SHORT COMMUNICATION

The preliminary study on some natural communities of the sandbars along eastern coast of peninsular

Kitichate Sridith1 and Chukiat Laongpol2

Abstract Sridith, K.1 and Laongpol, C.2 The preliminary study on some natural plant communities of the sandbars along the eastern coast of peninsular Thailand Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol., 2003, 25(1) : 103-113

Surveys on the natural plant communities on the sandbars along the eastern coast of the peninsular Thailand in three provinces, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla and Narathiwat, have been carried out. Most of the natural vegetation on these sandbars had been become extinct, except for some remnants, left as separated spots. Four sites of those remnants were explored in this preliminary study. The plant species com- position investigation and the primary analysis on community type through the Braun-Blanquet method of the four remnants show some common characters. These characteristics suggest that, in the past, the same vegetation may have dominated the landscape along the sandbars lying parallel to the seashore of Peninsular Thailand.

Key words : plant communities, sandbars, Peninsular Thailand

1Dr. rer. nat. (Botanik), Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, 2B.Sc. (Forestry), Narathiwat Provincial Forest Office, 80 Suriyapradit Rd. Amphoe Muang, Narathiwat, 96000 Thailand. Corresponding e-mail : [email protected] Received, 7 August 2002 Accepted, 21 October 2002 Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol. The preliminary study on some natural plant communities Vol. 25 No. 1 Jan.-Feb. 2003 104 Sridith, K. and Laongpol, C. ∫∑§—¥¬àÕ °‘µ‘‡™…∞å »√’¥‘…∞1 ·≈– ™Ÿ‡°’¬√µ‘ ≈–ÕÕߺ≈2 °“√»÷°…“‡∫◊ÈÕßµâπ¢Õß —ߧ¡æ◊™µ“¡∏√√¡™“µ‘∫“ß·Ààß∫π —π∑√“¬µ“¡™“¬Ωíòßµ–«—πÕÕ° ¢Õ߇¢µæ√√≥惰…™“µ‘¿“§„µâ¢Õߪ√–‡∑»‰∑¬ «. ߢ≈“π§√‘π∑√å «∑∑. 2546 25(1) : 103-113

°“√»÷°…“ —ߧ¡æ◊™∫“ß·Ààß∫π —π∑√“¬∑’Ë¢π“πµ“¡·π«™“¬Ωíòßµ–«—πÕÕ°„π§“∫ ¡ÿ∑√¢Õߪ√–‡∑»‰∑¬„π 3 ®—ßÀ«—¥ ‰¥â·°à π§√»√’∏√√¡√“™ ߢ≈“ ·≈– π√“∏‘«“ æ∫«à“ —ߧ¡æ◊™µ“¡∏√√¡™“µ‘ à«π¡“°∂Ÿ°∑”≈“¬ ‡À≈◊Õ ‡æ’¬ß∫“ß à«π‡ªìπ∫√‘‡«≥¢π“¥‡≈Á° „π°“√»÷°…“‡∫◊ÈÕßµâππ’ȉ¥â ”√«® —ߧ¡æ◊™µ“¡∏√√¡™“µ‘ à«π∑’ˇÀ≈◊ÕÕ¬Ÿà∫π·π« —π∑√“¬ ‡≈◊Õ° ’Ë∫√‘‡«≥∑’ËÕ¬Ÿà·¬°®“°°—π·≈–Õ¬ŸàÀà“ß°—π„π “¡®—ßÀ«—¥ º≈°“√«‘‡§√“–Àå„π‡√◊ËÕßÕߧåª√–°Õ∫æ√√≥æ◊™ ·≈–™π‘¥ —ߧ¡æ◊™∑’Ë«‘‡§√“–À嵓¡«‘∏’ Braun-Blanquet · ¥ß∂÷ß≈—°…≥–√à«¡°—π¢Õß —ߧ¡æ◊™„π ’Ë∫√‘‡«≥π’È æÕ®–Õπÿ¡“π‰¥â„π ™—Èπµâππ’È«à“ ≈—°…≥– —ߧ¡æ◊™µ“¡∏√√¡™“µ‘¥—ß°≈à“«‡§¬‡ªìπ≈—°…≥– —ߧ¡æ◊™‡¥àπ∑’˵àÕ‡π◊ËÕ߇ªìπº◊π„À≠à´÷Ë߇§¬æ∫Õ¬Ÿà ∫π —π∑√“¬∑’Ë¢π“πµ“¡·π«™“¬ΩíòߢÕ߇¢µæ√√≥惰…™“µ‘¿“§„µâ¢Õߪ√–‡∑»‰∑¬

