Species diversity of pteridophytes in oil palm plantation at Segamat, Johor

Species composition, diversity and richness of pteridophytes were observed in oil palm plantation at Segamat, Johor. The random sampling method was carried out with respect to age of three different oil palm plantation which is nineteen (19), ten (10), and nine (9) years old with ten 10m2 plots were established for each oil palm plantation. About 3762 numbers of pteridophytes from three different age of oil palm plantation consisting of 32 species belonging to 13 families from 20 genera were identified and recorded throughout this study. A total of 8 species were strictly terrestrial and 24 were strictly epiphytic pteridophytes. Throughout this research, 3 species recorded as Least Concern (LC) (Dicranopteris linearis, Lycopodiella cernua and Acrostichum sp.). The species richness in Kg. Sri Rahmat oil palm plantation was found higher than Kg. Logah and Felda Medoi oil palm plantation with 2.15, 2.10 and 2.09 respectively. The diversity index represented by Shannon Index, H', is 2.51 whereas the computed evenness index is 0.72 for the overall pteridophytes species. From the total recorded species of pteridophytes, the highest diversity is observed at the Kg. Sri Rahmat (H'=2.07) followed by Kg. Logah (H’-1.81) and Felda Medoi (H’=1.79). The species evenness for the overall study area recorded is 0.72 indicating the species distribution was relatively high within the plantations. At Kg. Sri Rahmat, the species evenness is nearly even (EH =0.73) whereas at Kg. Logah and Felda Medoi, the species evenness was less significant different (EH=0.66 and EH=0.65). Polypodiaceae and Davalliaceae families contributed to the highest richness of species and were commonly found within the study area. The checklist of pteridophytes species in three oil palm plantations were constructed to show the overall list of species distribution. Therefore, the plantation managements should conserve these pteridophytes species to enhance the plantations biodiversity and ecosystem while maintains higher and stable oil palm productivity throughout its life cycle.