A Study on species composition and stand structure of mangrove forest at eastern of Pulau Besar in Merang, Terengganu

Abstract

A study was carried out to determine species composition and stand structure on mangrove forest at Eastern of Pulau Besar in Merang, Terengganu. By using forest inventory method, 2 transect and 80 plots were established in Eastern of Pulau Besar. There are 26 species composition found which class into mangrove and nonmangrove species. There are 5 mangrove species and 21 non-mangrove species found at Eastern of Pulau Besar. Mangrove species found at Eastern of Pulau Besar contains 4 species of exclusive mangrove and 1 non-exclusive mangrove. The mangroves species found belong to 4 families which are A vicenniaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Rhizophoraceae and Malvaceae. The stand structure in Eastern of Pulau Besar mainly dominated by regeneration stand and there are no old stand found. The density of Bruguiera cylindrica seedlings was the highest, while the highest dominance was Acacia auriculiformis tree and the species that has highest frequency and importance value was Melaleuca leucadendron tree.