Group members:
Nor Farhana Mohd Abd Kadzar D 20091034668
Nor Aisyah Mat Nor D 20091034649
Nur Amera Abd Latif D 20091034692
Norhaslinda Talib D 20091034618
1. 1 .0 Site Location
For the selection of our site location, we preferred to use line transect method instead of using quadrat method. Through applying the line transect sampling, certainly more ground can be covered in a given time than for quadrat sampling, for which all plants within quadrats must be counted if plant abundance is to be estimated without bias. Broader area of ground covered gave us the opportunity to study more species of flora and fauna lived within the area. Usually, plants have a scattered distribution therefore; the ability to cover a large area of ground with modest resources is an important advantage.
By using the line transect sampling; we extended 10 m rope across from seaside area inward to the land. We marked each 2 m by tied up the rope to a stick picketed in the soil. We made an area of 5 m to the right and 5 m to the left side from the line transect.
2.0 Observation on The Site Location |
a) A living thing that is growing:
· Pandanus tectorius
· Fern sp.
· Magnifera sp.
· Ficus sp.
· Alophyllum inophyllum (Bintangor laut)
· Insects and birds
· Other flora and fauna species
b) Something that was once alive:
· Ficus sp.
c) Something that has undergone change:
· Pandanus tectorius and Ficus sp. (adapting to stress and harsh condition)
d) Something that is impossible to count:
· Air
· Wind
· Sand
· Light
· Microorganisms
· Smell
· Seawater
e) Something we can’t photograph:
· Wind
· Air
· Smell
· Heat
· Organic materials
· Leaf’s anatomy
· Plant’s movement
· Internal plant reaction
f) A thing that does not form a necessary part of the ecosystem:
· Rubbish
g) A natural thing which could be used as a tools:
· Rock
· Collapsed trunk or stem as seat
· Heavy leaves as shader
h) Thing that might be used as a food for plant and animal:
· Rotten wood as food source of algae
· Organic matter from decay leaves as plant’s food.
i) Something that wouldn’t be here in 100 years:
· Fern sp. and other smaller plants might be shifted away from the seaside to the land.
3.0 Soil Characteristic
Measuring the depth of dry sand
 |
| Dry sand <------------> Wet sand |
Clay enriched with organic matter
Measure the soil volume
Group discussion
- Data based on activity at 9 - 11.30 am
*initial volume of sand (ml) + 100ml of water
= volume of sand, organic matter and clay
Spots | Location 1 | Location 2 | Location 3 | Location 4 | Location 5 |
Sand (ml) | 36 | 28 | 31 | 15 | 24 |
Organic matter (ml) | - | - | - | 5 | 1.5 |
Clay (ml) | - | - | - | 1 | - |
Initial volume of sand (ml) | 43 | 35 | 33 | 22 | 25 |
Spots | location 1 | Location 2 | Location 3 | Location 4 | Location 5 |
Depth of dry sand | 21cm | 15.2cm (*1) | 15.7cm | 5.2cm | 24.5cm (*2) |
Temperature of a depth of 10cm | 28.0°C | 27.0°C | 27.1°C | 27.6°C | 27.8°C |
*1 = probability of obstacles by stone at the base and root
*2 = no dry sand (wet sand contain root: fertile soil)
Appararus used:
Thermo-hygro meter
RH meter
Lux meter
Spots | Location 1 | Location 2 | Location 3 | Location 4 | Location 5 |
Temperature at 10cm depth | 28.7°C | 28.0°C | 27.9°C | 28.5°C | 29.0°C |
Relative humidity | 88.40 | 72.70 | 84.40 | 84.30 | 90.50 |
Air temperature | 24.30°C | 20.70°C | 24.0°C | 24.10°C | 25.8°C |
4.0 Microclimates
Data based on activity at evening:
Microclimate | Location 1 | Location 2 | Location 3 | Location 4 | Location 5 |
Relative humidity | 87.0 | 85.6 | 81.5 | 59.3 | 59.2 |
Air temperature | 28.5°C | 28.2°C | 27.5°C | 21.8°C | 21.7°C |
Light intensity | Shaded seaside: 5200 | Exposed seaside: 11600 | Shaded land: 6700 | Exposed land: 24600 |
5.0 Search The Fauna
· Ants at site 3 and 4 (location 2)
· Insects at site 3-6 (location 2 and 3)
6.0 Identify the Flora
* refer diagram above
Location 5 | |
 Syzigium sp. Pteris sp. (fern) Palmae sp. | Syzigium sp. Liana (climber) on Ficus sp. Ficus sp. Acacia sp. |
Location 4 | |
| Syzigium sp. Pteris sp. (fern) Magnifera sp. Carambola sp. Ischaemum muticum Borreria latifolia | Syzigium sp. Alophyllum inophyllum (Bintangor laut) |
Location 3 | |
-- | Pandanus tectorius |
Location 2 | |
-- | Pandanus tectorius |
Location 1 | |
| Ficus sp | -- |
Pandanus tectorius
 |
| Pandanus leaves |
Pandanus stem
Syzygium sp.
Magnifera sp.
Alophyllum inophyllum
(Bintangor laut)
Fern sp.
Palmae sp.
Borreria latifolia
Ischaemum muticum
Liana climb on Ficus sp.
