PRELIMINARY CHECKLIST OF EPIPHYTIC TERRESTRIAL ALGAE ON TREE TRUNKS OF SRI GADING EDUCATIONAL FOREST AND UiTM PAHANG JENGKA CAMPUS, PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

Abstract

Epiphytic terrestrial algae are chlorophyll-bearing organisms that grow on tree trunks, with some species frequently occurring in symbiosis with fungi, ferns, and lichens. They primarily belong to three distinct evolutionary lineages: Cyanobacteria, Chlorophyta, and Streptophyta. The diversity of epiphytic terrestrial algae in Jengka, Pahang, remains poorly characterized in the existing literature. Therefore, this study aims to enhance the understanding of epiphytic algae species diversity and contribute to maintaining records of these species for future reference. The study identified epiphytic terrestrial algae species and examined their abundance on the tree trunks of Sri Gading Educational Forest and UiTM Pahang, Jengka Campus. Scraping blades were used to collect algal samples from randomly selected tree trunks at the study sites. Samples from each tree were subsequently placed in a tube containing a 70% ethanol solution. Species identification was conducted using standard taxonomic literature and the world’s algal database, while species diversity was analysed using PAST software. Nine species across three genera were recorded from sites, including four species from Sri Gading Educational Forest and six species from the campus. The family Trentepohliaceae was the most dominant, with Trentepohlia arborum being the most common species. The diversity index indicates that terrestrial algae species on the Jengka Campus were comparatively more abundant than those in the Sri Gading Educational Forest. Trentepohlia sp. often exhibits high sensitivity to airborne pollutants and typically thrives only in habitats with low pollution, indicating that air quality at the study sites was comparatively good.