1¿“§«‘™“™’««‘∑¬“ §≥–«‘∑¬“»“ µ√å ¡À“«‘∑¬“≈—¬ ߢ≈“π§√‘π∑√å Õ”‡¿ÕÀ“¥„À≠à ®—ßÀ«—¥ ߢ≈“ 90112 2 ”π—°ß“πªÉ“‰¡â®—ßÀ«—¥ π√“∏‘«“ ‡≈¢∑’Ë 80 ∂ππ ÿ√‘¬ª√–¥‘…∞å Õ”‡¿Õ‡¡◊Õß ®—ßÀ«—¥π√“∏‘«“ 96000

On the East Coast of Peninsular Thailand, Physical characteristics where a shoreline of emergence stretches, lie Soil many sandbars. These sandbars are parallel to The soil type of the study areas is podzols the shore. Each one is an old beach deposit, lying (spodozol). (Classification of soils according to inland in the form of low ridges or terraces (1.5- Burmham in Whitmore (1985)). The soil pH at 2.5 m high). Sediments deposited along the shore- the study sites is 4.5 - 5.5. line have produced these sandbars and offshore Climate bars (Pongsaputra et al, 1991). Sedimentation from Peninsular Thailand has a tropical monsoon the rivers and ocean currents had taken place on climate characterized by a distinct dry season from the shallow sea floor along the shoreline of the February to May and a high rainfall, affected by East Coast in the past. In the Tertiary period, the the south westerly wind from June to September peninsula had inclined leading to the emergence and the north easterly wind, from October to of the East Coast whilst the opposite site of the January. (Pongsaputra et al, 1991). peninsula was submerged beneath the water. Vegetation on podzols (Vithayarat, 1995). According to Whitmore (1975, 1985), the These sandbars are unique habitats for vegetation occurring on the coastal sandbars is plant communities, as they are topographically heath forest. It is the natural vegetation of the different from the swamp that separate these podzols that occurs in places where parent mate- sandbars from the inland areas. rials consist predominantly of quartz, e.g., beach The sandbars are suitable for many human sand, sandstone or quartzite. The greatest extent activities such as building, agriculture and indus- of heath forest in South-East Asia is in try on account of their good drainage. As a result, where it occurs around much of the coastline on over 80% of the original vegetation has become raised terraces of poorly consolidated coarse, extinct. sandy, marine and riverine sedimentation left stranded by the fluctuating sea-level of the late Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol. The preliminary study on some natural plant communities Vol. 25 No. 1 Jan.-Feb. 2003 105 Sridith, K. and Laongpol, C.

Pleistocene (Whitmore, 1985). Similar but less at Ban Ta-ling-chun, Chana district (Sridith, 2002). extensive terraces that also bear or once bore The surveys have been continued further along heath forest occur along the south coasts of the coast of Narathiwat province and Cha-uad Thailand and (Whitmore, 1975,1985). district of Nakhon Si Thammarat province. Congdon (1982) mentions the heath forest in Thailand occurring in the Tarutao National Park Methods in Satul, Peninsular Thailand. The heath forest found on Tarutao Island has, however, lower cano- I. Surveys pies and contains fewer species than typical heath The surveys of the original vegetation along forest as described by Whitmore (1975, 1985). the coastal sandbars of the East Coast of Penin- The aim of the project are to survey all sular Thailand have been carried out in three the remnants of the original vegetation on these provinces i.e. Songkhla, Narathiwat and Nakhon- sandbars and offshore bars along the East Coast Si Thammarat. The study sites are indicated on of Peninsular Thailand. The study was confined the map (Figure 1). to the composition of the plant species, their in- vestigation and analysis of the primary community II. Flora and vegetation investigations type in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla and The plant collections were made at inter- Narathiwat. The surveys were completed in vals over the selected study sites, in order to com- Songkhla province. The only original remnant of pile a plant species list of each site. Voucher speci- vegetation on the Songkhla sandbars were found mens are deposited at PSU Herbarium. Samples of

Figure 1. Map of peninsular Thailand showing the four study sites. Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol. The preliminary study on some natural plant communities Vol. 25 No. 1 Jan.-Feb. 2003 106 Sridith, K. and Laongpol, C. plant community type in each site were analyzed, pentandra, Viscum articulatum are abundant (see using the Braun-Blanquet Method (Kent & Coker, also Sridith, 2002). Such characteristics are in ac- 1994). cordance with those of the heath forest (Whitmore, 1975,1985;Congdon, 1982) Results The analysis of plant community types from each study site using the Braun-Blanquet Plant community types method exhibits some common types in the plant The various types of plant community in communities e.g. Melastoma malabathricum each location have been analyzed to date, accord- ommunity; Rhodomyrtus tomentosa community; ing to the Braun-Blanquet Method (Table 1). Memecylon lilacinum- harmandiana com- munity. The first two communities are shrub Plant species composition communities while the other is a tree community. A species list of found in the study This suggests that the vegetations on the sandbars sites has been compiled (Table 2). have some characters in common too. These char- acters make them unique among other kinds of Discussion vegetations nearby, such as peat-swamp forest, dry-evergreen forest, etc. Moreover, there are In general, the vegetations of the four study other communities of plants, though less common, sites have some characters in common. They are: that have been found in three out of four of the low uniform canopies of trees; no trace of layering sites e.g. grande - roxburghii among trees; many tree species have small and communities. They are tree communities distrib- sclerophyllous leaves, for instance Syzygium uted as separated spots in the area where found. gratum, Pouteria obovata, Rapanea porteriana; Melaleuca quinquenervia communities were the ground in some areas has a bryophyte cover; found at Songkhla (Chana) and Nakhon Si Tham- wiry climbers such as Hoya diversifolia are fre- marat (Cha-uad). This Melaleuca plant indicates quent; many epiphytes and photophytes occur- that the areas are disturbed, since Melaleuca ring near the ground; myrmecophytes such as quinquenervia is a secondary species often oc- Dischidia rafflesiana are also often found. Fur- curring in disturbed areas (Whitmore, 1975, thermore, the parasitic plants e.g Dendropthoe 1985; Suzuki, 1999; Tomita et al, 2000). Dipter-

Table 1. The plant community types in each site.

Plant community types Son.1 Nak.2 Na.31 Na.2

Catunaregam tomentosa community X X Dipterocarpus chartaceus community X X Melaleuca quinquenervia community X X Melastoma malabathricum community X X X X Memecylon lilacinum- community X X X X Rhodomyrtus tomentosa community X X X X Schizea dichotoma-Doritis pulcherima community X X Glehnio-Spinificetum litorei community X Syzygium grande- community X X X

1 Son.= Songkhla (BanTa-ling-chan Village, Chana) ; 2 Nak.= Nakhon Si Thammarat (Cha-uad near Railway Station) ; 3 Na. = Narathiwat: Na.1= Ban Sai Khao; Na.2 = Ban Kok Payom Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol. The preliminary study on some natural plant communities Vol. 25 No. 1 Jan.-Feb. 2003 107 Sridith, K. and Laongpol, C.

Table 2. List of plant species found in each study site.

