Determination of riparian vegetation species abundance along the river site in Lata Keding, Jeli using transect method

Lata Keding is one of rivers that has function to protect the riparian plant habitats, but it may be endangered by anthropogenic activities. The objectives of this study is to identify the species and estimate species abundance together with the density of riparian vegetation along the river at Lata Keding, Jeli, Kelantan and to study the composition of soil parameter in Lata Keding, Jeli. Shannon — Wiener Diversity index was used to calculate the species abundance and evenness. The method used in this study is line transect method. The line was set up for about 1 km long and each species of plants that exist through 3 m up to 5 m from the river bank was recorded. 10 parts were divided for about 100 m in distance. A total of individuals recorded in the study area is 2389 in 1 km from 36 families, 49 species and 46 genera with total value Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H') of 2.89 and the Shannon Evenness Index of 0.72 for the entire study area. A number of important floral species are present in the riverbanks despite the low diversity index, where one species under critically endangered, two species were recorded under vulnerable status and 4 species under near threatened status.