Looking through the plants, there are differences in terms of their structure by the respect of the stress they possessed. There are two types of stress can be opposed by plants. First, the abiotic stress and second is the biotic stress. Abiotic stress is one the bad influence on the living organisms living in a specific environment. This abiotic stress comes in many forms. For example, high winds, extreme temperatures, drought, salinity and many more. Abiotic stress for sure is unavoidable. Plants are constraining when they have to face those kinds of stress. This is because plants are totally depending on the environmental factors.
Plants that are exposed to higher rate of light intensity are said to have xerophytic adaptations. Somehow, plants have to adapt themselves in order for them to survive. Some modifications are made in terms of their internal and also external for them to continue growing. In xerophytic adaptations, plant’s leaves are reduced. Actually, they have special ways for collecting and storing water. Leaves would make the transpiration rates getting higher. Therefore, they need to reduce the structure. And another modification on the stem also will occur. Xerophytic plants will exhibit succulent stem. This is essential in order for them to store water. In a meanwhile, the stem is for sure green in colour. This is because when the plants do not have leaves to conduct photosynthesis, this significant role will be taken over by the green stem.
In the context of plants is Tanjung Tuan, we can clearly see that plants near the beach possess pointed leaf and reduced size as like the aloe-vera shape. The surface of the leaves look like they has thick cuticles and also thorns. Those thorns are also reduction of leaves form. Plus, they minimize the transpiration rate so that the plant can use their water efficiently. For instance, Pandanus tectorius which is located at Location 3 possess those characteristics.
One more adaptation that is shown by the plants there is halophyte adaptations. Similar to xerophytes, halophytes may also possess succulent stem and leaves. They hare thick walled and covered by heavily cutinized epidermis. Plants growing in halophytes which exhibit high concentration of salts bring some consequences. The dry habitat becomes dry due to moving out of water from the roots of most plants. Some of the halophytes have their own ways to get rid of it. For instance, they may have salt regulator physiologically to regulate the salt content. Otherwise their adaptions are just more or less similar as the xerophyte.
During our observations at the site, what is obvious is that the root of the Ficus sp. is projected out pointing towards the sea. They float and projected may be to get rid of themselves for high pressure from the salinity.it might also due to high salinity beneath the soil. The plants are trying to control themselves from that kind of stress so that they can prevent their root from losing high amount of water. Another reason why the Ficus sp is projected out does is that maybe they need some space. They are competing together with the Pandanus sp and other species so that they can reduce competition and survive better.
Then as approaching inlands zone, there are some differences as near to the beach. Anatomically, the leaves of the inland’s species are much broader. Also, difference can be seen in terms of soil color. As in the inlands zone, the color of the soil that we observed is darker. Comparing to the beach’s zone soil, there are 2 obvious layers of soil color. The deeper the soil, the darker their soil color. This phenomenon might be because there is no or less organic matter live in the sandy soil than the soil in the inlands zone. Sands do not hold water as good as clay do. Water don’t retain due to large pores of the sands. Therefore, organic matter is unable to bind the soil particles and made them prefer clay which is more fertile and lots of nutrients are available. In addition, presence of many floras on the inlands zone aid in better decomposition of organism materials. The decaying of those leaves produce humus; the stable state of decomposition and thus increase the soil fertility.
The type of vegetation of the forest here are both mangrove and also rainforest.
Activities of human- Trespassers and other immoral activities damage the plants habitat and bought to soil erosion. As seen in our sites, there are few sites was contaminated with rubbish. We feel sad because we people should be responsible of the precious gift from God and not to make any disruption on our forest.
17.0 Brainstorm
What happens here if the sea level rises?
If the sea level rises, the land will be occupied with water and land appear in a small area. About our location near the sea shore, it will cover with water too. Then, the plant should adapt with the salty water in a high level. Plants will anchor their root outwards and shrubs disappear as well as ferns. The big tree will grow upright to compete for getting sunlight. The leaves of the plant become more pointed to avoid a lot of losing water. The stem also have to adapt with saline water by improving the mechanism to transport water inwards.
2. If the temperature rises?
Temperature will affect the rate of respiration and transpiration of a plant. High temperature affects the rate of water losing in plant. Hence, the plant will have sunken stomata to avoid the high rate of respiration and transpiration. The cuticle also becomes thicker than usual. At the same time, plant also will fall some of the leaf and making the branch to be die. So, plant can reduce the supply of water to its part. The pandanus will modified its leaves to be more pointed and have more thorn than usual.
3. If the use of the adjacent area changes?
The sea become deeper and reduces the land area maybe the site of our camp will be the new sea shore. All the plant in our location has to adapt to the new situations. The island that we can see from our site becomes smaller or maybe disappeared. Ferns cannot survive in the salty water and die. Sygyzium also facing the same condition and will be dying soon.
4. If the quality of its management increases?
The beach will be commercial to the tourists and the plant in our site will cut down to allow the construction in this area. New camp site also will be constructed and more species of plant will be extinct.
7.0 Poem
A deed of you… plant
A deed of you… plant
It was amidst tedious journey
Our heart blows… dismays
The breeze sways you decently,
The benevolent you were priceless
Still, we are kept holding by you,
Then, it grows fonder…
Ongoing worrisome, a must
Ongoing disrupt, a sure
By those cruel trespasser
You were hurt
You were poisoned
The day you would go away
The vibes has called tremendously,
We will keep our promise
To nurture you!!
The errand comes to the end
We know we own you a deed.
It was a weary walk,
It beyond our expectation,
But still we want to save you,
We will!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment