Vegetation profiles along the coastal sandbars in peninsular Thailand
The profiles of actual plant communities on the coastal sandbars in the study areas (Figs. 2–8) clearly exhibit various structural characteristics and typical floristic composition. The vegetation can be divided into two main categories according to the topographic features of sandbars.
1. Vegetation on coastal sandbars due to sedimentation from sea currents
Twelve selected sites (nos. 2–13) fall into this category. The vegetation of this kind, in general, can be subdivided into three main zones in accordance with previous studies of such vegetation on the eastern coast of peninsular Thailand (Suzuki et al., 2005), i.e.: dune grassland communities (Plate 1A); dune scrub communities (Plate 1B) and dune woodland communities (Plate 1C, D). However, some features represent the transition between various vegetation zones on the western coast and the eastern coast of the peninsula.
1.1 Natural vegetation on sandbars along the eastern coast of peninsular Thailand
(Figs. 2–4; Plate 1A, C, D)
Natural vegetation on the coastal sandbars of the east is likely to have extended from the North of the peninsula in Chumphon and run continually throughout peninsular Malaysia. However, most of natural vegetation on the eastern coast of peninsular Thailand has been depleted for a long time. Only the fragmented remnants of natural vegetation left in isolated patches along the sandy coast can be recognized in some places. The remnants of such vegetation at “Chaiya sandbar” in Surat Thani are typical of natural sandbar vegetation. In Chaiya district, quite a few remnants of natural sandbar vegetation can be seen in fragmented patches along the Chaiya sandy coast from Ban Takrop to Ban Nuea.
The dune grassland communities, adjoining shoreline consist of Sesuvium portulacastrum, Ipomoea imperati, Ipomoea pes-caprae, Remirea maritima, Chrysopogon orientalis, Ischaemum muticum, Spinifex littoreus, Zoysia matrella, Vitex rotundifolia, Canavalia rosea and Vigna marina. The zone next to the dune grassland is dune scrub communities (Fig. 2) (site 7, Ban Laem Pho 1) which charateristically comprise many stunted, shrubby tree species about 5–8 m high, e.g. Vatica harmandiana, Syzygium gratum., Eurycoma longifolia, Chaetocarpus castanocarpus, Lannea coromendelica, Rapanea porteriana, Olea brachiata, Acronychia pedunculata and Pouteria obovata; shrub species such as Salacia chinensis, Breynia racemosa, Suregada multiflorum, Melastoma malabathricum, Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, Catunaregam tomentosa, Atalantia monophylla and Micromelum minutum. The ground cover consists of Dianella ensifolia, Wikstroemia ridleyi, orchids such as Doritis pulcherrima, ferns like Davallia denticulata and Drynaria sparsisora, and vines such as Cansjera rheedei, Psychotria sarmentosa, Dischidia major and Hoya parasitica are rather scattered. The dune woodland communities in the innermost
zone (Figs. 3–4; Plate 1C, D) (site 8, Ban Laem Pho 2) (Fig. 3) are characterized by three storeys in profile. The canopy layer of about 15–18 m high is mainly represented by Shorea roxburghii. The lower storey of about 10–12 m high is constituted by smaller trees such as Vatica harmandiana and Vitex pinnata. The undergrowth layer is composed of shrubs and saplings such as Eurycoma longiflia, Pouteria obovata, Rapanea porteriana, Ochna integerrima, Ardisia crenata, Olea brachiata, Champereia manillana Carallia brachiata, Ixora javanica Micromelum minutum Microcos tomentosa; climbers such as Tetracera indica, Ancistrocladus tectorius Dischidia major, Hoya parasitica, Cansjera rheedei, Psychotria sarmentosa; and ferns such as Davallia denticulata, Drynaria sparsisora. Herbs such as Dianella ensifolia are also abundant on the ground floor. However, the woodland communities in the inland sand dunes at Ban Nuea (site 9) (Fig.
