The Vegetation Communities Native Grassland
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Edition 2 From Forest to Fjaeldmark The Vegetation Communities Native grassland Themeda australis Edition 2 From Forest to Fjaeldmark (revised - October 2017) 1 Native grassland Community (Code) Page Coastal grass and herbfield (GHC) 5 Highland Poa grassland (GPH) 7 Lowland grassland complex (GCL) 9 Lowland grassy sedgeland (GSL) 11 Lowland Poa labillardierei grassland (GPL) 12 Lowland Themeda triandra grassland (GTL) 14 Rockplate grassland (GRP) 16 General description align the key and the description of Lowland grassland complex ( ) with respect to the Native grasslands are defined as areas of native GCL required cover of native grass species. In 2017 vegetation dominated by native grasses with few or further minor revisions were made to improve no emergent woody species. Different types of information for general management issues, and to native grassland can be found in a variety of habitats, improve the description of Coastal grass and including coastal fore-dunes, dry slopes and valley herbfield (GHC) and its differentiation from Lowland bottoms, rock plates and subalpine flats. The lowland Poa labillardierei grassland (GPL). This is reflected in temperate grassland types have been recognised as the key to this Section. some of the most threatened vegetation communities in Australia. General management issues Some areas of native grassland are human-induced Most lowland native grassland in Tasmania has been and exist as a result of heavy burning, tree clearing cleared for agriculture since European settlement or dieback of the tree layer in grassy woodlands. (Barker 1999, Gilfedder 1990, Kirkpatrick et al. 1988, There are seven grassland communities recognised Kirkpatrick 1991, Williams et al. 2007). by TASVEG: one is coastal, four are lowland, one is Native grassland has management challenges highland, and one is found in both highland and (Mokany et al. 2006, Williams et al. 2015), which lowland areas. Floristic differences, altitudinal vary with the type of grassland. The impacts of distribution and environmental situation are used to livestock grazing can be positive or negative, or define the communities. positive for some aspects of the community while negative for others. Some of the variables that can Minor revision affect this impact are: type of livestock, stocking rate, Minor changes to the description of Highland Poa stocking period, site fertility, grassland type and the grassland (GPH) were made in 2015 to reflect a relationship between the grazing and fire regimes. It minor revision of the section re-named as Modified is generally accepted that in non-alpine grassland land. The description of GPH was adjusted to where native herbivore populations have been include highland grasslands that have been sown reduced some stock grazing is desirable (Kirkpatrick with exotic pasture species but which have had et al. 1988, Kirkpatrick 1991). Fire is considered to significant reversion to a native state, improving the be an important management tool for native differentiation of this unit from Agricultural land grassland as it impedes the establishment of woody (FAG) and Regenerating cleared land (FRG). A species and provides disturbance that maintains high minor modification to the sectional key was made to species diversity. Appropriate fire regimes vary Edition 2 From Forest to Fjaeldmark (revised - October 2017) 1 depending on the grassland type, the grazing regime, Institute for Environmental Research, Department of the species present and their conservation value Natural Resources and Environment, Victoria. (Kirkpatrick et al. 1988, Kirkpatrick 1991). A Askey–Doran, M. (1993) Riparian Vegetation in the combination of burning followed by stock grazing in Midlands and Eastern Tasmania. Parks and Wildlife Service, Highland Poa grassland (GPH) has in some cases Tasmania, Hobart. resulted in the establishment of unpalatable shrubs Australian Government (2009). Lowland native Grasslands and the conversion to species-poor heathland of Tasmania. A nationally threatened ecological community Kirkpatrick 1991). More critical is when the fire Environmental Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act interval exceeds 10 years, with prescribed burning at 1999. Policy Statement 3:18. intervals of less than 10 years between fires recommended to maintain grassy ecosystems and Barker, P. (1999) Recovery Plan for Tasmanian Native keep the cover of invasive native shrubs at less than Grasslands 2000–2002. Department of Primary Industries, 20% (Gilfedder et al. 2017). Water and Environment, Hobart. The effects of fertilisers are not fully understood, but Barnes, R.W., Duncan, F. & Todd, C.S. (2002) The native vegetation of King Island, Bass Strait. Nature Conservation fertiliser application and associated grazing