Cunninghamia Date of Publication: XX December 2015 A journal of plant ecology for eastern Australia
ISSN 0727- 9620 (print) • ISSN 2200 - 405X (Online)
Classifying and mapping the Australian Alps’ Native Vegetation
Brendan Mackey1, Peter Jacobs2 and Sonia Hugh3
1Griffith Climate Change Response Program, Griffith [email protected] 2 People in Nature [email protected] 3The Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University [email protected]
Abstract: Strategic and systematic planning for bioregional landscapes that cross jurisdictions is often hampered by different approaches to collecting, classifying and mapping information on the native vegetation cover in terms of major community types. The network of Australian Alps National Parks is one such multi-jurisdictional bioregional landscape consisting of 11 protected areas spanning 1.6 million hectares across Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Although the Alps network has a co-operative management program and the parks are listed as National Heritage, there is no common vegetation classification system or map at a scale suitable for management. As part of developing a strategic framework to assist biodiversity conservation for the whole of the Alps Network, a common vegetation classification and map was produced. The new classification utilised existing State vegetation classes and mapping to produce a common system by matching 71 NSW/ACT vegetation groups with 72 Victorian ecological vegetation classes, thereby resulting in 17 common vegetation classes with affinities with other studies described. The 17 vegetation classes also group into five broad vegetation character classes. Expert knowledge was used to match vegetation groups and classes. The resulting classification and map are available as a GIS data layer and as part of a decision support data-pack. This approach provides a low cost method for developing a common vegetation system across multi-jurisdictional landscapes, without replacing State-based systems, and in a format that can be readily updated in light of new field surveys and remotely sensed data. The new classification and map are available for download from an online data repository. This new vegetation information can be applied to help promote a whole-of-landscape approach to planning and management of the Alps Network. Cunninghamia (2015) 15: 185-199 doi:10.7751/cunninghamia.2015.15.010
Cunninghamia: a journal of plant ecology for eastern Australia © 2015 Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/science/Scientific_publications/cunninghamia 186 Cunninghamia 15: 2015 Mackey, Jacobs & Hugh, Australian Alps’ Native Vegetation
Introduction detail for park planning and management purposes. There remains the need for an appropriately scaled common Information on the composition, structure and distribution vegetation classification and map for the Alps Network that of major vegetation types is fundamental for the systematic can complement remotely sensed data on land cover change conservation planning and management of protected areas. including weed impacts (Deehan et al. 2007) and updated Providing data sets with a common coverage, however, can information about the flora of this complex bioregion be problematic for protected area networks that span large, (Doherty et al. 2015). multi-jurisdictional landscapes. While encompassing the We present here a new classification and map of the same bioregions and ecosystem types, different vegetation Alps Network native vegetation types based on existing classification and mapping systems often arise independently data interpreted by expert knowledge, along with a brief over time. description of the source data and discussion on some of The Australian Alps National Parks Network (hereafter, the the major issues that needed to be resolved and potential Alps Network) comprises 11 protected areas spanning 1.6 applications. million ha across the states of Victoria, New South Wales (NSW) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) (Table 1, Figure 1). Currently, each State and territory government agency Methods manages the park areas within its jurisdiction. Interagency cooperation is promoted through the Australian Alps Co- The definitive approach to developing a new common operative Management Program (Australian Alps Liaison vegetation system for a large cross-jurisdiction landscape 2012). There is, however, no whole-of-Alps management plan such as the Alps Network would be to undertake a full re- or common database of biodiversity information. Vegetation assessment and analysis of the current native vegetation classifications and lists of threatened and endangered species through quantitative on-ground surveys, using these survey are recorded separately using State and Commonwealth based plot data to generate a new statistically-based vegetation systems with different standards and criteria. classification, and then using some form of remote sensing to map the vegetation classes. In the meantime, an alternative, NSW/ACT and Victoria have independently developed practical approach is to gather available mapped vegetation vegetation classification and mapping systems. The data from jurisdictions and integrate the different vegetation different methods have resulted in major mismatches types into a common classification that can be applied which are most apparent at state and territorial borders. seamlessly across borders, while retaining the original The National Vegetation Information System (Department classification units that can be referred to as needed. In of the Environment and Heritage 2003) has generated addition, descriptive information from other pertinent continental coverage of native vegetation which spans the vegetation surveys can be identified and used to help identify Alps Network but the classification and scale of mapping affinities across the vegetation classification systems. are coarse, omitting a number of vegetation types that are characteristic of the bioregion and providing insufficient
Table 1 National Parks within the Australian Alps National Parks Network.
