Vascular Plant Composition and Diversity of a Coastal Hill Forest in Perak, Malaysia

S Ghollasimood,Abd Kudus Kamziah,M Nazre,I Faridah Hanum,A.G Awang Noor

doi:10.5539/jas.v3n3p111

Abstract

Vascular plant species and diversity of a coastal hill forest in Sungai Pinang Permanent Forest Reserve in Pulau Pangkor at Perak were studied based on the data from five one hectare plots. All vascular plants were enumerated and identified. Importance value index (IVI) was computed to characterize the floristic composition. To capture different aspects of species diversity, we considered five different indices. The mean stem density was 7585 stems per ha. In total 36797 vascular plants representing 348 species belong to 227 genera in 89 families were identified within 5-ha of a coastal hill forest that is comprises 4.2% species, 10.7% genera and 34.7% families of the total taxa found in Peninsular Malaysia. Based on IVI, Agrostistachys longifolia (IVI 1245), Eugeissona tristis (IVI 890), Calophyllum wallichianum (IVI 807), followed by Taenitis blechnoides (IVI 784) were the most dominant species. The most speciose rich families were Rubiaceae having 27 species, followed by Dipterocarpaceae (21 species), Euphorbiaceae (20 species) and Palmae (14 species). According to growth forms, 57% of all species were trees, 13% shrubs, 10% herbs, 9% lianas, 4% palms, 3.5% climbers and 3% ferns. Diversity indices were higher along the stream side and species accumulation curve showed sampling area captured a high proportion of the species richness.

Highlights

South-east Asian tropical rainforest with its unique and high proportions of endemic plants need greater effort in studying biodiversity
Most attempts to explain the variation in floristic composition of hill and lowland forest in Peninsular Malaysia have focused on woody stems (≥1 cm) (Abdul Hayat et al 2010, Okuda et al 2003, Condit et al 1996, Awang Noor and Faridah Hanum 2008) rather than small individuals
In total 36797 vascular plants representing 348 species belong to 227 genera in 89 families were identified (Appendix 1), two could only be identified to genus, one climber and three herbs were remained unknown within five 1-ha of a coastal hill forest that comprises 4.2% species, 10.7% genera and 34.7% families of the total taxa found in Peninsular Malaysia

Summary

Introduction

South-east Asian tropical rainforest with its unique and high proportions of endemic plants need greater effort in studying biodiversity. This unique flora result largely from millions years of independence evolution during the Tertiary, when wide oceanic barriers made dispersal between regions (Morely 2003), and have survived the convergence of New Guinea with Southeast Asia (Primack and Corlett 2005). Factor causing variation in species richness may differ between life forms of plants. In the present study, we analysed the richness of different life forms along elevation gradient (45-350 m a.s.l.), floristic composition and diversity of vascular plants in a coastal hill forest from Pangkor Island in Perak, Peninsular Malaysia

Methods

Results

Conclusion