The Vegetation Communities Dry Eucalypt Forest and Woodland
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Edition 2 From Forest to Fjaeldmark The Vegetation Communities Dry eucalypt forest and woodland Eucalyptus amygdalina Edition 2 From Forest to Fjaeldmark 1 Dry eucalypt forest and woodland Community (Code) Page Eucalyptus amygdalina coastal forest and woodland (DAC) 11 Eucalyptus amygdalina forest and woodland on dolerite (DAD) 13 Eucalyptus amygdalina forest and woodland on sandstone (DAS) 15 Eucalyptus amygdalina forest on mudstone (DAM) 17 Eucalyptus amygdalina inland forest and woodland on Cainozoic deposits (DAZ) 19 Eucalyptus amygdalina–Eucalyptus obliqua damp sclerophyll forest (DSC) 22 Eucalyptus barberi forest and woodland (DBA) 24 Eucalyptus coccifera forest and woodland (DCO) 25 Eucalyptus cordata forest (DCR) 27 Eucalyptus dalrympleana–Eucalyptus pauciflora forest and woodland (DDP) 29 Eucalyptus delegatensis dry forest and woodland (DDE) 31 Eucalyptus globulus dry forest and woodland (DGL) 33 Eucalyptus gunnii woodland (DGW) 35 Eucalyptus morrisbyi forest and woodland (DMO) 37 Eucalyptus nitida dry forest and woodland (DNI) 39 Eucalyptus nitida Furneaux forest (DNF) 41 Eucalyptus obliqua dry forest (DOB) 43 Eucalyptus ovata forest and woodland (DOV) 45 Eucalyptus ovata heathy woodland (DOW) 48 Eucalyptus pauciflora forest and woodland not on dolerite (DPO) 50 Eucalyptus pauciflora forest and woodland on dolerite (DPD) 52 Eucalyptus perriniana forest and woodland (DPE) 54 Eucalyptus pulchella forest and woodland (DPU) 56 Eucalyptus risdonii forest and woodland (DRI) 58 Eucalyptus rodwayi forest and woodland (DRO) 60 Eucalyptus sieberi forest and woodland not on granite (DSO) 62 Eucalyptus sieberi forest and woodland on granite (DSG) 64 Eucalyptus tenuiramis forest and woodland on dolerite (DTD) 66 Eucalyptus tenuiramis forest and woodland on granite (DTG) 68 Eucalyptus tenuiramis forest and woodland on sediments (DTO) 70 Eucalyptus viminalis Furneaux forest and woodland (DVF) 72 Eucalyptus viminalis grassy forest and woodland (DVG) 74 Eucalyptus viminalis–Eucalyptus globulus coastal forest and woodland (DVC) 76 King Island eucalypt woodland (DKW) 78 Midlands woodland complex (DMW) 80 Edition 2 From Forest to Fjaeldmark (revised - April 2019) 1 General description this case allocation of vegetation to a TASVEG mapping unit on the basis of floristic composition Dry eucalypt forests and woodlands cover much of may be more appropriate. the central and eastern parts of the Tasmanian landscape, with the greatest diversity of eucalypt species in the south-east of the State. Changes since the first edition Two dry forest/woodland mapping units have been Most of the dry eucalypt forest mapping units used discontinued and the vegetation they mapped in TASVEG are adapted from the Tasmanian absorbed into other Eucalyptus dry forest mapping Regional Forest Agreement (1997). Additional units. mapping units have been added during subsequent mapping to better represent ecological vegetation Eucalyptus viminalis shrubby/heathy woodland communities. In many cases, the woodland versions (DVS) has been redistributed in coastal localities to of their forest counterparts are floristically similar; Eucalyptus viminalis - Eucalyptus globulus coastal only the tree density divides them. Where this is the forest and woodland (DVC) where it occurs on case, TASVEG maps woodland and forest as a single Holocene sands, and to Eucalyptus amygdalina unit. coastal forest and woodland (DAC) where it is mapped on other siliceous substrates. Elsewhere When using keys, users should be aware that DVS has been absorbed into the following broader mapping units may contain patches of other communities depending on geology; Eucalyptus plant communities, typically where those patches are amygdalina forest and woodland on dolerite (DAD), less than 1ha. For example, small patches of DVG Eucalyptus amygdalina inland forest and woodland may be found in larger blocks of Eucalyptus pulchella on Cainozoic deposits (DAZ), Eucalyptus amygdalina or E. amygdalina forest. The issue of scale also affects forest and woodland on sandstone (DAS) and Eucalyptus amygdalina – Eucalyptus obliqua damp Eucalyptus amygdalina forest and woodland on sclerophyll forest (DSC). It is a complex that is often mudstone (DAM). distinguished on the ground, but some core elements of DSC are hard to allocate, and as a result Eucalyptus amygdalina inland forest (DAI) has now patches of DSC may be mapped as the surrounding been fully differentiated into Eucalyptus amygdalina community. While Eucalyptus gunnii woodland is forest and woodland on mudstone (DAM) and now mapped separately as DGW, TASVEG 3.0 still Eucalyptus amygdalina inland forest and woodland maps Eucalyptus archeri within Eucalyptus coccifera on Cainozoic deposits (DAZ); DAI