A synoptic account of the airborne pollen diversity in Federal University Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria: Implications for environmental monitoring and phytodiversity conservation

The vegetation dynamics in the savanna ecosystems are shaped by interacting natural and antropogenic pressures, with implications for biodiversity conservation. This study presents a baseline inventory on airborne pollen assemblage at the Federal University Birnin Kebbi (FUBK), situated within the Sudan Savanna of Northwest Nigeria. Sampling was conducted over four months during the harmattan dry season (December 2021 – March 2022), using a modified Tauber sampler at three locations: Biological Garden, Hostel Block, and Student Center. The samples were processed using standard acetolysis and microscopy. Data were computed using R software (version 4.3.2). A total of 37 pollen counts representing 14 species/morphotypes across nine plant families and one unidentified category were recorded. Combretaceae was the most abundant family (n = 9), followed by Fabaceae and Myrtaceae (n = 7 each). Guiera senegalensis JF Gmel . , Acacia spp., and Syzygium cumini L. shared the highest Species Importance Value (SIV = 0.2856), followed by Terminalia mantaly H.Perrier (SIV = 0.2401). Moderate values were recorded for Amaranthus spp., Mimosa spp., Eucalyptus spp., and Poaceae (SIV = 0.2334), while Tridax spp. and Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn recorded the lowest (SIV = 0.1171). Shannon-Wiener diversity indices revealed that the Student’s Center supported the highest species diversity (H′ = 2.27), followed by Hostel Block (H′ = 2.25) and Biological Garden (H′ = 2.14), with consistently high Pielou evenness (J′ > 0.97). These patterns reflect dry season pollen dispersal dominated by anemophilous taxa, offering a basis for continued environmental monitoring and public health considerations in urban landscape planning.