2012 Volume 7 Issue 1 Pages 55-64
The submontane zone on Mount Salak is part of the tropical montane forest ecosystem on West Java. It is important to conserve the biodiversity of Mount Salak, especially the endemic and rare species found only on this mountain. The aims of this research were to determine the structure and composition of the tree species, including species diversity, for all stands in vegetation types classified at the alliance level in the submontane zone of Mount Salak, Bogor, West Java. Vegetation was surveyed in alliance 1, alliance 2, and alliance 3. We counted each tree, measured its basal area, and identified it to the species level. Tree data were used to determine an importance value index of every species from all stands. We also examined the species diversity of each stand using three indexes: the Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H′), Pilou's evenness index (e), and Menhinick's richness index (R). There were 72 tree species found in alliance 1. Schima wallichii was the species with the largest number of individuals, whereas Pinanga javana, Dysoxylum excelsum, and Antidesma tetrandrum were represented by only one individual. There were 71 tree species found in alliance 2. Pinus merkusii had the largest number of individuals, and Glochidion rubrum, Goniothalamus macrophyllus, Schefflera scandens, Gluta renghas, Antidesma tetrandrum, Dissochaeta gracilis, and Polygala venenosa were represented by one individual. There were 56 tree species in alliance 3. Pinus merkusii had the largest number of individuals, and Pithecellobium montanum, Calliandra tetragona, Polygala venenosa, Dipterocarpus hasseltii, and Symplocos spicata were represented by one individual. The H′ values in stands of alliance 1 (mixed forest) ranged from 2.666 to 3.391, stands of alliance 2 (bamboo forest) from 1.163 to 3.233, and stands of alliance 3 (forest plantation) from 1.683 to 3.498. The ranges of e values for alliances 1, 2, and 3 were 1.136-1.403, 0.551-1.331, and 0.770-1.434, respectively. The ranges of R values for alliances 1, 2, and 3 were 1.691-2.662, 0.621-2.829, and 1.051-2.588, respectively.
