In which of the following biomes is the south western part of Nigeria located?

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks which biome covers south western Nigeria. A biome is a large ecological region defined by its climate, vegetation and animal life.

Step 2: Explain the concept Nigeria has vegetation zones that run in belts from south to north, mainly because rainfall decreases as you move inland from the Atlantic coast:

• Mangrove / Freshwater swamp is found along the coast and the Niger Delta.
• Tropical rainforest is found in the south, including the south west and south east. It has heavy rainfall (about 1,500 mm or more per year), a short dry season, tall trees in several layers, and a dense canopy.
• Guinea savanna / derived savanna (tropical woodland) is found in the middle belt.
• Sudan and Sahel savanna is found in the far north, and it is drier.

Step 3: Apply to the options

• A. Temperate forest: This occurs in cooler regions with four seasons, such as Europe and North America. Nigeria is tropical, so this is wrong.
• B. Tropical rainforest: South western states like Ogun, Ondo, Oyo (southern part), Osun, Ekiti and Lagos have high rainfall, high humidity and dense, tall vegetation. This fits.
• C. Tropical woodland: This is more typical of the middle belt, with scattered trees and grass. It is not the main biome of the south west.
• D. Desert: This is found only at the extreme northern fringes, if at all. Wrong.

Step 4: Answer South western Nigeria lies in the tropical rainforest biome.

Tip: Remember that vegetation in Nigeria follows rainfall. The south is wet and forested, and the north is dry and grassy. When a question mentions the south west or south east, think "rainforest" first. Also note that the northern parts of the south west, such as parts of Oyo, are transitional (derived savanna), but the general classification for the region is still tropical rainforest.