An Analysis of Plant Vegetation Types and Structures on Popaya Island, North Gorontalo

Abstract The structure of vegetation in an ecosystem is determined by how the plants are arranged horizontally and vertically. This study aims to determine the vegetation structure in the Popaya Island area, Mas Popaya Raja Nature Reserve, North Gorontalo district. A purposive sampling method was used in this study, with plots measuring 20m x 20m for the tree level, 10m x 10m for the pole level, 5m x 5m for the sapling level, and 2 x 2 for the seedling level. An analysis of vegetation data was conducted using the Importance Value Index (IVI). The results of the study found as many as 19 species of plants, with the highest IVI value found in the type of Casuarina equisetifolia at the growth rate of trees, poles, and saplings with an IVI value of 221.02%, 169.91%, and 91.99% respectively at the growth rate of trees, poles, and saplings; Scaevola taccada represented 38, 30% at the seedling level.