FLORISTIC, STRUCTURAL AND WOOD DENSITY CHARACTERS OF TREE COMMUNITY IN INTERIOR AND EDGE FOREST OF MOUNT PAPANDAYAN, WEST JAVA

• Main Author: FATMAWATI TIHURUA (NIM : 20615007), EKA
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/26867
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

<p align="justify"> Forest fragmentation is the main cause of patch formation. Gradient of abiotic and <br /> <br /> biotic characteristics from the exterior into the interior of forest fragment could lead <br /> <br /> to the formation distinct characteristics between forests located in the interior and <br /> <br /> edge of forest patch. Research on the characteristics of interior and edge forest is <br /> <br /> important to obtain understanding on the effect of fragmentation. The objectives of <br /> <br /> this study were to analyze the condition of interior and edge forest in Mount <br /> <br /> Papandayan based on floristic, structural and wood density of tree communities; to <br /> <br /> determine whether tree branch wood density can be used to estimate stem wood <br /> <br /> density of tree community in Mount Papandayan. <br /> <br /> Vegetation analysis was conducted by establishing three plots of 20 x 50 m2 each in <br /> <br /> interior and edge forest of Mount Papandayan. Each plot was divided into 10 x 10 m2 <br /> <br /> sub plots. All trees with diameter 10 cm or more at breast height were enumerated and <br /> <br /> measured. Branch samples with 1 - 2 cm diameter and 2 - 5 cm length were collected <br /> <br /> for measuring the branch wood density. Wood density measured from branch were <br /> <br /> compared to stem wood density obtained from World Agroforestry Database (ICRAF) <br /> <br /> and other references. <br /> <br /> This research found 29 species belonging to 26 genera and 20 families. Value of <br /> <br /> floristic, structural and wood density characters of interior forests were higher than <br /> <br /> those of the edge forests. The average of species richness of the interior forests was 13 <br /> <br /> species, which was greater than that the edge forest (10 species). The species diversity <br /> <br /> of the interior forests was higher than that of edge forests as indicated by the average <br /> <br /> of Shannon-Wiener diversity index of 2,2 ± 0,11 for the interior forests and 1,7 ± 0,39 <br /> <br /> for the edge forests. <br /> <br /> The averages of stem density were 716,67/ha and 463,33/ha for interior and edge <br /> <br /> forests, respectively. The interior forests had higher regeneration potential than edge <br /> <br /> forests as indicated by larger number of small diameter trees in the interior than in <br /> <br /> edge forests. The total basal area ranges were 17,78 - 52,23 m2/ha. The values of basal <br /> <br /> area in the interior forests (42,83 m2/ha) was higher than in edge forests (31,44 m2/ha). <br /> <br /> This study found that percentages of species having low, moderate and high stem <br /> <br /> wood density were 37,93%, 51,72% and 10,34%, respectively. The average of stem <br /> <br /> wood density in the interior forests (0,63 g/cm3) was higher than in the edge forests <br /> <br /> (0,55 g/cm3). The interior forests had higher carbon storage potential than the edge forest as indicated by greater biomass of the interior forests (338,08 Mg/ha) than that <br /> <br /> of the edge forests (255,66 Mg/ha). <br /> <br /> Based on the species diversity and wood density characteristics, this study suggests <br /> <br /> that Mount Papandayan has been exposed to moderate level of disturbance. Moderate <br /> <br /> disturbance, adopting intermediate disturbance hypothesis, was indicated by the high <br /> <br /> diversity index. Based on the variation of wood densities among tree species, <br /> <br /> moderate disturbance is indicated by the presence of species with low, moderate and <br /> <br /> high wood density. The regression analysis between branch and stem wood density <br /> <br /> showed a determination coefficient of 0,28 (p value < 0,001) and this indicated that <br /> <br /> branch wood density could potentially be used to stem wood density, especially for <br /> <br /> tree communities in Mount Papandayan. <p align="justify">