Table of Contents                                                                                                                 vi

List of Tables                                                                                                                                    vii

CHAPTER ONE                                                                                                                    1

1.1       Introduction                                                                                                              1

1.2       Aim and Objectives                                                                                                 3

CHAPTER TWO: Literature Review                                                                                 4

2.1       Bryophytes                                                                                                                4

2.2       Ethnomedicinal Properties                                                                                                 7

2.3       Therapeutical Properties                                                                                         10

2.4       Studies on Distribution and Diversity of Br        yophytes                                            12

CHAPTER THREE: Materials and Methods                                                                    21

3.1       Study Site                                                                                                                  21

3.2       Sampling of Bryophytes                                                                                         21

3.3       Data Analysis                                                                                                                       21

CHAPTER FOUR: Results and Discussion                                                                                  23

4.1       Results                                                                                                                       23

4.2       Discussion                                                                                                                 34

CHAPTER FIVE: Conclusion and Recommendations                                                    36

5.1       Conclusion                                                                                                                36

5.2       Recommendations                                                                                                   36

References                                                                                                                            37

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE          TITLE                                                                                               PAGES

4.1.1   Geographical location of the study sites                                                  24

4.1.2   Bryophyte samples from the study sites                                                  26

4.1.3   Frequency of occurrence of bryophytes at the study sites                                28

4.1.4   Shanon Max and Species Equitability                                                      29

4.1.5   Substrate Choice of Bryophytes at the study sites                                             31

4.1.6   Abundance of species according to altitude                                                        33

The objective of this study was to explore the altitudinal gradients and substrate choice on the distribution and diversity of bryophytes in Ago-Iwoye, South Western Nigeria, along altitudinal gradients from 59 to 102 m a.s.l. The bryophytes were collected from observable microhabitats namely; roots or hanging plant, rock with soil and grasses, tree bark, tree hand and tree trunk. The samples were collected from ten villages namely; Latubu, Eregirin, Oke Erigba, Aba Alaye, Elegun mesan arin, Ehin Etiri, Fanowo, Ipakodo, Eyin-Edi Orile, Ota Oluyepe and Ita-omo Olokuta. The temperature of the study sites ranged from 26oC to 27oC while the the humidity percentage ranged from 61 to 84%. In this study, a total of 27 bryophyte species from 12 genus were recorded from the villages understudy. Out of the total number, five were unknown, seven were Calympere, six were Thuidium, two were Stereophyllum, three were Mastigolejeunea, one was Barbula, one was Fissidens, one was Jaegarina, one was Neckeropsis. The frequency occurrence of bryophytes showed that Calymperes had the highest occurrence with seven, followed by Thuidiun (six), Mastigoleheuna (three) while the least were Barbula (one), Fissidens (one), Jaegarina (one), Neckeropsis (one). Most specimen collected were found on tree trunks (seven) and least specimen collected were found on concrete block (one) and on tree branch (one). It was discovered that villages that falls between the altitude of 70-79 have the most abundance of species with species frequency of thirteen while villages with least abundance of species falls under the altitude of 50-59m, 60-69m, 80-89m with the specie frequency of one. Therefore, it can be concluded that bryophytes were abundant on tree trunks and between altitudes 70-79m.