Tree Species Composition And Diversity In Relation To Altitude Of Closed Canopy Subtropical Evergreen Moist Forest In Bidoup Nui Ba National Park Viet Nam

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL

DEVELOPMENT

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF FORESTRY

--------------------

DUONG VAN HUY

TREE SPECIES COMPOSITION AND DIVERSITY IN

RELATION TO ALTITUDE OF CLOSED-CANOPY

SUBTROPICAL EVERGREEN MOIST FOREST IN BIDOUP -

NUI BA NATIONAL PARK, VIET NAM

MASTER THESIS IN FOREST SCIENCE

2018

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL

DEVELOPMENT

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF FORESTRY

--------------------

DUONG VAN HUY

TREE SPECIES COMPOSITION AND DIVERSITY IN

RELATION TO ALTITUDE OF CLOSED-CANOPY

SUBTROPICAL EVERGREEN MOIST FOREST IN BIDOUP -

NUI BA NATIONAL PARK, VIET NAM

Major: Forest Science

Code: 8620201

MASTER THESIS IN FOREST SCIENCE

ACADEMIC ADVISOR: ASSOC. PROF. DR. BUI THE DOI

SIGNATURE:

Hanoi, 2018

i

DECLARATION

I hereby confirm that this is my own research. The data and results stated

in the thesis are truthful and has not published in any one of the other studies.

Duong Van Huy

ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I started to study Tropical Forestry program in Vietnam National

University of Forestry (VNUF) in 2016. It was a difficult time for me. Because

my knowledge was limited. It was very hard for me to complete my study without

the support of many people. From inner of myself, I want to thank you all.

First of all, I would like send special thank to my advisor Associate. Prof.

Dr. Bui The Doi (Vietnam National University of Forestry). I want to thank for

everything he did for me, for teaching, useful advice, support and

encouragement. He is very nice, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. I want to

learning many things from him.

Sincerely thank to the Dr. Bui Manh Hung , VNUF for his training with

me about some softwares, which I used in my study.

Thank to the Board of Directors in Bidoup - Nui Ba National Park for

their assistance and help to create the most favorable conditions in the process of

survey and data collection at the park.

Thank you to Mr. Le Van Son, Mr. Truong Quang Cuong, Mr. Nguyen

Ich Le Phuoc Thanh and Mr. Bui Trung Tuyen – officers of Bidoup - Nui Ba

National Park. I want to thank for helping of them in field survey and data

collection.

I would like to send my thanks to my friends and my family for

encouraging, sharing, helping and creating favorable conditions both physically,

and mentally.

Thank you all !

Duong Van Huy

Hanoi, 2018

iii

ABSTRACT

Bidoup - Nui Ba National Park is one of the highest biodiversity area in

Vietnam. With the main area of cover by closed-canopy subtropical evergreen

moist forest, this type of forest has many unique values. The study was

conducted at 3 altitudes: 1400-1600m; 1600-1800m; 1800m and above. The

research focused on the diversity of plant and forest structure at these 3 altitudes.

By applying updated and current methods in forest inventory and mensuration,

the research has obtained main results as follows:

The total of species in all levels is 127 species, mainly belonging to

families: Fabaceae, Lauraceae, Theaceae, and Euphorbiaceae. The diversity of

the plant decreases when the altitude increases. This phenomenon was explained

by the competition of trees in populations about light, nutrient, living space,...

that are harsher when going higher altitude. The Simpson, and Shannon-Winer

indexes were determined, with values were 0.02 and 4.05 for forest at the

altitude of 1400-1600m; 0.03 and 3.86 for altitude of 1600-1800m; and 0.03 and

3.50 at the altitude of > 1800 m.

Only Distance equation explains well the tree number distribution by

diameter, while there is not any equation for the tree number distribution by the

tree height. The Cubic equation is the best to describe the relation between

diameter and height of trees in forest. However, this equation is very

complicated, Logarithmic equation has a smaller R but it can explain quite good

this relation. The relation between D and H for each altitude was LnH= 1.393 +

0.427* LnDbh (1400-1600 m); LnH = 1.126 + 0.523* LnDbh (1600-1800 m)

and LnH = 0.992 + 0.517* LnDbh (> 1800 m), respectively.

