Mangrove flora and fauna of klang islands mangrove forest reserves, selangor, Malaysia

Abstract

The mangrove areas of the Klang Islands Forest Reserves, Selangor, have been declining in size and quality due to degazettement or removal from legal protection of the forest reserves and subsequent land reclamation and other development activities. Thus, surveys on mangrove flora and fauna were conducted to assess current status and identify impact of development. A list of mangrove flora and fauna is produced. Terrestrial vertebrates (mammals, birds and herpetofauna) surveyed revealed a total of 68 species (8 species of mammals, 57 species of birds and 3 species of reptiles). Species composition and total standing above-ground biomass of mangrove trees in ten 10 x 10 m plots, totalling 0.4 ha area, were estimated at Pulau Indah and Pulau Che Mat Zin. Both islands are within the Klang Islands Mangrove Forest Reserves (MFR), which have been declining in forest cover. The total number of individual trees recorded in all 10 plots was 222 from 10 species of three families i.e. Rhizophoraceae, Avicenniaceae and Meliaceae. Rhizophora apiculata was the most dominant tree species with an Important Value Index (IVI) of 28.2, contributed mainly from the density (77 trees). The total basal area of the trees was of 23.96 m 2/ha with R. apiculata making up most of the total value of 6.96 m2/ha. The estimated total aboveground biomass of mangrove trees in this study was 2300.1 kg/0.1 ha with the highest contribution from R. apiculata and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza. The estimated biomass was very low compared to other pristine mangrove forest at Matang or Langkawi. The causal factors identified included clear-felling activity, coastal erosion caused by wave actions from ships, oil pollution, reclamation, and other development activities.