Family Species Vernacular Habit Son. Nak. Na.1 Na.2

Anarcadiaceae Buchanania arborescens Khi kra tai Tree X X X X (Blume) Blume

Annonaceae Desmos sp. Scandent X X

Apocynaceae Cerbera manghas L. Tin pet sai Tree X Cerbera odollam Gaertn. Tin pet thale Small tree X Rauvolfia verticillata (Lour.) Chaek Shrub X Baillon Spirolobium cambodianum Phetchahueng Small shrub X Baill. takkat Willughbeia coriacea Wall. Khui Shrub X X

Aquifoliaceae Ilex cymosa Blume Sai khi tai Shrubby tree X X

Asclepiadaceae Dischidia major (Vahl) Merr. Chuk rohini Climber X X X X Tylophora flexuosa R.Br. Cha muk pla lot Climber X X X X Hoya diversifolia Blume Yaan lin khwai Climber X X X X Hoya parasitica (Roxb.) Nom phi chit Climber X X X X Wall. ex Traill

Celastraceae Eunonymus javanicus Blume Kra duk kai Shrub X X X Pleurostylia opposita Daeng hin Small tree X X X X (Wall.) Alston

Clusiaceae Calophyllum pulcherima Wall. Tanghon Small tree X X X Garcinia cowa Roxb. ex DC. Cha muang Small tree X X X X Garcinia nervosa Miq. Ma phut pa Small tree X X Garcinia merguensis Wight Ka nuan Small tree X X X Garcinia vilersiana Pierre Pha wa bai yai Small tree X X X X

Combretaceae Terminalia catappa L. Hu kwang Tree X

Commelinaceae Commelina bengalensis L. Phak plap Herb X X X X Cyanotis cristata Roem. & Yaa hua rag noi Herb X X X X Schult. Murdannia sp. - Herb X

Conneraceae Connerus semidecandrus Thob thaeb Scandent X Jack khruea

Convolvulaceae Ipomoea pes-caprae (L.) Phak bung thale Creeper X R.Br.

(to be continued) Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol. The preliminary study on some natural plant communities Vol. 25 No. 1 Jan.-Feb. 2003 108 Sridith, K. and Laongpol, C.

Table 2. (continued)

Family Species Vernacular Habit Son. Nak. Na.1 Na.2

Cyperaceae Remirea maritima Aubl. Kok mari Herb X

Davalliaceae Davallia denticulata Nakkharat Herb X X X X (Burm.f.) Mett. ex Kuhn

Dennstaedtiaceae Pteridium aquilinum var. Chon yai Herb X X X wightianum (J.Agardh) K.M.Tryon

Dilleniaceae Dillenia hookeri Pierre San din Shrub X Tetracera indica (Christm. Yan pot Climber X X X X & Panz.)Merr. Tetracera loureiri (Finet & Rot sukhon Climber X X X X Gagnep.) Pierre ex Craib

Dipterocarpaceae Dipterocarpus chartaceus Yang wat Tree X X Symington Dipterocarpus obtusifolius kung Tree X Teijsm. ex Miq. Shorea roxburghii G.Don Phayom Tree X X X Vatica harmandiana Pierre Sak hin Tree X X X X

Ebenaceae ferrea Bakh. Lam bit thale Shrub X X X X

Ericaceae Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb. Thing thuat Small tree X X

Euphorbiaceae Breynia vitis-idaea (Burn.f.) Kang pla thale Shrub X X X X C.E.C. Fish. Chaetocarpus castanocarpus Khi non Shrub X X X X (Roxb.) ex Thwaites Euphorbia atoto G.Forst. Nam nom X ratchasi thale Phyllanthus oxyphyllus Miq. Yai chung lan Small tree X X X

Fabaceae Abrus precatorius L. Ma klam ta nu Climber X X Derris scandens (Roxb.) Thao wan Climber X Benth. priang Canavalia cathartica Thua krapao Climber X Thouars Crotalaria sp. Herb X

Fagaceae Lithocarpus bennetii (Miq.) Ko mu Tree X Rehder

(to be continued) Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol. The preliminary study on some natural plant communities Vol. 25 No. 1 Jan.-Feb. 2003 109 Sridith, K. and Laongpol, C.