Jurisdiction National Park Area (ha)
Victoria Alpine National Park 660,550
Snowy River National Park 98,100
Avon Wilderness 39,650
Mount Buffalo National Park 31,000
Baw Baw National Park 13,300
New South Wales Kosciuszko National Park 690,425
Brindabella National Park 18,472
Scabby Range Nature Reserve 4,982
Bimberi Nature Reserve 10,886
Australian Capital Territory Namadgi National Park 105,900
Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve 5,450
Total area 1,600,000 Cunninghamia 15: 2015 Mackey, Jacobs & Hugh, Australian Alps’ Native Vegetation 187
Alpine Bogs and Fens and Alpine Heathlands Tall Wet Forests
Alpine Grasslands and Herbfields Moist Montane Forest
Sub alpine Woodlands and Open forests Rainshadow Woodlands and Open Forests
Fig. 1. Examples of major Alps-wide vegetation classes. 188 Cunninghamia 15: 2015 Mackey, Jacobs & Hugh, Australian Alps’ Native Vegetation
Fig. 2. Location of the Australian Alps National Parks Network. Cunninghamia 15: 2015 Mackey, Jacobs & Hugh, Australian Alps’ Native Vegetation 189
Fig. 3. Major vegetation types recognized by the new vegetation classification of the Alps Network. 190 Cunninghamia 15: 2015 Mackey, Jacobs & Hugh, Australian Alps’ Native Vegetation
While several studies describe the Alps Network vegetation 3). These 17 vegetation classes were then further grouped to various degrees, the only two spatial datasets that were into five broad vegetation character classes (A-E below): suitable for this study were those of Gellie (2005) for A. Lower to mid elevation forests and woodlands1: (1) NSW and ACT and the Department of Sustainability and Temperate Rainforest; (2) Moist Foothill Forests: (3) Environment (2015) for Victoria. The first step was to Dry Foothill Forests; (4) Rainshadow Woodlands and identify the distinctive and recognisable vegetation types Open Forests; that characterise the Australian Alps Network landscapes. The second step was to align and match the vegetation units B. Montane grasslands, forests and woodlands: (5) of the NSW/ACT and Victorian classification systems. For Tablelands Grassland: (6) Moist Montane Forest: (7) Victoria, these are called Ecological Vegetation Classes and Tall Wet Forests; (8) Montane Woodlands and Open for NSW/ACT, Vegetation Groups. Forests; To provide additional and updated information on vegetation C. Open Rocky outcrops: (9) Rocky outcrops; types within each common class, vegetation community D. Sub-alpine woodlands, open forest and treeless: (10) descriptions were also drawn from Armstrong et al. (2013) Sub alpine Woodlands and Open forests; (11) Sub alpine for NSW/ACT, along with those of McDougall & Walsh treeless grasslands and herb fields; (12) Montane & sub- (2006) for treeless areas. A vegetation type of special alpine Wet Heathland and Sedgeland; (13) Montane & concern is the Alpine Peatlands and Bog community, which sub-Alpine Dry Heathland and Shrubland; and is a nationally listed community (DEWHA 2009). This community type is incompletely mapped by both Gellie E. Alpine treeless: (14) Alpine Bogs and Fens; (15) Alpine (2006) and by DSE’s EVCs. Consequently, an additional Heathland; (16) Feldmark & Snowpatch Herbfield; (17) Alpine Peatlands and Bogs layer was produced by combining Alpine Grasslands & Herbfields. more accurate Peatland mapping (Office of Environment and The vegetation information summarised in Table 2 and a Heritage 2012; Arthur Rylah Institute 2008). In synthesising detailed digital version of the vegetation map (Figure 3) are and integrating the available information about vegetation available to download from the Terra Nova Climate Change types, we drew upon our own knowledge of the region’s Information Climate Change Adaptation Information Portal ecology along with advice gained from consultations with at
