Tree Species Composition and Structureofa Coastal Hill Forest in Pulau Pangkor, Malaysia

S Ghollasimood

doi:10.5539/jas.v3n4p172

Abstract

Tree species composition and structure of a coastal hill forest in Sungai Pinang Permanent Forest Reserve in Pulau Pangkor at Perak was studied based on the data from five 1-hectare plots. All stems with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ? 5cm enumerated, identified and their height weremeasured. The mean stem density was 659 (stems ha -1 ), and a total of 45 families, 102 genera, 181 species, 3319 individuals were presented in the five 1-ha plot; this comprises 6.3% species, 19.2% genera and 42% families of the total tree taxa found in Peninsular Malaysia. Based on IVI, Vatica maingayi, Xanthophyllum affine , Vatica pauciflora were the most dominant tree species. The families of Dipterocarpaceae, Polygalaceae,Guttiferae and Myrtaceae were among the most important families with high FIV. Based on dbh class, nearly 50% of the trees were distributed in the lower diameter class(5-15cm). According to heightlife-form categories, 53% of stems were belonged to small trees (7-15m). Species accumulation curve showedan asymptote at the third hectare.

Highlights

Tropical rainforest in five major regions (Corlett and Primack 2006), have the most diverse terrestrial ecosystems (Turner 2001) and extremely important for conserving biodiversity for the local and regional development and for sustainable use of forests (Neshim et al.2009).Malaysian forests harbour a very large portion of diversity and forests have an important role in the country socio-economic development and environmental conservation (Nizam Khan and Zakaria 2005).This diversity is under great threat with total forested area in Peninsular Malaysia with 44.7% of its land area (Abdul Rashid 2005)
The mean stem density was 659, and a total of 45 families, 102 genera, 181 species, 3319 individuals were presented in the five 1-ha plot; this comprises 6.3% species, 19.2% genera and 42% families of the total tree taxa found in Peninsular Malaysia
There is still insufficient information for Forestry Department of Malaysia to act upon especially for the consolidation of plant resources in coastal hill forest.This study focused on tree species richnessand evaluatesfloristic composition in a coastal hill forest

Summary

Introduction

Malaysian forests harbour a very large portion of diversity and forests have an important role in the country socio-economic development and environmental conservation (Nizam Khan and Zakaria 2005).This diversity is under great threat with total forested area in Peninsular Malaysia with 44.7% of its land area (Abdul Rashid 2005). The first effort was done by Ridley (1922-1925) by Flora of the Malay Peninsula, while Whitmore and Ng (1972-1989) prepared the forest trees of Peninsular Malaysia in the Tree Flora of Malaya (Vol 1 to IV).The current checklist catalogues reveals, Peninsular Malaysia has about 8893 taxa (species, subspecies and varieties) covering around 8200 native and 690 naturalised species From 8096 species that comprise the native flora of the Malay Peninsula (Turner, 1997), 2830 species are trees (35%) in which are distributed in 106 families and 532 genera (Ng 1991)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion