VEGETATION MAPPING By S. J. Pillman1, P. D. Canty1, A. C. Robinson1, and P. J. Lang1 INTRODUCTION plains, Eucalyptus microtheca [= coolabah] Low Only very generalised vegetation mapping was Woodland on floodplains, Eucalyptus gamophylla +/ available for the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands (AP E. oxymitra Open Scrub on dunes and Atriplex Lands) prior to this survey. rhagodioides [= nummularia] Low Shrubland on plains. Specht (1972) mapped four general communities: EPHEMERAL COMMUNITIES, Far North-west In his update of the work of Davies, Neagle (1995) Ranges, TALL SHRUBLAND, Acacia aneura- A. added data on additions to the National Parks and brachystachya, HUMMOCK GRASSLAND to LOW Wildlife Conservation Reserves system and on the OPEN WOODLAND Triodia basedowii (+/ many Heritage Agreement Areas proclaimed since Casuarina [= Allocasuarina] decaisneana in north, Davies’ work, but this had no effect in the AP Lands in LOW SHRUBLAND, Atriplex rhagodioides [= terms of re-defining the threatened vegetation nummularia] and LOW SHRUBLAND Atriplex communities. vesicaria- Bassia [Sclerolaena] sp. Broad-scale vegetation mapping has also been A map produced by the Pastoral Board (1973) showed completed in those areas of Western Australia and the four general communities: MALLEE - NATIVE PINE Northern Territory, which adjoin the AP Lands. - NATIVE FIG – CORKWOOD – BLOODWOOD SPINIFEX ASSOCIATION on the ranges, DESERT In Western Australia, Beard and Webb (1974) OAK - DESERT KURRAJONG – MULGA described the techniques used in the 1:250 000 SPINIFEX ASSOCIATION and a MULGA – vegetation mapping to develop the 1:1 000 000 CORKWOOD - BLOODWOOD- IRONWOOD vegetation map series for Western Australia. The ASSOCIATION on the surrounding plains. second of these published maps covered the Great Victoria Desert (Beard 1974) and included the area The map by Boomsma and Lewis (1980) incorporating adjacent to the AP Lands in Western Australia. He the work of Specht and the Pastoral Board showed the recognised the following vegetation associations: AP Lands vegetation of the Mann and Tomkinson STEPPE WITH SPARSE TREES ON ROCKY Ranges as 75% GRASSLAND and 25% TALL HILLS, Eucalyptus dichromophloia [=? Corymbia SHRUBLAND. The remaining ranges and their eremaea] and Triodia basedowii surrounds as: 60% TALL SHRUBLAND and 40% MULGA LOW WOODLAND, Acacia aneura OPEN SCRUB, while to the south a 35% MALLEE AND MULGA ON SAND PLAIN, Acacia GRASSLAND with 25% TALL SHRUBLAND and aneura, E. gamophylla and T. basedowii 20% WOODLAND and OPEN SCRUB graded into an area of 40% GRASSLAND with 20% WOODLAND In the Northern Territory, Wilson et al. (1990) have OPEN SCRUB and TALL SHRUBLAND. produced a 1:1 000 000 scale map covering the whole of the NT. In the area adjacent to the AP Lands they Davies (1982) mapped the ‘Inadequately Conserved recognised the following vegetation associations: Vegetation Associations’ across South Australia and his MIXED SPECIES LOW OPEN WOODLAND, Acacia Map 2 repeats the Erodium spp. - Helichrysum spp. - aneura (Mulga) Brachyscome spp. - Calocephalus spp. - Calotis spp. LOW OPEN WOODLAND, A. estrophiolata Ephemeral Community of Specht (1972) on the ranges. (Ironwood), Atalaya hemiglauca (Whitewood) He then uses the Environmental Association boundaries LOW OPEN WOODLAND with herbland/grassland of Laut et al. (1977) and their comments on the understorey, A. aneura (Mulga), Hakea (Needlewood) vegetation communities to identify the following TALL OPEN SHRUBLAND A. aneura (Mulga) with elsewhere across the AP Lands: Casuarina OPEN GRASSLAND understorey Eragrostis setifolia [Allocasuarina] decaisneana Low Open Woodland on (Woolybutt). 1 SA Department for Environment and Heritage, PO Box 1047, ADELAIDE, SA 5001 193 TALL OPEN SHRUBLAND A. aneura (Mulga) with Mixed Acacia spp. Tall Shrubland to Low Open OPEN SHRUBLAND understorey Cassia [=Senna] Woodland over chenopod (Atriplex/Maireana/ /Eremophila (Emubush) Sclerolaena spp.) shrubs and grasses. SPARSE SHRUBLAND A. tetragonophylla (Dead Lining the smaller drainage lines on the plains, it is a Finish), A. kempeana (Witchetty Bush) part of the large Mulga Floristic Group 29. HUMMOCK GRASSLAND, Triodia basedowii with TALL SPARSE SHRUBLAND, Acacia overstorey Melaleuca glomerata Inland Paper-bark/Eucalyptus HUMMOCK GRASSLAND, Triodia basedowii (Hard camaldulensis River Red Gum/Acacia victoriae Spinifex) with TALL SPARSE SHRUBLAND, A. Elegant Wattle Low Open Woodland. aneura (Mulga) overstorey between dunes. Lining smaller creeks and floodouts from the ranges it HUMMOCK GRASSLAND, Triodia basedowii (Hard equates to Floristic Groups 3, 5 and 6. Spinifex) with TALL SPARSE SHRUBLAND, Eucalyptus gamophylla (Blue Mallee) overstorey. SAND PLAINS AND DUNES HUMMOCK GRASSLAND, Triodia basedowii (Hard Spinifex) with LOW OPEN WOODLAND, Allocasuarina decaisneana Desert Oak Low Open Allocasuarina decaisneana (Desert Oak) overstorey Woodland. between dunes. Structurally a very distinctive group dominated by the LOW SPARSE SHRUBLAND, Atriplex vesicaria large Desert Oak trees, this was not floristically distinct (Bladder Saltbush) with ephemeral open- and is a part of Group 27. herb/grassland. Acacia ramulosa Horse Mulga and A. ligulata The present vegetation mapping project took account of Umbrella Wattle, Grevillea stenobotrya Rattle-pod previous mapping and vegetation association Grevillea and G. juncifolia Honeysuckle Grevillea classification, but as it was based on classification of Shrubland over Aluta maisonneuvei Desert Landsat TM imagery. The mapping was to be Thryptomene Shrubland and Triodia basedowii Hard produced at a scale of 1:250 000, and was therefore Spinifex. carried out in considerably more detail than any Confined to the extensive parallel dune systems it previous vegetation mapping attempts in and around equates to Floristic Group 25. the AP Lands. Triodia basedowii Hard Spinifex Hummock Grassland Three maps are included in the back pocket of this +/- Eucalyptus spp. (mainly E. gamophylla Twin-leaf report. They include the following: Mallee and E. oxymitra Sharp-cap Mallee). • Enhanced Satellite Image Found scattered on the sand plains it is part of Floristic • Classified Satellite Image - Vegetation Group 27. • Generalised Vegetation Communities Plains Although the Classified Satellite Image Vegetation map Acacia aneura Mulga, A. minyura Desert Mulga Open provides the most detailed picture of the spatial Woodland with understorey of tussock grasses. distribution of the communities across the AP Lands. Widespread across the sandy loam plains it is part of The Generalised Vegetation Communities map includes Floristic Group 30. a small number of additional communities interpreted subsequent to the classification of the satellite image by Acacia aneura Mulga Tall open shrubland with reference to existing vegetation mapping to the east and Maireana villosa Silky Bluebush. south and the further interpretation of drainage related Found on harder soils it is part of Floristic Group 29. vegetation. Aristida spp., Enneapogon spp. and Eragrostis spp. The 19 vegetation communities and the single non- Tussock Grassland +/- Very Open Woodland (eg vegetation mapping group are listed below. A brief Acacia aneura Mulga, A. estrophiolata Ironwood, explanation of the characteristics of each community, Hakea lorea Corkwood) or Very Open shrubland (eg A. together with the floristic groups they represent is also kempeana Witchetty Bush). Includes outwash areas provided. adjacent to ranges. Found on disturbed areas with shallower soils, it is part of Floristic Groups 15 and 18. KEY TO THE VEGETATION MAPPING Aristida spp., Enneapogon spp. and Eragrostis spp. Drainage lines Very Open Tussock Grassland +/- emergent trees (eg Eucalyptus camaldulensis River Red Gum Woodland. Acacia aneura Mulga, A. estrophiolata Ironwood, Confined to the larger drainage lines flowing from the Hakea lorea Long-leaf Corkwood) or shrubs (eg A. ranges. It is equivalent to Floristic Group 2. kempeana Witchetty Bush). May also include fire scars. 194 Covering the plains away from the hill footslopes it is Chenopod Dissocarpus/Atriplex/Sclerolaena/Maireana part of Floristic Group 13. spp. Sub-shrubland with herbs and grasses on cracking clays. Atriplex vesicaria Bladder Saltbush +/- Maireana spp. A group more common in the Stony Desert areas to the and samphire species Low Open Shrubland. east. Found only in areas of loam over shallow limestone it is not common on the AP Lands and did not classify as Mountain ranges and dissected tablelands a separate floristic Group from the few quadrats Triodia scariosa Spinifex Hummock Grassland. sampled. On steep rocky slopes of the ranges, equivalent to Floristic Group 23. Chenopod Atriplex/Sclerolaena/Maireana ssp. Low Open Shrubland over sub-shrubs and grasses. Triodia irritans Spinifex, T. scariosa Spinifex Another group restricted to the eastern extreme of the Hummock Grassland. AP Lands and not classified as a separate Floristic More confined to the lower slopes of rocky ranges, Group. equivalent to Floristic Group 21 Mixed Acacia kempeana Witchetty Bush, A. victoriae Enneapogon spp., Themeda triandra, Digitaria brownii Elegant Wattle, A. tetragonophylla Dead Finish (and A. Cotton Panic-grass Tussock Grassland +/- sparse prainii Prain's Wattle in the west) with Eremophila spp. emergent trees (e.g. Callitris glaucophylla White (especially E. longifolia Weeping Emubush) Cypress-pine, Acacia aneura Mulga, A. olgana Mount Shrublands. Olga Wattle, Ficus brachypoda Native Fig) Often found in a band near the base of hills