1 Lower to mid elevation refers to areas that extend from the lowest to the median elevation areas of the Australian Alps ( i.e.100m up to around 1000m ASL), (see Table 2). Cunninghamia 15: 2015 Mackey, Jacobs & Hugh, Australian Alps’ Native Vegetation 191 woodlands woodlands Lower to mid Lower Lower to mid Lower CHARACTER VEGETATION VEGETATION elevation forests and elevation forests elevation forests and elevation forests
& may E. rossi . Rapanea Dicksonia Eucalyptus & 4 R. howittiiana E. fastigata dives, E. bridgesiana, Acacia melanoxylon E . E. obliqua and Atherosperma moschatum Atherosperma & AND TYPICAL AND TYPICAL SPECIES 3 E. macrorrhyncha where drier, particularly Acmena smithii, Acacia melanoxylon Acmena smithii, ALPS WIDE VEGETATION CLASSES ALPS WIDE VEGETATION Nothafagus cunninghamii in some cases and in Victoria DESCRIPTION . Includes riparian woodlands, scrubs & shrublands, which The Dry Rainforests of East Gippsland contain Gippsland East of Rainforests Dry The E. robertsonii with occurrences of with ALPS INTEGRATED VEGETATION CATEGORIES CATEGORIES VEGETATION ALPS INTEGRATED E. camphora in wetter areas. Moist Foothill Forests are mixed species herb rich and shrubby forests of foothills and mid slopes occurring from the lower elevations around 1200m. to up occurrences some with ASL, m 1000 to up generally 100m to due largely are forest) foothill dry of that (than conditions moister The they as limited is range elevation their Generally, type. soil and/or aspect Forests Wet Tall or Woodlands and Forest Montane higher the into merge at around 900m to1000 m ASL. Commonly dominated by radiata & E. dalrympleana, mannifera rubida E. cypellocarpa, & with occur in moist deep soils & in the north. Mid storey species may include A. dealbata into montane heathlands. may merge Rainforests are closed forests not dominated by eucalypts. Cool temperate Cool eucalypts. by dominated not forests closed are Rainforests rainforest commonly contains antarctica Temperate Warm Forests. Wet has a Tall strong with floristic the affinity rainforest occurs in East Gippsland and the commonly southern containing fall in Victoria, howittiana. along with Pittosporum undulatum & Brachychiton populneaus ALPS Forests CLASS Rainforest Temperate Temperate COMBINED Moist Foothill VEGETATION VEGETATION
82 83 19 23 32 31 No 315 EVC
Dry Rainforest 34 Riparian Shrubland VICTORIA: ECOLOGICAL ECOLOGICAL VICTORIA: Valley Grassy ForestValley 47 VEGETATION CLASS (EVC) VEGETATION Damp Forest Complex COMPARABLE EVC COMPARABLE Shrubby Foothill Forest/ CLASS IN GROUPING Swampy Riparian Woodland Swampy Riparian 2
Rainforest Temperate Warm 53 Riverine Escarpment Scrub 81 90 82 93 94 104 Lowland Forest 16 106 Herb-rich Foothill Forest 172 Rainforest Temperate Cool MAPPED VEGETATION GROUPS & CLASSES VEGETATION MAPPED
(Gellie 2005) Forest Forest Forest Dry Forest Herb Forest Herb Forest Herb-Grass Forest Herb/Grass Dry Forest Cool Temperate Rainforest Temperate Cool of Sustainability and Environment. (2015), Armstrong et al. (2013) and McDougall, K.L. & Walsh, N.G. (2007) and are not intended to be comprehensive. Walsh, Armstrong et al. (2013) and McDougall, K.L. & of Sustainability and Environment. (2015), VEGETATION GROUPS VEGETATION CODE Northern Tablelands Acacia Tablelands Northern Montane Dry Shrub-Tussock Montane Dry Shrub-Tussock Tableland Acacia-Herb-Grass Tableland Riparian Acacia Shrub-Grass- Riparian NSW/ACT: VEGETATION GROUPS VEGETATION NSW/ACT: South West Slopes Acacia Dry Slopes West South Eastern Dry Shrub-Herb-Grass Western Montane Acacia Fern- Montane Western Western Tablelands Herb-Grass Tablelands Western Kosciuszko Western Escarpment Western Kosciuszko Table 2 Vegetation Units descriptions of the Australian Alps national parks. Australian Units descriptions of the Vegetation 2 Table 2 State Classification system. not the NSW From Gellie (2005), 3 Department (2005), Gellie and aspect, therefore elevation ranges stated are general indications only. classes vary significantly with latitude for vegetation Elevation ranges from drawn only, selection a are species 4 typical The class. Alps combined the in groups/EVC’s vegetation between and localities with vary composition their and Species 192 Cunninghamia 15: 2015 Mackey, Jacobs & Hugh, Australian Alps’ Native Vegetation woodlands Lower to mid Lower elevation forests and elevation forests
