The diversity of invasive aquatic plant species in the shoreline of pond at UiTM Kuala Pilah Negeri Sembilan / Nuren Syahira Ahmad Zaki

Species diversity and species richness can be referred as biodiversity. UiTM Kuala Pilah is located in Negeri Sembilan, Peninsular Malaysia. It was gazettes from Pelangai Forest Reserve in year 2001. Tropical rainforest has a great number of biological diversities. However, the growth of the non-native species has invaded the population of the native species. This study was conducted to identify the diversity of invasive aquatic (non-native) plant species in the shoreline of ponds at UiTM Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan. Invasive plants are currently spreading rapidly and this is likely to continue with further changes in physical and chemical conditions to the pond environment. The sampling of invasive aquatic plants was carried out on 17th October 2017 until 5th November 2017. A total of235 individuals of invasive aquatic plants belonging to 4 families and 6 genera species were recorded. The families recorded in this finding are Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Juncaceae and Typhaceae. Family Poaceae had the highest percentage with total 55% which covered by two genera Phalaris and Phragmites. Then followed by family Cyperaceae and Juncaceae with percentage of 31% and 11 % respectively. Family Cyperaceae covered by two genera, Carex and Scirpus, the most common family that has been found in this study after Poacea. The lowest group family of invasive aquatic plants was Typhaceae with percentage 3%. Shannon's Diversity index was H' = 1.56. This shows that the invasive aquatic plant species are diverse and invaded as they are growing rapidly in the pond environment.While the Evenness Index was E= 0.8. Even though the finding ofindividual species is not even, this invasive species is growing well and invaded the native species. In contrast, Richness Index (R) is below than half (0.46) which indicates that invasive species number in ponds at UiTM Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan still can be managed and control compared to the other country.