Tree Species Composition, Diversity and Above Ground Biomass of Two Forest Types at Redang Island, Peninsula Malaysia

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the tree species composition, diversity and above ground biomass at Redang Island, Terengganu. Two plots of 0.1 ha were established at the inland forest and coastal forest of the island. As the result, a total of 387 trees ≥ 5 diameters at breast height (DBH) were recorded. The coastal forest recorded 167 individuals representing 48 species from 37 genera and 26 families while the inland forest had 220 individuals representing 50 species from 43 genera and 25 families. Shorea glauca (Dipterocarpaceae) was the most important species at the coastal forest with a Species Importance Value Index ( SIV i ) of 10.5 % while Dipterocarpus costulatus (Dipterocarpaceae) was the most important species at the inland forest with 13.8 %. Dipterocarpaceae was the most important family in both forest plots with FIV i at 20.4 % in the coastal and 21.5 % in the inland forest. The Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index (H’) was considered high in both forest plots with 3.4 (H’ max = 3.9) at the coastal forest and 3.5 (H’ max = 4.0) at the inland forest. Sorenson’s Community Similarity Coefficient (CCs) showed that tree species communities between the two forest plots had moderate similarity with CC = 0.5. The Shannon Evenness Index ( J ’) in the two forest plots was 0.89. The total above ground biomass at the coastal forest was 491 t/ha and at the inland forest it was 408 t/ha. From all the species recorded in this study, 11 species were listed as threatened species by IUCN Red Data Book, of which four were listed as endangered and critically endangered, six were listed as lower risk and one species was listed as vulnerable.