Factors influencing the range shift of plant species in wetlands, Northern Region (GHANA)

The study examined the role of anthropogenic disturbances in the range shift of aquatic plants in six wetlands. It was conducted over a 2-year period. The prevalence index method was used to determine the range shift of plant species. An ordination technique was used to determine the environmental factors that influenced species range shift and distribution. Of the 40 species sampled, we detected that obligate species constituted 35%, while facultative wetland species and obligate upland species were 40% and 27.5% respectively. Animal dung was identified as one major source of upland species shift into the wetlands, as14 seedlings that germinated from this mediumwere identified to bethe same species sampled across the six wetlands. Plant range shift was influenced by environmental disturbances such as grazing, farming, bushfire and hydric soil nutrient status namely; magnesium,nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and soil pH. These variables correlated significantly (p>0.05) with axis 1 and axis 2, and accounted for 61.29% of the total variance in species range shift. Plant range shift may be attributed more to human-led activities than climatic variability factors.