 Publishers keywords: Soil, Fresh water swamp forest, Vegetation, Akwa IbomR.M. Ubom Department of Botany and Ecological studies, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria, F.O. Ogbemudia Department of Botany and Ecological studies, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria, K.O. Benson Department of Botany and Ecological studies, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria 