Abstract
Ground herbs (including pteridophytes) were studied in three 0.25 ha plots at each of three altitudes at Bukit Belalong, Brunei (913 m). At c. 200 m and c. 500 m there was evergreen lowland rain forest and at c. 850 m there was lower montane rain forest. In each plot all species of ground herb and the number of individuals and their cover were recorded. Ground herb cover, density and species-richness were higher in the lower montane forest plots. A total of 121 species were recorded, and of these 47% were restricted to the lower montane forest and 15% were restricted to the plots at 200 m. Phytosociological analyses indicate that the three altitudes have distinct ground herb communities. It is believed that the increase in herb growth is primarily due to the moister environment at higher altitudes, but higher light levels in the lower montane forest may also have an effect.
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Poulsen, A.D., Pendry, C.A. Inventories of ground herbs at three altitudes on Bukit Belalong, Brunei, Borneo. Biodivers Conserv 4, 745–757 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00158867
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00158867