Nature Conservation 44: 21–49 (2021) A peer-reviewed open-access journal doi: 10.3897/natureconservation.44.60175 RESEARCH ARTICLE https://natureconservation.pensoft.net Launched to accelerate biodiversity conservation Plant diversity assessment of karst limestone, a case study of Malaysia’s Batu Caves Ruth Kiew1, Rafidah Abdul Rahman1 1 Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), 52109 Kepong, Selangor, Malaysia Corresponding author: Rafidah Abdul Rahman (
[email protected]) Academic editor: A. Grimm-Seyfarth | Received 30 October 2020 | Accepted 31 March 2021 | Published 11 May 2021 http://zoobank.org/5A3C4A2A-080B-4740-A20A-3782DE81B824 Citation: Kiew R, Rahman RA (2021) Plant diversity assessment of karst limestone, a case study of Malaysia’s Batu Caves. Nature Conservation 44: 21–49. https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.44.60175 Abstract Batu Caves hill is typical of karst hills in Peninsular Malaysia due to its small size and high biodiversity. It harbours 366 vascular plant species that represent about 25% of the Peninsula’s limestone flora. Five species are endemic to Batu Caves and 23 are threatened species. This high biodiversity is the result of many microhabitats, each with their own assemblages of species. Threats are especially severe as the area of Batu Caves is surrounded by urbanisation that encroaches to the foot of cliffs, is vulnerable to fire, habitat disturbance and, formerly, by quarrying. Assigning a Conservation Importance Score (CIS) to all species is quantitative and accurate, can be implemented rapidly and produces reproducible results. Species with highest CIS are native species of primary vegetation, restricted to limestone substrates, endangered conser- vation status and, in this case, endemic to Batu Caves.