaFire-resistant, thick-barked broad-leaved deciduous trees (e.g., Isoberlinia doka) with a tall grass understory, subject to annual bush burning.
- Sudan SavannaXerophytic, thorny scattered trees with umbrella-shaped crowns (e.g., Acacia spp. and Adansonia digitata) interspersed with short, feathery grasses.
- Montane VegetationStunted evergreen cloud-forest species, tree ferns, and temperate-like alpine turf grasses restricted to high elevations above 1,200 meters.
Answer
Mangrove Swamp Forest pairs with halophytic stilt-rooted trees; Northern Guinea Savanna pairs with fire-resistant thick-barked deciduous trees (Isoberlinia doka); Sudan Savanna pairs with xerophytic thorny trees (acacia and baobab); Montane Vegetation pairs with stunted evergreen cloud-forest scrub and alpine grasses above 1,200 meters.
Vegetation distribution in Nigeria follows both a south-to-north latitudinal rainfall gradient and an altitudinal gradient. Coastal saline environments host stilt-rooted Mangroves. The Northern Guinea belt is dominated by fire-resistant Isoberlinia trees. Drier northern latitudes host xerophytic Sudan Savanna species like Acacia and Baobab. High elevations on plateaus over 1,200m create Montane grass and scrub biomes.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Spatial Zonation and Plant Adaptations Across Nigerian Biomes