is no longer forest. available for mapping. The eucalypt communities are relatively easily In 2017 a minor update was made to the description distinguished by the dominant eucalypt or eucalypts of Eucalyptus pulchella forest and woodland (DPU) in the canopy, usually in combination with a to include a facies occurring on mudstone, rather description of the type of understorey and the than on dolerite, within the Redgate Section of the characteristics the of environment occupied. While Meehan Range NRA. the key to the section directs the user to an Other revisions include a change to the Sectional appropriate mapping unit based on the above, key and relevant descriptions to improve the exceptions may occur and field validation, based on differentiation of Eucalyptus ovata forest and the more explicatory information in the unit woodland (DOV) and King Island eucalypt description, is normally required for a definitive woodland (DKW) in light of the debate surrounding allocation of vegetation code. An example of where the taxonomy of Eucalyptus brookeriana and reliance on a ruleset alone is compromised is ‘the E. ovata on King Island (Barnes et al 2002). Minor mosaic of DAS (Eucalyptus amygdalina forest and changes to the descriptions of Eucalyptus amygdalina woodland on sandstone) and DAC (Eucalyptus forest and woodland on sandstone (DAS) and amygdalina coastal forest and woodland) reflecting Eucalyptus amygdalina coastal forest and woodland subtle differences in topography and substrate’ at (DAC) were made to accommodate the situation the Coal Mines Historic Site on the Tasman where presence of loose sands overlying bedrock Peninsula (ECOTas, 2015). Here, the reliance of the can modify the typical influence of underlying key on geology for separation of DAS and DAC geology (ECOtas, 2015). appears to be compromised by the ubiquitous presence of loose sands overlying the bedrock. In Edition 2 From Forest to Fjaeldmark (revised - April 2019) 2 General management issues Tasmanian households are estimated to use over half a million tons of firewood annually, almost Dry sclerophyll eucalypt communities are highly exclusively from dry forest (Todd et al. 1989; Millar adapted to fire, the composition and structure of 2001). E. amygdalina is extensively targeted for these communities largely dependent on the firewood harvesting throughout the drier parts of intensity and frequency of fire events. Fire regime Tasmania (Millar 2001) with some habitat effects and characteristics influence changes in floristic possible local changes in eucalypt composition composition and structure and local extinctions (Driscoll & Milkovits 2000; Millar 2001). (Williams 1991). High-frequency, low- intensity fires in particular may result in one, or a combination, of Crown dieback in the canopy of some forest and impacts. These include low species diversity; low woodlands may occur naturally during drought but ground cover; domination by bracken, tussock grass can be exacerbated by impacts such as grazing and or sedge; erosion; reduction in terrestrial burning pressure. The understorey of some heathy invertebrate diversity; loss of obligate seed dry sclerophyll communities has been identified as regenerators; and loss of soil-stored seed (Duncan moderately susceptible to degradation by the plant 1988; Neyland & Askey- Doran 1996; Gill et al. pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi. Infection by the 1999). Specific outcomes are closely dependent on pathogen can result in a general decrease in plant substrate and soil types (Duncan 1988). diversity. Species from the families Dilleniaceae, Epacridaceae, Fabaceae, Proteaceae and Rutaceae DSO and DSG have been subjected to frequent are particularly susceptible (Schahinger et al. 2003). low-intensity fire regimes in recent history (Neyland Closing access to infected areas is crucial to & Askey-Doran 1994). This has resulted in the loss restricting the pathogen. Avoiding the creation of of organic soils in many areas. Obligate seed new tracks through the bush reduces the regenerators have been disadvantaged, possibly opportunities for infection (Kirkpatrick & Harris resulting in a loss of species diversity. 1999). Bush-run sheep grazing may be beneficial for plant diversity in dry grassy bush at some stocking rates References and further reading and regimes, but is not ubiquitously so. Frequent Barnes, R.W., Duncan, F. & Todd, C. S. (2002) The Native sheep grazing with or without low-intensity burning Vegetation of King Island, Bass Strait. Nature Conservation may have such consequences as establishing open Report 02/6. Nature Conservation Branch, Resource grassy forest where it had not occurred before, and Management and Conservation, Department of Primary conversion of multi-aged forests to single-aged Industries, Water and Environment, Hobart.