Eucalyptus E. goniocalyx, E. melliodora, & Cassinia longifolia E. dives, E. macrorhyncha, E. dives, macrorhyncha, along with along Eucalyptus dives, . with A. implexa. Includes dry scrubs of E. polyanthemos which may be present E. rossii, the box species, & E. goniocalyx, E. macrorhyncha and E. dalrympleana may E. macrorhyncha mix in . Daviesia latifolia, D.ulicfolia & . Daviesia latifolia, Callitris glaucophylla, Brachychiton populneus, Exocarpus Acacia silvestris & Eriostemon trachyphyllus. along with Acacia mearnsi cuppressiformis, & Dry Foothill Forests are mixed species foothill and occurring mid from slope the lower forests elevations around 100m up to 1000 m ASL. They occur in drier situations than moist foothill forest due to aspect or soil type. Generally, their elevation range is limited as they merge into Forests at around Wet Tall or the higher Montane Forest Woodlands and by dominated Commonly ASL. m 800-1000 E. mannifera, rubida and E. nortonii, bridgesiana, polyanthemos and stringybarks such as elevations higher at E. mannifera, blakelyi are likely to be found in the understory albens, E. nortonii & Rainshadow Woodlands and Open up 110m from slopes dry steep on occurring forests open and woodlands Forests are lower elevation on to poorly ASL about structured 700 soils. They m include the Snowy dry by dominated Generally woodlands. rainshadow Valley River Forests Dry Foothill Rainshadow Open Forests Woodlands and Woodlands
22 21 320
Dry Forest Clay Heathland 7 Dry Valley ForestValley Dry 169 Valley Slopes Dry ForestValley 177 Heathy Dry Forest/ Grassy 71 Grassy Dry Forest 7579 Shrubby Foothill Forest 45 4177 Woodland Granitic Hills 72 70 74 73 78Woodland Grassy 175 110 114 115 116 119 109 Heathy Valley 127 108 Heathy Dry Forest 20 121 198 103 Shrubby Dry Forest Forest Forest Forest Forest Forest Woodland Limestone Grass Forest Grass Forest Grass Forest Grass Forest Grass Forest Grass Forest Tussock Grass Forest Tussock Woodland - Shrubland Woodland Shrub-Herb Woodland Shrub-Herb Shrub-Grass-Herb Forest Lower Snowy Dry Shrub- South East Tablelands Dry Tablelands South East Western Slopes Dry Shrub- Western Widespread Tablelands Dry Tablelands Widespread Lower Snowy Rain Shadow Western Montane Dry Fern- Western Shrub-Tussock Grass Forest Shrub-Tussock Shrub-Tussock Grass Forest Shrub-Tussock Tablelands Dry Shrub-Grass Tablelands ACT Dry Shrub-Herb ForestACT 80 Western Slopes Herb-Grassy Western Montane Dry Shrub-Tussock Montane Dry Shrub-Tussock Western Tableland Dry Shrub Tableland Western Eastern Tableland Dry Shrub- Tableland Eastern South Eastern Tablelands Dry Tablelands South Eastern Lower Snowy White Box Dry Lower Snowy Western Tablelands Dry Herb- Tablelands Western Tablelands Dry Shrub-Tussock Dry Shrub-Tussock Tablelands Western Escarpment Dry Shrub Western Western Slopes Grass-Herb Dry Western SC-CT-ST Herb-Grass Forest on SC-CT-ST Tablelands Shrub-Tussock Grass Shrub-Tussock Tablelands Cunninghamia 15: 2015 Mackey, Jacobs & Hugh, Australian Alps’ Native Vegetation 193 woodlands woodlands forests and forests forests and forests Montane grasslands, Montane grasslands, Poa Acacia is very forests E. regnans , with occurrences with , . at higher elevations. higher at E. delegatensis , with a ground layer by Themeda australis & . D.latifolia may mix in at higher elevations. & E. pauciflora may occur in the understorey E. dalrympleana & E. pauciflora Eucalyptus delegatensis. Eucalyptus delegatensis. E. delegatensis forests occur Daviesia ulicifolia Eucalyptus dalrympleana & E. fastigata , E. robertsonii, E. dives, E. cypellocarpa, E. chapmaniana, viminalis, E. dives, cypellocarpa, E. robertsonii, sieberiana . It occupies a small area in the Victoria’s alps, in occurring also in occur sub-alpine to known is and Park National