PertanikaJ. Trop. Agric. Sci. 24(1): 1 - 5 (2001) ISSN: 1511-3701© Universiti Puira Malaysia Press

Weedy Plants of Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve, Selangor

M. ASYRAF and M. MASHHORSchool of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Penangf Malaysia

Keywords: Aquatic, terrestrial, weeds, Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve

ABSTRAK

Hutan Simpan Ayer Hitam berkemungkinan menghadapi masalah ancaman spesies rumpai dart kawasan yangmembangun di sekitarnya. Jumlah takson rumpai yangdikenalpasti dari hutan ini adalah 33 spesies, 29 genusdan 13 famili, Daripada jumlah ini hanya dua merupakan spesies rumpai akuatik iaitu Ceratopteristhalictroides (Parkeriaceae) dan Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae). Spesies rumpai terestrial yang palingdominan di hutan ini puUx adalah Clidemia hirta (Melastomataceae) dan Chromolaena odorata (Compositae).Setnua spesies rumput dan sedge direkodkan di kawasan kajian terganggu sahaja. Mi7nosa pigra hanya terdapatdi kawasan yang sangat terganggu sahaja di sempadan hutan.

ABSTRACT

The Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve has possibly been under constant threat from invasive species especially the weedsfrom surrounding development sites. The total number of weed taxa identified from this forest were 33 species, 29genera and 13 families. Of these taxa, only two species aquatic weeds vizs., Ceratopteris thalictroides(Parkeriaceae) and Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae). The most dominant terrestrial weedy species in thisforest were Clidemia hirta (Melastomataceae) and Chromalaena odorata (Compositae). All grasses and sedgesspesies were recorded at the disturbed sampling sites only. Mimosa pigra was only found at the most disturbed sitebordering the forest.

INTRODUCTIONMany aquatic plant species which have medici-nal and ornamental values arc on the brink ofextinction due to development and disturbancesof their natural habitats. For example, the ever-lasting threat of anthropogenic disturbances havegradually decreased the Cryptocoryne populations(Kiew 1990). In addition, the invasion of aquaticweed population such as Hydrilla verticillata hasdisplaced the original populations of these en-demic species.

The concept of weeds has emerged sincethe beginning of human civilization when manlearn to grow their very own food (Mercado1979). There are amny definitions of weeds butthe definition used herein is a plant out ofplace, unwanted and posses no importance forhuman (Bailey 1941, Anon 1956). An exampleis Eichhomia crassipes, the water hyacinth whichhas been the centre of attention of many aquaticweed scientists due to its ability to colonize lakesand ponds in many areas of the world. Theintrusion of this species into any pristine ordisturbed areas has proved to create problems.

Another aquatic weed which is considered anuisance is Hydrilla verticillata. This submergedweed species has been found to be very prob-lematic not only in Malaysia but also in manytropical countries (Cheam 1974, Anwar 1978,Gopal 1990,Jacobsen 1990, Ma&shorand Masnadi1994).

METHODOLOGYA field survey was conducted from 4th to 5lh May2000 at the Ayer Hitam Forest, which covers1248 ha of logged-over mixed dipretocarp forestin Puchong, Selangor. This relatively small andgreen area has been the centre of forestry re-search and development for Universiti PutraMalaysia since 1996 (Faridah Hanum 1999). Atotal of six sampling sites which were dividedinto undisturbed and disturbed areas were iden-tified. The undisturbed areas were Sungai Rasau,Sungai Bohol and a pool in Sungai Rasau, Thedisturbed areas were the 3km logging trail, base-camp and part of Sungai Rasau that flows througha nearby construction site (Figure 1).

M. ASYRAF and M. MASHHOR

Legend

^ Disturbed sites

% Undisturbed sites

Fig. 1. Sampling sites at Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve, Selangor

All aquatic and terrestrial weeds locatedwithin the sampling sites were recorded andcollected as herbarium specimens. All specimenswere deposited at the Herbarium, School ofBiological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia,Penang. The abundance of weeds were deter-mined by the Braun-Blanquct method (1932).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONA total of 13 families, 29 genera and 33 speciesof plants were recorded in the survey (Table 1).From the survey conducted only two aquaticweeds, Ceratopteris thalictroides and Hydrillaverticillata were found to be abundantly distrib-uted along the disturbed area of Sg. Rasau. The

dominant terrestrial weedy species recorded wereClidemia hirta and Chromolaena odarata. These twospecies were found to be relatively abundant atall disturbed sampling sites. Several populationsof the noxious weedy species Mimosa pigra flour-ish at the construction site only (Table 1) whilegrasses and sedges species were recorded fromall the disturbed sites surveyed (Table 1).

The low number of aquatic weedy speciesrecorded in the area was probably due to thephysical conditions of the forest. Sg. Rasau andSg. Bohol are fast flowing rivers, thus the habi-tats are not suitable for the colonization of manyaquatic plants especially a floating one whichneeds a stagnant condition. Strong current can

PERTANIKAJ. TROP. AGR1C. SCI. VOL. 24 NO. 1, 2001

TABLE 1Abundance of weeds taxa in Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve, Selangor

Vegetation surveyed using Braun-Blanquet (1932) cover scale: (1) vegetation cover < 5%, (2) 5% < vegetation cover < 25%, (3) 25% < vegetation cover <50%, (4) 50% < vegetation cover < 75%, (5) 75% < vegetation cover < 100%.

