Study of species composition and stand structure of mangrove forest at Pulau Kecil and western of Pulau Besar in Merang, Terengganu

Abstract

A study was carried out to determine species composition and stand structure of mangrove forest at Pulau Kecil and Western of Pulau Besar in Merang, Terengganu. 5 transects which include 42 plots were established in these two sites by using forest inventory method. There are 3 species of exclusive mangrove that found in Pulau Kecil belonging to one Family Rhizophoraceae. Meanwhile, there are 5 exclusive mangrove species that found in Western of Pulau Besar belonging to 3 families: A vicenniaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Rhizophoraceae. There are one species of nonexclusive mangrove was founded at both islands belonging to one Family Malvaceae. Overall, community structure analysis that was carried out at Pulau Kecil showed that importance value of Melaleuca leucadendron was the highest with 97.71. For mangrove, Rhizophora apiculata was the dominant species with importance value of 21.03. Meanwhile, community structure analysis at Western of Pulau Besar indicates that this island dominated by Melaleuca leucadendron with importance value of 87.89. For mangrove, Rhizophora apiculata was the diverse species with importance value of 16.94. Study areas were dominated by small trees with the DBH between 5.0 cm and 14.9 cm.