Gce Model Questions Vol1 2021 Geography Question 10

A region of the Nigerian highlands is characterised by a mosaic of vegetation types, ranging from montane grasslands at 1800‑2000 m altitude to dry evergreen forest on the lower slopes (900‑1300 m). The following observations have been recorded: - Montane grassland: dominant species are tussock grasses with deep fibrous root systems, high leaf area index during the wet season, and an annual fire frequency of 1–2 years. - Dry evergreen forest: dominant species are drought‑tolerant broad‑leaved trees with thick bark, small leathery leaves, and a pronounced seasonal leaf‑drop during the dry months. - Soil on the grassland is shallow, well‑drained, and acidic (pH 4.8). Soil on the forest slope is deeper, more neutral (pH 6.5) and richer in organic matter. Using this information, answer the following: a) Compare the adaptive strategies of the dominant plant species in the montane grassland and the dry evergreen forest, linking each strategy to the prevailing climatic and edaphic conditions. b) Discuss how a projected 2 °C rise in mean annual temperature and a 10 % decrease in wet‑season rainfall could alter the distribution of these two vegetation types over the next 50 years. c) Recommend two conservation measures that could be implemented to preserve the biodiversity of the highland ecosystem under the predicted climate change scenario, explaining the rationale for each measure.