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Undisturbed area Disturbed area

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AquaticParkeriaceaeHydrocharitaceaeBroadleafAcanthaceaeAcanthaceaeCompositaeCompositaeCompositaeDilleniaceaeEuphorbiaceaeEuphorbiaceaeLegumtnosaeI^eguminosaeLegumtnosaeI^eguminosaeMelastomataceaeMelastomataceaeOxalidaceaeRubiaceaeRubiaceaeScrophulariaceaeGrassesGramineaeGramineaeGramineaeGramineaeGramineaeGramineaeGramineaeGramineaeGramineaeSedgesCyperaceae

CyperaceaeCyperaceaeCyperaceae

Oiatoblrris thalictroidts (L.) Brongn.Hydntla veriiciUata (L.f.) Roylc

Asystasia nemonim NeesAsystasia gangetica (L.) T. AndersonChromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King 8c H. RobMikania micrantha Kunth.Agerantum conyzoides L.Tetracern scandens (L.) Merr.Phyllanthus amanis Schumach. 8c Thonn.Croton hirtus L* Her.Desrnodium fieterophyllum (Willd.) DCMimosa pudica L.Mimosa diplotricha C.Wright ex SauvalleMimosa pigra L.Clidemia hirta (L.) D. DonMelastoma malabathricum L.Oxalis cornicxdata L.Hedyotis corymbosa (L.) LamBorreria laAncaulis (Miq.) Rtdl.Lindtrnia Crustacea (L.) F.Muell.

Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.Eragrostis amabilis (L) Wight & Arn. ^x Hook &: Altl.Pennisetum polystachion (L.) Schult.Axono^ui compressus (Sw.) P. BeauvPanicum repens L.Paspalum conjugatum Berg.Chrysopogon aciculatus (Retz.) Trin.Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. BeauvCentotheca lappacea (L.) Desv.

Kyllinga nemoralis (J.R. Forst.& G. Forst)Dandy irx Hutch.& DalzielKyllinga polyphyUa Wrilld. ex KunthScleria sumatrensis Retz.Cyperus distans L. /

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easily uproot aquatic plants. However, the highpopulation of Ceratopteris thalictroides recorded inSg. Rasau was found in the slow moving part ofthe river near the bathing spot of the camp site.The high amount of light received in this loca-tion and possible adaptation to the new envi-ronment may contribute to its flourishing popu-lation. Any aquatic landscapes made by humansuch as dam, channel, drains and pond arelikely to have a greater tendency to be infestedby aquatic plants (Abdullah 1999). However,the conditions of water bodies at the surveyedsites may be insufficient for other aquatic weedspecies to flourish.

There were also larger populations of C.thaUctroides and //. verticillata recorded at theconstruction site, immediately adjacent to theforest. This was probably due to the highernutrient input from the workers1 quarters. Theimpact of human activities to the water quality,the kind and amount of wastes and pollutantsdumped into the water will create pollution andeutrophication that in turn can change the life-form in an aquatic ecosystem. Nutrients such asnitrogen, phosphorus and micron u tri en ts arethe important elements in hydrosoil for theaquatic plants growth (Steward 1984, Soerjani

1986, Sutton and Portier 1995). Too high nutri-ent concentrations however, can trigger unnec-essary floral bloom.

Weedy species coverage in disturbed areaswas relatively higher when compared to lessdisturbed sites (Fig. 2). The vast open areas inthe construction site were found to be domi-nated by grasses and sedges. This maybe due tothe opening of the area. The abundance ofClidemia hirta and Chrvmolaena odorata was due toregular disturbances of the sites surveyed. Thesespecies are good indicators for a disturbed habi-tat especially in newly opened areas. In additionto C. hiria, Melastoma malabathricum is also foundin abundance in disturbed areas. Other broad-leaved weeds (Table 1) are amongst the pioneerplant species which can subsequently colonizethe whole area.

The surrounding areas adjacent to AyerHitam Forest are currently under extensive hous-ing development projects. The noxious weed,Mimosa pigra was only found at the constructionsite bordering the forest. The seeds of this spe-cies are believed to be brought by heavy ma-chines brought from areas which have alreadybeen infested by Af. pigra.

120

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(3 km)Base-camp

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• Coverage

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Fig. 2. Percentage cover of sampling sites by weeds

PERTANIKAJ. TROP. AGRIC. SCI. VOL. 24 NO. 1, 2001

WEEDY PLANTS OF AYER HITAM FOREST RESERVE, SELANGOR

CONCLUSIONThe intrusion of weedy species especially thenoxious ones should be considered as a seriousthreat to the Ayer Hitam Forest ecosystem. Theinvasion of noxious weeds such as Mimosa pigrafrom the adjacent area deserves close monitor-ing as it can displace original populations ofother species in the undisturbed areas of theforest.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors wish to thank the organizer ofScientific Expedition of Ayer Hitam Forest forthe invitation to conduct this study; Dean, Schoolof Biological Sciences, USM for providing thetransportation; and Mr. Ganesh and Mr.Kalimuthu for the assistance during the field-work.

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