Stand profile topography of a primary hill dipterocarp forest in Peninsular Malaysia

A stratified systematic sampling along the gradient directed transect was conducted in a primary hill dipterocarp forest in ulu muda forest reserve,kedah,peninsular malaysia to study the variations of forest profiles in relation to topography. the structural variations are presented in 14 profile diagrams. forest profiles showed 2-3 tree-canopy layers,depicting the mosaic of structural phases. the most distinguishing structural variation among the profiles was the higher canopy on gently sloping ridgetops with comparatively dense middle storey and scattered emergent trees. another structural variation was the low stature of the forest on hillsides,with main canopy heights averaging to 22.8 m. ridgetop profiles were generally vertically continuous,whereas on hillsides there were vertical discontinuities,mainly due to tree fall gaps. structural pattern described in other studies elsewhere did not match the profiles of the study site,possibly due to the fact that previously published forest profiles were on level ground. as it appeared in the profiles of the study site,the presence of rare species is a contribution to the maintenance of forest structure. thus the conservation of rare species should be a concern for the management. © forest research institute malaysia.