January 2020
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Bioscience Research
Perhentian Island is a famous ecotourism site in Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia. However, the increase in tourism activities such as chalets development and deforestation had contributed to habitat degradation in some areas on Perhentian Island. A study was conducted to determine the composition, diversity and aboveground biomass of the trees species at the coastal and inland forest of Perhentian Island, Terengganu. Three plots of 20 x 30 m were established on each inland and coastal forest of the island which altogether study plot was 0.36-hectare and all trees with the size of one cm diameter and above were recorded. Inland forest has higher individuals with 844 individuals representing 70 species from 48 genera and 30 families. A total of 367 individuals, representing 93 species from 71 genera and 30 families were recorded at the coastal forest. The Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index (H') was high in both forest plots with 3.20 (H 'max = 4.25) at the inland forest and 3.97 (H' max = 4.53) at the coastal forest. The Shannon Evenness Index (E') in the inland forest plots was 0.71 and 0.88 at coastal forest. The total above-ground biomass at the inland forest was higher than the coastal forest with 600.51 t/ha and 364.01 t/ha respectively. Seven tree species which considered endemic to East Coast Peninsular to Malaysia were found at Perhentian Island. Besides, a total of 23 species of 125 species recorded found were listed in the IUCN Red Data Book.