Research Publication Details

Abstract

Abstract Kinabalu Park, Malaysia’s first World Heritage Site, faces a persistent threat from invasive alien species, which negatively impact its rich biodiversity. The lack of systematic studies on alien plant species in the park hinders the effective management of invasive alien species. This study aims to establish a baseline by determining the species richness and distribution of alien plant species on the southern slope of Mount Kinabalu. Sampling was conducted at three sites with intensive tourism activities: the Kinabalu Park (KP) headquarters complex (14 plots), the Mesilau substation (12 plots), and along the Summit trail (10 plots). In total, 344 specimens were identified as alien plant species, belonging to 98 species from 39 families. Of these, 65 species are classified as invasive alien species based on previous reports. The KP headquarters complex exhibited the highest species richness (91 species), followed by the Mesilau substation (21 species) and the Summit trail (9 species). The majority of alien plant species belonged to the families Asteraceae, Poaceae and Asparagaceae. The three most widespread alien plant species were Hypochaeris radicata (63.9%), Plantago major (52.8%) and Crassocephalum crepidioides (50%). This study provides the first alien plant species checklist and distribution data for Kinabalu Park, offering a crucial reference for future studies and management plans. Keywords: Alien plant species, Invasive alien species, Mount Kinabalu, Species richness, Tropical montane forest