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Lowry, J.H, Jr., Ramsey, R.D., Boykin, K., Bradford, D., Comer, P., Falzarano, S., Kepner, W., Kirby, J., Langs, L., Prior-Magee, J., Manis, G., O’Brien, L, Sajwaj, T., Thomas, K.A., Reith, W., Schrader, S., Schrupp, D., Schulz, K., Thompson, B., Velasquez, C., Waller, E. and Wolk, B. (2005) Southwest Regional Gap Analysis Project: Final Report on Landcover Mapping Methods. RS/GIS Laboratory, Utah State University, Logan.

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• TITLE: Using Multi Techniques Analysis in Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification and Mapping of Mambilla Plateau in Taraba State Nigeria

  AUTHORS: Gabriel Salako, Oluwasogo Olalubi, Henry Sawyerr, Glenn Howe, Abel Adebayo, Abdulrasheed Adio

  KEYWORDS: Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem, GIS Models, Vegetal Resources Management, Classification, Mapping

  JOURNAL NAME: Open Journal of Ecology, Vol.6 No.7, May 31, 2016

  ABSTRACT: This work used multi techniques analysis comprises GIS models, geostatistics, clustering analysis as against the traditional single layer thematic approach to characterize Mambilla Plateau, a cold highland in Taraba state of Nigeriainto biogeoclimatic ecosystem zones needed for natural resources management. The principal criteria used in classifying and mapping the ecosystems are: climate and bioclimate data, physiography (slope, relief and aspect), vegetation/landcover data. In classifying and mapping the physiography of Mambilla Plateau, the topographic layer was produced from 90 m NASA/SRTM digital elevation model. Principal component analysis, agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis (AHC) and geostatistical techniques (Kriging) were applied to develop bioclimatic layer. A combination of vegetation field survey conducted on selected sites, un/supervised classification and the application of NDVI values was used to produce landcover map and delineation of the Plateau into vegetation units. These layers of physiographic, bioclimatic and vegetation were spatially combined using fuzzy (sum) overlay in Arc GIS 10.2 to produce 5 major and 1 subunit biogeoclimatic ecosystem zones on the Mambilla Plateau and the adjoining landscape namely: humid lowland forest/humid shrubby forest, montane forest, escarpment stream valley forest, grass cypress cool mountain and, grass eucalyptus cold high mountain. It is expected that this approach to biogeoclimatic ecosystem mapping shall form the bedrock for vegetal/forest resources management not only in the region but find application especially in most of the highland of the world.