STAND STRUCTURE OF PASOH FOREST RESERVE, A LOWLAND RAIN FOREST IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

Abstract

We tabulate and analyse the stand structure of Pasoh Forest Reserve, Malaysia, based on an enumeration of all trees ≥ 1 cm dbh in a 50-ha plot. Mean densities were 6769 trees ha¹, ≥ 1 cm dbh, 530 trees ha¹, ≥ 10 cm dbh, 3.0 trees ha¹, ≥ 90 cm dbh. Mean basal area was 30.5 m² ha¹ for all trees, and 25.2 m² ha¹ for trees ≥ 10 cm dbh. Ground slope had a very weak negative correlation with density of small trees (<10 cm dbh) and a very weak positive correlation with density of large trees (>30 cm dbh). Compared with other primary forests in Malaysia, Pasoh was relatively dense in smaller trees and relatively sparse in very large trees. The forest within the 50-ha plot was generally homogeneous, with no evidence of major disturbance, and it is likely representative of mean conditions of lowland forest in south-central Malay Peninsula.