Sains Malaysiana 41(1)(2012): 1–10

Floristic Variation of Tree Communities in Two Distinct Habitats within a Forest Park in Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia

(Variasi Flora bagi Komuniti Pokok di Dua Habitat Berbeza dalam Suatu Taman Rimba di Pahang, Semenanjung Malaysia)

M.S. Nizam*, S. Rohani & W.A. Wan Juliana

School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia , 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

Received: 18 January 2011 / Accepted: 1 March 2011

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted at Kenong Forest Park, Kuala Lipis, Pahang, to determine species composition and floristic variation of tree communities in two distinct habitats. Two plots of one hectare each were established adjacent to a limestone cave (BK) and in a lowland area (TR) of the forest park. A total of 2091 tree individuals with diameter at breast height (dbh) of 5.0 cm and above were enumerated in both plots where 1091 trees and 1000 trees occurred in the plots BK and TR, respectively. Floristic composition of tree communities at BK plot comprised of 45 families, 110 genera and 199 species, whilst the TR plot contained 232 tree species and 133 genera from 50 families. Altogether, combination of both plots produced floristic composition of 322 species, 161 genera and 54 families. Euphorbiaceae was the most speciose family for both plots, represented by 30 and 27 species in BK and TR plots, respectively. The most dominant species in the BK plot was Streblus ilicifolius (Moraceae) with Importance Value Index (IVi) of 19.18%, whilst in the TR plot, Intsia palembanica (Leguminosae) was the most dominant species with IVi of 14.58%. Total tree basal area for BK and TR plots was 26.91 m2/ha and 29.23 m2/ha, respectively, with Leguminosae dominated basal area in both plots. The Shannon-Weiner diversity Index (H’) of tree communities in both plots show high diversity values where the BK plot indicates H’ value of 4.42 (H’max= 5.26) while the TR plot shows H’ value of 4.79 (Hmax= 5.44), of which the values were different significantly (P<0.05). Community similarity between the two plots was moderate with Sorenson Similarity Index for species composition showed a value of 0.48 (48%). The ordination diagram constructed using Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) demonstrated floristic variation between the two study plots. The DCA obviously separated plots between sites and this indicated a gradient of species change from the BK to the TR sites.

Keywords: Detrended Correspondence Analysis; environmental gradient; Kenong Forest Park; limestone flora; species composition

ABSTRAK

Satu kajian telah dilakukan di Taman Rimba Kenong, Kuala Lipis, Pahang untuk menentukan komposisi spesies dan variasi flora bagi komuniti pokok di dua habitat yang berbeza dalam kawasan kajian. Dua plot berkeluasan 1 hektar setiap satu telah ditubuhkan di kawasan hutan berhampiran gua batu kapur (BK) dan satu lagi di kawasan tanah rendah (TR) dalam Taman Rimba ini. Sejumlah 2091 individu pokok dengan diameter pada paras dada (DBH) 5.0 cm dan ke atas telah dibanci yang mana sebanyak 1091 pokok dan 1000 pokok masing-masing hadir dalam plot BK dan TR. Komposisi taksonomi bagi komuniti pokok dalam plot BK merangkumi 45 famili, 110 genus dan 199 spesies, manakala plot TR pula mengandungi 232 spesies, 133 genus dan 50 famili. Secara keseluruhannya, gabungan daripada kedua-dua plot menghasilkan komposisi flora yang terdiri daripada 322 spesies, 161 genus dan 54 famili. Famili Euphorbiaceae merupakan famili yang mempunyai paling banyak spesies dalam kedua-dua plot, diwakili 30 dan 27 spesies masing-masing dalam plot BK dan TR. Spesies yang paling dominan dalam plot BK ialah Streblus ilicifolius (Moraceae) dengan nilai Indeks Kepentingan (IVi) 19.18% manakala bagi plot TR pula, Intsia palembanica (Leguminosae) adalah spesies dominan dengan nilai IVi 14.58%. Jumlah keluasan pangkal bagi plot BK dan plot TR masing-masing adalah 26.91 m2/ha dan 29.23 m2/ha, dengan Leguminosae mendominasi keluasan pangkal kedua-dua plot kajian. Indeks Kepelbagaian Shannon-Weiner bagi komuniti pokok dalam kedua-dua plot menunjukkan nilai kepelbagaian yang tinggi iaitu plot BK mempunyai nilai H’ 4.42 (H’maks= 5.26) manakala plot TR menunjukkan nilai 4.79 (H’maks= 5.44), yang mana nilai-nilai indeks ini adalah berbeza secara signifikan (P<0.05). Kesamaan komuniti antara kedua-dua plot adalah sederhana dengan Indeks Kesamaan Sorenson bagi komposisi spesies menunjukkan nilai 48%. Rajah ordinasi yang dihasilkan daripada Analisis Kesetaraan Nyahtren (DCA) menunjukkan variasi flora antara dua kawasan kajian. DCA jelas memisahkan plot antara kawasan kajian dan ini menunjukkan satu kecerunan perubahan spesies daripada kawasan BK kepada kawasan TR.

Kata kunci: Analisis Kesetaraan Nyahtren; flora batu kapur; kecerunan persekitaran; komposisi spesies; Taman Rimba Kenong;

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*Corresponding author; email: m.n.said@ukm.my