Sains Malaysiana 42(10)(2013): 1409–1424

Tree Species Composition and Diversity in One Ha Forest, Ulu Muda Forest Reserve, Kedah

(Komposisi Spesies Pokok dan Kepelbagaian dalam Satu Ha Hutan, Hutan Simpan Ulu Muda, Kedah)

M.N. Mardan, K.R. Hakeem, I. Faridah-Hanum* & N.S. Saari

Faculty of Forestry, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

Received: 10 March 2013/Accepted: 12 May 2013

ABSTRACT

The present study was carried out to investigate the composition of species and species diversity at Compartment 28A in the Ulu Muda Forest Reserve (UMFR), located in north-west of Peninsular Malaysia. The area covered was one ha. Stems with diameter at breast height (dbh)as ≥ 1 cm were enumerated, identified and their height measured. The importance value index (IVI) was estimated to show which species have the highest value, since species density was also estimated. We recorded 722 species from 81 genera belonging to 42 families. The highest IVI was recorded for Macaranga hosei (42.40). It was also the highest in stand density (33 individuals / 4.43 %) in one ha. Species from Euphorbiaceae were represented at the highest level, with 11 genera (about 210 individuals). The total above-ground biomass (TAGB) in one ha using three different modifications from Kato et al. (190.3 t/ha), Kueh and Lim (2522.8 t/ha), and Lim (174.7 t/ha) were noted from family Dipterocarpaceae.

Keywords: Importance value index; species composition; species diversity; stand density; Ulu Muda Forest Reserve

ABSTRAK

Penyelidikan ini telah dijalankan untuk mengkaji komposisi spesies dan kepelbagaian spesies di Kompartmen 28A, di Hutan Simpan Ulu Muda (UMFR), terletak di barat laut Semenanjung Malaysia. Kawasan yang dikaji ialah satu ha. Batang berdiameter pada paras dada (dbh) pada ≥ 1 cm telah dikira, dicam dan ketinggiannya diukur. Indeks Nilai Kepentingan (IVI) telah dianggarkan untuk menunjukkan spesies yang mempunyai nilai tertinggi, kerana kepadatan spesies turut dianggarkan. Data merekodkan 722 spesies daripada 81 genus tergolong kepada 42 famili. IVI tertinggi telah direkodkan untukMacaranga hosei (42.40). Ia juga tertinggi bagi kepadatan dirian (33 individu/ 4.43%) dalam satu hektar. Spesies daripada Euphorbiaceae diwakili paling tinggi dengan 11 genus (210 individu). Jumlah biojisim atas tanah dengan menggunakan ubahsuaian yang berbeza kepada Kato et al. (190.3 t/ha), Kueh dan Lim (2522.8 t/ha) dan Lim (174.7 t/ha) telah didapati bagi Dipterocarpaceae.

Kata kunci: Hutan Simpan Ulu Muda; indeks nilai kepentingan; kepadatan dirian; kepelbagaian spesies; komposisi spesies

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*Corresponding author; email: i.faridahhanum@gmail.com