Table 2. (continued)

Family Species Vernacular Habit Son. Nak. Na.1 Na.2

Goodeniaceae Scaevola taccada (Gaertn.) Rak thale Shruby tree X Roxb.

Labiatae Gmelina phillipensis Cham. Song maeo Small tree X Vitex pinnata L. Tin nok Small tree X Vitex rotundifolia L.f. Khon thiso thale Herb X X

Lauraceae Neolitsea zeylanica (Nees) Ian Shrub X X Merr. Liliaceae Dianella ensifolia ( L.) DC. Ya nu ton Herb X X X X

Loranthaceae Dendrophthoe pentandra Ka fak Shrub X X X X (L.) Miq. ma muang

Melastomaceae Melastoma malabathricum L. Khlong khleng Shrub X X X X khi nok

Memecylaceae Memecylon corticosum Ridl. Mai thao Shruby tree X X X X nang yat

Myrcinaceae Ardisia crenata Sims. Ta pet ta kai Shrub X X X X Rapane porteriana Rang ka thae Tree X X (A.DC.) Mez.

Myrtaceae Baeckea frutescens L. Son sai Shrubby tree X X Rhodomyrtus tomentosa Phruat Shrub X X X X (Aiton) Hassk. Syzygium grande var. Mao Tree X X X X grande (Wight.) Walp. Syzygium zeylanicum Samet daeng Shruby tree X X X X (L.) DC. bai mon Syzygium gratum var. Samet chun Tree X X X X gratum (Wight.) S.N.Mitra Melaleuca quinquenervia Samet khao Tree X X (Cav.) S.T.Blake

Ochnaceae Ochna integerrima (Lour.) Kamlang Shruby tree X X X Merr. chang san

Olacaceae Olax scandens Roxb. Nam chai khrai Scandent X X Strombosia javanica Blume - Shrub X X

Oleaceae Olea brachiata (Lour.) Merr. Ket san Tree X X X

(to be continued) Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol. The preliminary study on some natural plant communities Vol. 25 No. 1 Jan.-Feb. 2003 110 Sridith, K. and Laongpol, C.

Table 2. (continued)

Family Species Vernacular Habit Son. Nak. Na.1 Na.2

Orchidaceae Cymbidium findlaysonianum Kare karon Herb X X X X Lindl. Dendrobium crumenatum Sw. Wai tamoi Herb X X X X Dendrobium secundum Ueang praeng Herb X X (Blume) Lindl. si fan Doritis pulcherima Lindl. Ma wing Herb X X

Pandanaceae Pandanus odoratissimus L. f. Pa nae Tree X X

Pittosporaceae Pittosporum ferrugineum Sum ton Tree X X W.T.Ait.

Poaceae Eragrostis gangetica (Roxb.) Ya krok Herb X X X X Steud. Eriachne pallescens R.Br. Ya nuat moen Herb X X X X Isachne globosa (Thunb.) Ya pha rai Herb X X X X O.Ktze. Ischaemum barbatum Ya yon hu Herb X X X X (Munro) Stapf ex Ridl. Pterotis indica (L.) O.Kuntze - Herb X X X X Rhynchelytrum repens Wild. - Herb X X X X Spinifex littoreus Merr. Ya loi lom Herb X

Polypodiaceae Drynaria sparsisora Kra tae tai mai Herb X X X X (Desv.)S.Morre Microsorum nigrescens Kra prog wao Herb X X X X (Blume) Copel. Myrmecophila crustacea Tan mangkon Herb X (Copel.) Tagawa Pyrrosia adnascens Fern ngu khiao Herb X X X X (G.Forst.) Ching Pyrrosia piloselloides (L.) Klet nak kha rat Herb X X X X M.G. Price Pyrrosia nummularifolia Bia mai Herb X X X X (Sw.) Ching

Psilotaceae Psilotum nudum (L.) P.Beauv. Wai ta noi Herb X

Rubiaceae Catunaregam tomentosa Nam taeng Shrub X X (Blume ex DC.) Tirveng. Chassalia chartacea Craib Yai klang Shrub X Chassalia curviflora Khem phra ram Shrub X (Wall.)Thwaites.

