Study on the Floristic Composition and Forest Structure of Heath Forest at Dungun Area in Terengganu

Published Date
Date: 01 July 2014

Author 

• Nor Lailatul Wahidah Musa 
• , Liliwirianis Nawi
• , Nurun Nadhirah Md. Isa
• , Jumaat Adam

Abstract

A study to determine floristic composition and forest structure has been carried out at eight different localities in Rantau Abang area in Dungun, Terengganu. Each plot with an area of 10 m × 100 m was subdivided into 10 subplots of 10 m × 10 m. This subdivision is necessary in order to calculate the relative frequency (Rf) of the tree species in each plot. A total of 505 trees with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥5 cm were enumerated in 0.8 ha sampling area and thus give an estimated density of 631 trees/ha−1. The importance value (IV) showed that these forest stands can be classified into eight different associations, namely, Melaleuca cajuputi -Acacia auriculiformis association, Acacia auriculiformis-Melaleuca cajuputi association, Acacia auriculiformis-Syzygium grande association, Casuarina equisetifolia-Acacia auriculiformis association, Melaleuca cajuputi-Fagraea fragrans association, Melaleuca cajuputi-Syzygium grande association, Melaleuca cajuputi-Acacia auriculiformis association, and Melaleuca cajuputi-Pandanus sp. association. These associations were shown to have a low forest stature with a maximum height of 12 m, one-layered canopy, small tree size with maximum dbh of 26 cm, and lower values in species diversity indices, that is, Menhinick’s Richness Index (R) (0.56–2.20), Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index (H’) (0.27–1.04), and Evenness Species Index (E) (0.35–0.86).

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