A preliminary study of Nypa fruticans spear fronds life stages in Tok Haji Island, Setiu, Terengganu

Abstract

The spear frond development of this palm is continuous throughout the year but different at the population and individual level. The main objectives are to determine the life stages of spear frond of Nypa fruticans and to determine the distribution of Nypa fruticans spear frond at Tok Haji Island, Setiu, Terengganu. This study only based on one species at different life stages because different life stages of tree will yield different products. This study was conducted at Tok Haji Island, Setiu, Terengganu. The sampling starts on June and followed by monthly observation until December 2011. During the first sampling, the selected individual of spear frond was tagged and the stage was identified. The height also was measured and recorded. Observation on the tagged spear fronds were done on the next month and continued until December. Six transects and 25 rectangular plots were located in major stands of Nypa fruticans at the island. Along the lines, 1 Om x 1 Om plot was placed for every 3m distance. In each plots, three random individual either stage 1, 2, 3 or 4 was selected in 3m distance from each other. In the followed months, the observation was done to record the development of the tagged spear frond. From the sampling, Nypa fruticans spear frond was distinguish divided into four dynamic life stages which are stage 1, stage 2, stage 3 and stage 4. For the first sampling, the highest percentage for the distribution of the spear frond at the island is from stage 1 (68%) and followed by stage 3 (18.67%), stage 2 (9.33%) and the lowest percentage is from stage 4 (4%). The spear frond height for each stage was determined based on its mean, variance, standard deviation and standard deviation error. The time frame for the spear frond to develop also can determine by mean duration for each stage. The longest mean duration (month) for spear frond to develop taken by stage 1(2.49±0.25) followed by stage 3 (2.01±0.17), stage 4 (1.55±0.26) and shortest is by stage 2 (0.92±0.08).