Distribution of Litsea complex (lauraceae) and their association with soil properties in different forest types of Peninsular Malaysia

Abstract

Abstract.A study was conducted at 13 locations of different forest types in Peninsular Malaysia to examine the association between Litsea complex (Lauraceae) and its soil properties. A total of 37 species and 786 individuals were recorded. Soil samples in each study plot were taken and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was employed to determine relationships between species of Litsea complex and the edaphic features. This study showed that Machinchang Forest Reserve, Kedah was strongly associated with sand texture while Taman Negara, Pahang was influenced by silt. In other study sites, Bukit Fraser, Pahang was highly influenced by magnesium (Mg); Taman Negara, Pahang was influenced by nitrate nitrogen (NO 3 -N); and Gunung Belumut, Johor was influenced by elements of sodium (Na + ) and ammonium nitrogen (NH 4 -N). The species distribution shows that Litsea artocarpifolia, Litsea maingayi and Neolitsea villosa were closely related to silt, while Litsea tomentosa and Litseae rectinervia were associated with clay, and Litsea grandis was related to sand. For tenden cyon soil chemical characteristic, Litsea artocarpifolia, Litsea maingayi and Neolitsea villosa were strongly related to nitrate nitrogen (NO 3 -N) while Litsea tomentosa and Litsea erectinervia were related to potassium (K + ). On the other hand, Litsea myristicaefolia was influenced by cation exchange capacity (CEC) and Litsea johorensis was influenced by sodium (Na + ). This study indicates that the species distribution of Litsea complex at the different forest types was associated with various soil properties.

Diversity, composition and distribution of lichens along elevational gradients in the tropical mountain forest of Gunung Nuang, Selangor, Malaysia

“…Geographically, tropical forests are located in equatorial regions (Khamis & Nizam 2013). This gives the forests a unique structure which makes them suitable habitats for thousands of endemic bryophyte and lichen species (Sevgi et al 2019).…”