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Difficulty: MediumVegetation Zones and Distribution in Nigeria

Arrange the following vegetation zones of Nigeria in sequential order, starting from the northern border near Lake Chad and proceeding southwards to the Atlantic coast:

  1. 1Sahel Savanna
  2. 2Sudan Savanna
  3. 3Guinea Savanna
  4. 4Tropical Rain Forest
  5. 5Mangrove Swamp Forest

Answer

The correct order from the northern border near Lake Chad southwards to the Atlantic coast is: Sahel Savanna, Sudan Savanna, Guinea Savanna, Tropical Rain Forest, and Mangrove Swamp Forest.
In Nigeria, vegetation distribution follows a latitudinal pattern dictated by decreasing rainfall from south to north. Moving southwards from the Lake Chad region to the Atlantic coastline, one crosses the Sahel Savanna, Sudan Savanna, Guinea Savanna, Tropical Rain Forest, and coastal Mangrove Swamp Forest.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the northernmost semi-arid vegetation zone.
Sahel Savanna occupies the extreme northeastern and northern border of Nigeria.
This area receives the lowest annual rainfall in Nigeria, supporting desert-fringe shrubland.
2
Sequence the remaining savanna belts southward according to increasing rainfall.
Sudan Savanna comes next, followed southward by the broader Guinea Savanna in central Nigeria.
Mean annual precipitation increases steadily from north to south across the savanna zones.
3
Identify the southern forest and coastal wetland belts.
Tropical Rain Forest covers the southern hinterland, bounded along the coast by Mangrove Swamp Forest.
The heavy equatorial monsoon climate and marine coastal conditions support dense forest and mangrove ecosystems in the south.

Key Concept

Latitudinal zonation of Nigerian vegetation belts corresponding to the south-to-north gradient of decreasing mean annual rainfall.
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Vegetation Zones and Distribution in Nigeria

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