The regeneration status of study site is very diverse with the appearance

of various species from families which are mainly participated in species

composition of canopy layer, such as Fabaceae, Lauraceae, Theaceae,etc.

Regeneration trees with best quality (A) consists 30% at all altitudes.

Although the research obtained some results to meet the research

objectives and might be used for coming research in Bidoup - Nui Ba National

Park in the future. However, it still has some shortcomings that need to be

improved. Author is looking forward to receiving comments from readers,

scientists and experts for the better one.

iv

TABLE OF CONTENT

DECLARATION ................................................................................................... i

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..................................................................................ii

ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................... iii

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .............................................................................. vi

LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................. vii

LIST OF FIGURES ..............................................................................................ix

CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 1

CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW .............................................................. 3

2.1. Some related concepts .................................................................................... 3

2.1.1. Vegetation.................................................................................................... 3

2.1.2. Forest structure ........................................................................................... 4

2.2. Some related researches ................................................................................. 4

2.2.1. In the world ................................................................................................. 4

2.2.2. In Viet Nam.................................................................................................. 9

2.2.3. Research on vegetation at Bidoup - Nui Ba National Park...................... 15

CHAPTER 3. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY .............. 17

3.1. Goal .............................................................................................................. 17

3.2. Specific objectives ........................................................................................ 17

3.3. Methodology ................................................................................................ 17

3.3.1. Study site ................................................................................................... 17

3.3.2. Data collection methods............................................................................ 18

3.3.3. Data analyses............................................................................................ 20

CHAPTER 4. NATURAL CONDITIONS OF STUDY AREA ........................ 25

4.1. Natural conditions ........................................................................................ 25

4.1.1. Geographical location .............................................................................. 25

4.1.2. Topography, geomorphology .................................................................... 26

4.1.3. Geology and Soil characteristics.............................................................. 27

4.1.4. Climate ...................................................................................................... 28

v

4.1.5. Hydrological.............................................................................................. 29

4.2. Plant resources .............................................................................................. 29

4.2.1. Diversity of plants..................................................................................... 29

4.2.2. Endangered and rare plant species in Bidoup - Nui Ba NP..................... 29

CHAPTER 5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION .................................................. 32

5.1. Structural characteristics of woody plant communities at different altitudes

............................................................................................................................. 32

5.1.1. Tree species composition of forest vegetation at different altitudes......... 32

5.1.2. Forest structure ......................................................................................... 34

5.1.3. Relationship between diameter and height (Dbh-H equation)................. 53

5.2. Plant diversity of forest types at different altitude ....................................... 63

5.3. Natural regeneration characteristics ............................................................. 64

5.3.1. Quality of regenerated trees in study site ................................................. 65

5.3.2. The growth characteristics of regenerated trees...................................... 66

5.3.3. Plant diversity of regeneration tree .......................................................... 68

CHAPER 6. CONCLUSION- RECOMMEDATION ........................................ 69

6.1. Conclusion .................................................................................................... 69

6.1.1. Structural characteristics of woody plant communities at different

altitude................................................................................................................. 69

6.1.2. Plant diversity of forest types at different altitude.................................... 70

6.1.3. Natural regeneration characteristics........................................................ 70

6.2. Recommendation .......................................................................................... 71

6.3. Limitation ..................................................................................................... 71

REFRENCES ........................................................................................................ 1

APPENDICES ....................................................................................................... 1

vi

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

NP National Park

FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Dbh Diameter breast height

MARD Ministry of Argciulture and Rural Devlopment

FIPI Forest Inventory and Planning Institute

UNESCO United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization

N/D Distribution of trees by diameter

N/H Distribution of trees by height

IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

GPS Global positioning system

vii

LIST OF TABLES

Table 4. 1. Botanical composition in Bidoup - Nui Ba NP in Viet Nam Red

Book and IUCN Red List .................................................................................... 30

Table 5. 1. Tree species composition in 1400-1600m altitude .......................... 32

Table 5. 2. Tree species composition in 1600-1800m altitude ........................... 33

Table 5. 3. Tree species composition in 1800m and above ................................ 33

Table 5. 4. Diameter growth of forest at different altitudes ................................ 35