are Report 02/6. Nature Conservation Branch, Department of observed to result in a change in grassland Primary Industries, Water and Environment, Hobart. composition and an increase in exotic species (Kirkpatrick et al. 1988, Kirkpatrick 1991). Bell P. (1999) Ptunarra Brown Butterfly Recovery Plan 1998–2003, Department of Primary Industries and Water, Threatened species are a significant component of Hobart. native grasslands. At the national level there are about 25 species associated with grasslands listed as Ellis, R.C. & Thomas, I. (1989) Pre–settlement and post– settlement vegetational change and probable aboriginal threatened under the Environmental Protection and influences in a highland forested area in Tasmania. In: Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC), and Australia’s Everchanging Forests (Ed. K.J. Frawley, & N. approximately 60 flora and fauna species associated Temple) pp 199–214), 1989: Australia’s Everchanging with grasslands are listed under state environmental Forests. Dept. Geography and Oceanography, ADFA, law; the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Canberra. Act 1995 (Gilfedder 1990, Barker 1999, Australian Government 2009). All of these have particular Ellis, R.C. (1985) The relationships among eucalypt forest, grassland and rainforest in a highland area in north–eastern management requirements. The EPBC act also lists Tasmania. Australian Journal of Ecology. 10, 297–314. ‘Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania’ as critically endangered (Australian Government 2009). Fensham, R.J. & Kirkpatrick, J.B. (1992) The eucalypt forest–grassland/grassy woodland boundary in central Coastal grass and herbfield (GHC) is susceptible to Tasmania. Australian Journal of Botany. 40, 123–138. erosion and degradation from human activities such as use of recreational vehicles, stock grazing and in Fensham, R.J. & Kirkpatrick, J.B. (1989) The conservation of some instances burning (Harris 1991, Barnes et al. original vegetation remnants in the Midlands, Tasmania. 2002). Austrofestuca and Spinifex dominated Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania. 123, 229–246. communities are particularly susceptible to displacement by weed species such as Ammophila Fensham, R.J. (1989) The pre–European vegetation of the arenaria, Euphorbia paralias and Thinopyrum Midlands, Tasmania: a floristic and historical analysis of junceiforme (Rudman 2003). Weeds also threaten vegetation patterns. Journal of Biogeography. 16, 29–45. Lowland Poa labillardierei grassland (GPL), Forest Practices Authority (2005). Forest Botany Manual. particularly on fertile river flats. Gorse, willows and Forest Practices Authority, Hobart, Tasmania. exotic grasses invade some areas on river flats Gilfedder, L., Kirkpatrick, J.B., Wapstra, H. & Wapstra, A. (Kirkpatrick 1991). (2003) The Nature of the Midlands. Northern Midlands Council, Longford, Tasmania. References and further reading Gilfedder, L. & Kirkpatrick, J. B. (1997) Characteristics and Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research (2002) Conservation Status of Rock Pavement Vegetation in Natural Temperate Grassland, Report preparatory to Lowland Perhumid and Subhumid Tasmania. A report to nomination of Natural Temperate Grasslands under the the National Estate Grants Program, unpublished Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act University of Tasmania, Hobart. 1999. Flora Ecology Research Section, Arthur Rylah Edition 2 From Forest to Fjaeldmark (revised - October 2017) 2 Gilfedder, L. (1990) Threatened species from Tasmania’s Neyland, M.G. (1993) The ecology and conservation remnant grasslands. Tas Forests. 2(2) 129–132. management of the Ptunarra brown butterfly Oreixenica ptunarra (Lepidoptera; Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) in Gilfedder, L. (1995) Montane grasslands of north–western Tasmania, Australia. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Tasmania. Report to North Forests, Burnie and Forestry Society of Tasmania. 127, 43–48. Tasmania. Read, J. & Hill, R.S. (1983) Rainforest invasion onto Gilfedder L., Duncan F. & Kirkpatrick J.B. (2017). Ecology Tasmanian oldfields. Australian Journal of Ecology. 8, 149– and Management of Native Grasslands at Surrey Hills, 161. Northwest Tasmania. A report to Forico Pty Limited, Launceston Resource Management and Conservation Division (2011) Background Report for Lowland Native Grasslands of Harris, S. (1991) Coastal vegetation. In: Tasmanian Native Tasmania, Unpublished Report to the Australian Bush: A Management Handbook (Ed. J.B. Kirkpatrick) pp Government, Department of Primary Industries, Parks, 128–147. Tasmanian Environment Centre Inc., Hobart. Water and Environment, Hobart. Jackson, W.D. (1973) Vegetation of the Central Plateau. Rudman, T. (2003) Tasmanian beach weed strategy for In: The Lake Country of Tasmania (Ed.