(to be continued) Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol. The preliminary study on some natural plant communities Vol. 25 No. 1 Jan.-Feb. 2003 111 Sridith, K. and Laongpol, C.

Table 2. (continued)

Family Species Vernacular Habit Son. Nak. Na.1 Na.2

Rubiaceae Guettarda speciosa L. Kong kang Shrubby tree X hu chang Hedyotis sp. - Herb X X X X Ixora javanica (Blume) DC. Khaem daeng Shrub X X X X Prismatomeris tetrandra Dug kai Shrub X X X X

(Roxb.) K.Schum. var. tetrandra

Psychotria sarmentosa Dug kai yan Climber X X X X Blume Tarena sp. Shrub X X X X Catunaregam tomentosa Nam khet Shrubby tree X X (Blume ex DC.) Tirveng.

Micromelum minutum Mui chang Small tree X X X (G.Forst.) Wight & Arn. Atalantia monophylla (DC.) Manao phi Small tree X Correa

Sapindaceae Mischocarpus sundaicus Baek phrai Small tree X X X Blume

Sapotaceae Pouteria obovata (R.Br.) Nga sai Tree X X X Baehni

Schizaeaceae Lygodium microphyllum Li phao yung Herb X X X X (Cav.) R.Br. Lygodium salicifolium Li phao yai Herb X X X X C.Presl Schizaea dichotoma (L.) Sw. Tan san Herb X X X Schizaea digitata (L.) Sw. Tan sai Herb X X

Simaroubaceae Eurycoma longifolia Jack Pla lai phueak Tree X X X X

Sterculiaceae Helicteres angustifolia L. Khi on Shrub X X Theaceae Adinandra integerrima Phikun pa Tree X T.Anderson ex Dyer wallichii (DC.) Korth. Mangtan Tree X