4), are also chracterized by three layers, but differ slightly from the above. The topmost storey of abut 25–30 m high consists of Dipterocarpus chartaceus and D. alatus. The lower layer of about 15–20 m high comprises of Mangifera indica and Shorea roxburghii. The undergrowth layer often disturbed by human activities, but there are some native species such as Memecylon ovatum Ardisia crenata Ochna integerrima Champereia manillana, Morinda elliptica and Eurycoma longifolia
1.2 Natural vegetation on sandbars along the western coast of peninsular Thailand
(Figs. 6–8; Plate 1B)
Unlike the eastern coast of peninsular Thailand, the western coast vegetation has developed on narrow sandbars in small fragmented patches in accordance with the topographic features of each coastal sandbar. However, almost all natural vegetation along the western sandy coast of peninsular Thailand had been already diminished or modified as a result of the tourism business, especially sea resorts. There are a few remnants of natural sandbar vegetation left in some protected areas along the coastline, such as Khao Lampi-Hat Thai Mueang National Park (site 11), Thung Thale non-hunting areas (site
12) and Hat Chao Mai National Park (site 13). The profiles of remnant patches at Hat Thai Mueang (site 11) seem to be typical representatives of sandbar vegetation along the western peninsular coast. Though some parts of natural vegetation at Hat Thai Mueang were destroyed by the “Tsunami” tidal waves in 2005, the remaining fragmented patches along the coastal sandbar still exhibit typical sandbar vegetation along the western peninsular coast. The profile diagrams illustrate structure of the plant communities in the areas from the tidal zone towards the innermost zone of the sandbar, i.e. coastal scrub (Fig.
6). The first area of coastal dune scrub community is composed of Hydrophylax maritima Ischaemum muticum, Crinum northianum, Scaevola taccada, Pandanus odoratissimus Diospyros areolata, D. ferrea Calophyllum pulcherrimum, Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, Atalantia monophylla and Pouteria obovata. The inner dunes coastal scrub community is scattered and separated by small patches of other plant communities (Fig. 7; Plate 1B). They are formed by characteristic species of sandbar vegetation on the western coast that differ from those on the eastern coast. Each small coastal dune scrub community is mainly composed of tree or shrubby tree species, e.g. Cotylelobium lanceolatum and Rapania porteriana surrounded by other shrubs or treelets, e.g. Syzygium gratum, Styphelia malayana, Rhodamnia cinerea, Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, and some orchids e.g. Doritis pulcherrima Dendrobium crumenatum, Dendrobium indivisum and Dendrobium pachyphyllum. The coastal dune woodland communities (Fig. 8) developed in a continual
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narrow strip according to the length of the dune are charactrized by three storeys. The canopy layer of about 15–18 m high is dominated by dipterocarp species e.g. Shorea roxburghii. The lower tree layer of about 8–10 m high comprises smaller trees and shrubs, e.g. Vatica harmandiana Acronychia pedunculata Pouteria obovata and Syzygium gratum. The undergrowth layer consists of Rhodamnia cinerea, Rhodomyrtus tomentosa and Calophyllum pulcherimum (for example). Ferns are also frequent, such as Drynaria sparsisora Davallia denticulata, D. heterophylla, D. pectinata Pyrrosia piloselloides Schizaea dichotoma and S. digitata
The natural vegetation profiles along the coastal sandbars of peninsular Thailand (Fig. 9) may differ slightly from place to place in some details such as structure of plant communities and floristic composition. The establishment of the coastal dune grassland and coastal shrub communities, apart from edaphic factors, seems to be governed by strong winds from the open sea. Unlike the noticeably changeable zonations of the mangrove swamp community, the development and establishment of coastal sandbar vegetation in term of species distribution are quite stable. In certain localities, mangrove and coastal sandbar vegetation are interrupted by a secondary swamp community dominated by pure stands of Melaleuca capjuputi Powell.
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