Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia
Abstract
Identifying the appropriate soil properties and plants association are important to the success of sustainable forest management projects. A study on the relationship between soil properties and Nepenthes ampullaria in primary lowland tropical forest was conducted in Imbak Canyon Conservation Area (ICCA), Sabah, Malaysia. Here we assessed the soils properties in relation to the density of N. ampullaria and its association with other plants. A total of 30 plots of 10 x 10 m were established and six soil samples per plot were analyzed for their pH value, soil moisture, soil organic matter and trace element. A survey on other plants associated with N. ampullaria was conducted within the sample plots. All plants associated with the N. ampullaria found in the mixed dipterocarp forest, primary forest where the soils was acidic and poor in nutrient content. Families of plant found associated with N. ampullaria were higher in Annonaceae, Dipterocarpacea, Myrtaceae, Phyllanthaceae, Meliaceae and followed by other family in smaller quantity. These plants show well adaptation to the poor soils of their environment. We found the lowland primary rainforest in Imbak Canyon habitats provide a unique natural micro-habitat within the forests and the opportunity to better identify the role of soil ecosystem function in tropical soils