Table 5. 5. Height growth of forest at different altitudes .................................... 35

Table 5. 6. N/D distribution at altitude of 1400-1600m ..................................... 40

Table 5. 7. N/D distribution at altitude of 1600m-1800m .................................. 42

Table 5. 8. N/D distribution at altitude of 1800m and above ............................. 44

Table 5. 9. N/H distribution at altitude of 1400-1600m ..................................... 48

Table 5. 10. N/H distribution at altitude of 1600m-1800m ................................ 50

Table 5. 11. N/H distribution at altitude of 1800m and above .......................... 51

Table 5. 12. Model Summary and Parameter Estimates for D-H relation for the

forest at altitude of 1400-1600m......................................................................... 54

Table 5. 13. Model Summary and Parameter Estimates for D-H relation for the

forest at altitude of 1600-1800m......................................................................... 55

Table 5. 14. Model Summary and Parameter Estimates for D-H relation for the

forest at altitude of >1800m................................................................................ 56

Table 5.15. Descriptive Statistics of variables in 1400-1600m .......................... 58

Table 5. 16. Model Summary( 1400-1600m) ..................................................... 58

Table 5. 17. Coefficients (1400-1600m) ............................................................. 58

Table 5. 18. Descriptive Statistics of variables in 1600-1800m ......................... 59

Table 5. 19. Model Summary (1600-1800m) ..................................................... 60

Table 5.20. Coefficients (1600-1800m) .............................................................. 60

Table 5. 21. Descriptive Statistics of variables in 1800m and above ................. 61

Table 5. 22. Model Summary (1800m and above) ............................................. 61

Table 5. 23. Coefficients (1800m and above) ..................................................... 62

viii

Table 5. 24. Plant diversity at different altitudes ................................................ 63

Table 5.25. Natural regeneration trees in 3 altitudes .......................................... 64

Table 5. 26. Quality of regenerated trees surveyed in sample plots ................... 65

Table 5. 27. The growth of expected trees in regeneration layer ........................ 66

Table 5. 28. Diversity of regeneration trees ........................................................ 68

ix

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 3. 1. Map of study site ............................................................................. 17

Figure 3. 2. Setting survey plots in the research site .......................................... 19

Figure 3. 3. Measure the diameter and identify species ...................................... 20

Figure 5. 1. Tree position at the altitude of 1400-1600m ................................... 36

Figure 5. 2. Tree position at altitude of 1600-1800m ......................................... 37

Figure 5. 3. Tree position at the altitude of 1800m and above ........................... 38

Figure 5. 4. Distribution by diameter in altitude 1400-1600m ........................... 39

Figure 5. 5. Distribution by diameter in altitude 1600-1800m ........................... 39

Figure 5. 6. Distribution by diameter in altitude in 1800m and above ............... 40

Figure 5.7 a. Meyer distribution for N/D relation at altitude of 1400-1600m .... 41

Figure 5.7 b. Weibull distribution for N/D relation at altitude of 1400-1600m . 41

Figure 5.7 c. Distance distribution for N/D relation at altitude of 1400-1600m 41

Figure 5.8 a. Meyer distribution for N/D relationship at altitude of 1600-1800m

............................................................................................................................. 43

Figure 5.8 b. Weibull distribution for N/D relationship at altitude of 1600-

1800m.................................................................................................................. 43

Figure 5.8 c. Distance distribution for N/D relationship at altitude of 1600-

1800m.................................................................................................................. 43

Figure 5.9 a. Meyer distribution for N/D relationship at altitude of 1800m and

above ................................................................................................................... 45

Figure 5.9 b. distribution for N/D relationship at altitude of 1800m and above 45

Figure 5.9 c. Distance distribution for N/D relationship at altitude of 1800m and

above ................................................................................................................... 45

Figure 5.10. N/H distribution at the altitude of 1400-1600m ............................. 46

Figure 5. 11. N/H distribution at the altitude of 1600-1800m ............................ 47

Figure 5. 12. N/H distribution at the altitude of 1800m and above .................... 47

Figure 5.13a. Meyer distribution for N/H relationship at altitude of 1400-1600m

............................................................................................................................. 49