Species Composition and Diversity of Shrubs at Different Altitudes of R.E.A.C.H Biodiversity Centre, Cameron Highlands

Species composition and diversity of shrubs along an altitudinal gradient of R.E.A.C.H Biodiversity Centre were studied using nested quadrat method. This research was carried out at three different sampling plots based on the lower, middle and upper altitude respectively. An annotated checklist for the total 341 collections comprising 35 species of shrubs belonging to 26 genera in 17 families is provided. The families recorded in this area consist of Araliaceae, Melastomataceae, Rubiaceae, and Theaceae. It was found that Lasianthus pendulus was shrubs species that endemic to Cameron Highlands. In a 0.01 hectares for each plotted area, the tabulated data obtained were calculated for diversity index, richness index, abundance parameters (density and frequency) and also important value index (IVI). Results showed Shannon’s Diversity Index for shrubs species of the study area were moderately diverse. Based on three different altitudes which differentiate with 100 m altitude, species diversity were maximum at the lower altitude, medium at middle altitude and lowest at the higher altitude. Besides, the species evenness for shrubs species also revealed moderate distribution variation. Among those families and genera, the highest similarity were represented between the middle and upper elevation meanwhile for the species, it was recorded from lower to middle elevation. Aralia montana was the most represented among shrubs whilst Chassalia chartacea was highly occurred for overall subplots area. It also indicated that this study area was high in richness index. It was identified that Chassalia chartacea, Lasianthus pendulus, Lasianthus angustifolius, Lasianthus perakensis and Oxyspora bullata were identified as an important species at the study area.