Tiliaceae Microcos paniculata L, Phlapphla Small tree X

Viscaceae Viscum articulatum Burm.f. Kafak tin pu Shrub X X X X

Vittariaceae Vittaria elongata Sw. Wan hua la man Herb X X X X Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol. The preliminary study on some natural plant communities Vol. 25 No. 1 Jan.-Feb. 2003 112 Sridith, K. and Laongpol, C. ocarpus chartaceus community is found only in past, the same vegetation may have dominated Songkhla. It is characteristic of plant community the landscape along the sandbars lying parallel to found on sandbars in Songkhla. According to the the seashore of Peninsular Thailand. present study, Dipterocarpus chartaceus may oc- Further study of the vegetation on the sand- cur on the sandbars further north from Songkhla, bars of Peninsular Thailand would provide a but it has not been found yet on the sandbars clearer impression of the composition of plant further south (see Table 2). species there. Due to the community types found in these In any case, the details of community struc- four study sites and the fact that all the study sites ture and more survey sites will be pursued in have common physical characteristic, it is evi- Narathiwat Province and Nakhon Si Thammarat dent that these remnants may represent the plant Province. Surveys in other provinces of the east- communities that dominated the sandbars over a ern coast of Peninsular Thailand are planned. A large area in earlier times. vegetation map will be drawn up once the details In considering the plant series found in the of vegetation on sandbars on the eastern coast of study sites, each site has many plant species in com- Peninsular Thailand is completed. mon e.g. Syzygium grande var. grande; Syzygium None of the remnants of the plant commu- gratum var. gratum; Buchanania arborescens; nities in the selected study areas belong to a con- Vatica harmandiana; Ardisia crenata; Ochna servation area of any types (National Park; Forest intergerima; Diospyros ferea; Cymbidium Park; Wildlife Sanctuary; Non Hunting Area; finlaysonianum; Doritis pulcherima; Drynaria Forest Reserved Area). Therefore, the study of sparsisora. On the other hand, some species so vegetation on the sandbars is necessary before far, have only been collected from specific study all the remnants disappear in the near future due sites e.g. Dipterocarpus obtusifolius, collected to urban development, tourism and agriculture. only from Songkhla; Schizaea digitata found only in Narathiwat. This may be due to the zoning Acknowledgment gradient of plant communities on the sandbars since the selected study site may be part of any The authors would like to thank the Faculty number of plant communities occurring on the of Science, Prince of Songkla University at Hat- sandbars. Therefore the species composition from Yai, Songkhla for the kindly providing an ini- the various zones is different. Another possibi- tiation fund for the project in Songkhla in 1996. lity is that the distribution pattern of plants in Funding from Trans Thai- (Thailand) Ltd. Songkhla and Nakhon Si Thammarat may differ enabled the first author to complete the study at from those in Narathiwat, which have distribution Songkhla site in Chana district as part of the En- patterns rather like Malesian plants. vironmental Impact Assessment project (EIA) on Gas separation and piping in Songkhla. In Conclusion addition, the authors owe much to Prof. Kunio Suzuki, Dean of Graduate School of Environment No major differences in plant species com- and Information Sciences, Yokohama National position and community type were found between University, Japan, for his valuable comments and the sandbars next to the shore (sites: Son., Na.1 kind funding of the major part of this study. The and Na.2) and the off-shore sandbar (site: Nak.). project study of vegetation on the sandbars on The plant species composition investiga- the eastern coast of Peninsular Thailand is part of tion and the primary analysis on community type the co-operation project between the Prince of through the Braun-Blanquet method of the four Songkla University and Japanese research group remnants show some common characters between on coastal ecology in Peninsular Thailand, funded them. These characteristics suggested that, in the by the Japanese government. Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol. The preliminary study on some natural plant communities Vol. 25 No. 1 Jan.-Feb. 2003 113 Sridith, K. and Laongpol, C.

References Tomita, M, Hirabuki, Y., Hara, K, Kaitarou, N and Congdon, G. 1982. the Vegetation of Tarutao National Araki, Y. Drastic Recovery of Melaleuca - Do- Park, Nat. Hist. Bull. Siam Soc., 30(2): 135-198. minant Scrub after a Severe Fire: A Three-Year Kent, M. and Coker, P. 1994. Vegetation Description Period Study in a Degraded Peat Swamp, Thai- and Analysis: A Practical Approach, John Wiley land, Eco-Habitat, 7(1): 81-87. & Sons, UK, pp. 245-275. Vithayarat, P (ed.). 1995. Landforms of Thailand from Pongsaputra, P., Pongprayoon, C., Boon-Long, R., Space, National Research Council of Thailand, Tangprasert, S., Chan-How, P., Supajanya, T. Darnsutha Press, Bangkok, pp. 153-154, 170. and Sri-israporn, S. 1991. Illustrated Landforms Whitmore, T.C. 1975. Tropical Rain Forest of the Far of Thailand, Darnsutha Press, Bangkok, pp. East, Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp. 129- 120-122. 138. Sridith, K. 2002. The remnant of Vegetation on a Coastal Whitmore, T.C. (ed.), 1985. Tropical Rain Forest of Sandbar in Songkhla Province, Peninsular the Far East (revised ed.), Clarendon Press, Thailand, Thai. For. Bull., 30: 49-58. Oxford, pp. 146-147,160-170. Suzuki, K. 1999. An Ecological Study of Melaleuca Communities in Littoral Swamps, Eco-Habitat, 6(1): 133-141.