Namadgi in valleys eastern high country but is not mapped Tablelands Tablelands Grassland is dominated Acacia dealbata, A.melanxylon, Daviesia ilicifolia, Exocarpus strictus &Daviesia ilicifolia, A.melanxylon, Acacia dealbata, Persoonia chamaepitys of E.rubida & E. obliqua. Moist Montane Forest is a Tall mixed species forest, commonly occurring commonly forest, species mixed Tall a is Forest Montane Moist lower but ASL, 1500m to m 1000 from ranging situations moist higher in positioned generally is It south. the in particularly areas, forest Riparian in above the foothill forests and mixing at that elevation with Wet the Tall and Forests Open and Forests. Montane Woodlands Forest are generally by dominated The understorey is commonly shrubby obliquinervia with species such as generally including herbs, tree ferns and grasses. Tall Tall Wet Forests are the tallest forests in the Australian Alps typically dominated by throughout the alps high on the upper slopes between 900 and 1450 m with mixing ASL, are less Australian common alps, in occurring the on deep soils in moist ASL. gullies mainly on the southern fall between 300 m and 1100m fire sensitive and an obligate seeder. Many stands have been burnt in the seeder. fire sensitive and an obligate last 20 years, with large single age stands now in mature. they until fires further to vulnerable and stage a scrubby regrowth Forest Grassland Tablelands Tablelands Moist Montane Tall Wet Forests Wet Tall
84 18 38 29 30 39 293 319
Woodland Wet Forest Wet Damp Forest Montane Herb-rich Riparian Woodland/ Riparian Riparian Forest/Swampy Grassy Woodland Mosaic Woodland Grassy Riparian Forest/Creekline Escarpment Scrub Mosaic Foothill Box Ironbark Forest 24 Riparian Shrubland/Riverine Damp Forest Tableland Forest Wet Montane 35 ForestWet Shrubby 201 38 35 Blackthorn Scrub 27 58 Shrubby Damp Forest 316 85 83 88 89 87 Montane Damp Forest 86 148 107
Forest Scrubs -Sedgeland Grass Forest Grass Forest Dry Shrub Forest Grass-Herb Forest Sedge/GrassForest Layered Shrub Forest Herb-Grass Woodland Herb-Grass Shrub-Herb-Grass Forest Western Escarpment Moist Western Western Escarpment Shrub- Western Tableland Dry Heath Shrub- Tableland Tableland Tussock Grassland Tussock Tableland Tableland and Escarpment Wet Wet and Escarpment Tableland Montane Riparian Moist Shrub/ Montane Riparian Moist Shrub- South Coast and Byadbo Acacia South Coast and Byadbo ACT Montane Dry Shrub ForestACT 105 Riparian Forest Western Sub-alpine Moist Shrub Western Tableland Moist Herb-GrasslandTableland 152 Eastern Tablelands Acacia-Herb- Tablelands Eastern Central Tableland-ACT Montane Tableland-ACT Central 194 Cunninghamia 15: 2015 Mackey, Jacobs & Hugh, Australian Alps’ Native Vegetation Sub-alpine woodlands, open forest and treeless forest Open Rocky outcrops
Poa Olearia Stellaria , Eucalyptus E. stellulata Eucalyptus pauciflora E. dives with Poa sieberiana P. hiemata Poa sieberiana P. & Acacia obliquinervia, Oxylobium Acacia dealbata, A.obliquinervia, Cassinia Acacia dealbata, E. debeuzevillei, E. debeuzevillei, kybeanensis, glaucescens, ; small rocky exposed areas are dominated by other E. dalrympleana, rubida & . E. niphophila fawcettiae P. pungens with several grasses including phlogopappa, Tasmannia xerophil, Leucopogon hookeri xerophil, phlogopappa, Tasmannia & ellipticum, O.alpestre, Bossiaea foliosa, Kunzea muelleri Bossiaea foliosa, O.alpestre, ellipticum, or eucalypts, including & E. mitchelliana. E. forresterae The understory ranges from grassy to scrubby. Species may include Snow Gum Woodlands and low open forests are the highest treed areas in areas treed highest the are forests open low and Woodlands Gum Snow 1200m between generally occurring widespread, and Alps Australian the and up to 2000m ASL. They are dominated by & E. camphora in wetter and riparian areas. Understory may include Baeckea utilis, Daviesia Epacris breviflora, aculeate, Hakea microcarpa, D. D.latifolia, mimosoides, ulicifolia, Exocarpus strictus & grasses, sieberiana & Themeda australis. Rocky Outcrops are open rocky areas including scree slopes, with little or sparse vegetation, occurring at a range of elevations. pauciflora with Montane Woodlands and Open Montane Forests, Woodlands including woodlands in riparian areas, occur widely between 800m and forest montane 1600m tall moist ASL the than open more on and lower Generally slopes. drier exposed at similar elevation, it is charactarised by the association of Forests Montane Sub alpine Woodlands Woodlands Open Forests and Low Open Woodlands and Woodlands Rocky Outcrops Rocky Outcrops
73 28 978 40-61
Mosaic Woodland Woodland Sub-alpine damp heathy Treed Montane Riparian Treed Rocky Outcrop Herbland Rocky Outcrop Shrubland/ Rocky Outcrop Shrubland
Woodland Montane Riparian 40 99 37 95 96 98 97 76 127 128 146 124 102Woodland Montane Dry 36 101 100Woodland Montane Grassy 190 37 Alpine Crag Complex 1000
Forest Forest Forest Forest Forest Woodland Woodland Woodland Dry Forest Dry Forest Grass Forest Rock Outcrops Grass Woodland Grass Herb-Grass Forest Herb Grass Woodland Herb Grass Scabby Range Dry Shrub Tableland Dry Herb-Grass Tableland Sub-alpine Dry Shrub-Herb Montane Acacia-Dry Shrub- Montane Sub-alpine Dry Shrub-Herb- Tableland Acacia Moist Herb Tableland Western Montane Wet Heath- Wet Montane Western Tableland Tussock Grass/Herb Tussock Tableland Western Montane Moist Shrub Western Tablelands Acacia Grass/Herb/ Tablelands Brindabella Montane Dry Fern- Central Tablelands Shrub-Grass Tablelands Central ACT Montane Dry Shrub-Grass ACT Montane Dry Shrub-Herb-Grass Cunninghamia 15: 2015 Mackey, Jacobs & Hugh, Australian Alps’ Native Vegetation 195 Sub-alpine woodlands, open forest and treeless forest Poa Poa sieberiana with grasses Grevillia australis, Grevillia Scleranthus biflorus, Craspedia spp., and the occurring. A diverse A range occurring. & K. ericoides, Ranunculus spp. and grass Poa Epacris breviflora, Leptospermum Epacris breviflora, Hakea microcarpa, with the herbs, P. fawcettiae P. Carex gaudichaudiana, Juncus brevibracteus gaudichaudiana, Juncus brevibracteus Carex Bossiaea riparia, B.foliosa, Hakea microcarpa, Oxylobium Bossiaea riparia, B.foliosa, Hakea microcarpa, labillardieri, P. costiniana & P. labillardieri,
fawcettiae, P. tenera & other Poa spp. fawcettiae, P. The Montane & sub-Alpine Wet Heathland treeless and areas generally Sedgeland between 1000m occur and in 1200m ASL, where are soils permanently wet, often along commonly include sedges soaks and drainage lines. & J.falcatus, Sedges shrubs may include myrtifolium, Baeckea utilis, & Neopaxia australasica & several labillardieri. This Wet Heathland does not include the Sphagnum spp. Alpine Bogs and Fens, which are listed below. peat forming Montane & sub-Alpine Dry Heathland exposed and on Shrubland often occurs environment harsh generally a in ASL 1500m and 1100m between rocky areas on poor soils amongst stunted Snow Gums. Shrub species may include Leptospernum micromyrtus, trymalioides, Asterolasia ellipticum Kunzea muelleri & alpestre, Podolobium of other species occur including gunniana & Hovea montana, Baeckea shrubs the herbs such as Plantago antarctica, Ranunculus granticola Plantago antarctica, The Sub alpine treeless grasslands and herb fields commonly occur on generally area alpine sub the of hollows frost and plains high treeless the between 1200m and 1500 m ASL where snow persists for long periods over poorly drained soils. P. Grasses dominate with Carex gaudichaudiana. sedge Carex treeless treeless Sedgeland herb fields Sub alpine Shrubland Montane & Montane & Heathland and Heathland and grasslands and sub-Alpine Dry sub-Alpine Wet sub-Alpine Wet
44 317 318 208 192 977
Mosaic woodland Shrubland Sub-alpine Riparian subalpine grasslands 206 Sub-alpine Grassland Sub-alpine wet heathy 41, 42, 170, 210, 239, 288, Sub-alpine Wet Heathland/ Wet Sub-alpine 913,905, 1001, 1002, 1003, Early mapping unit. Subject include: 156, 171, 202, 206, Sub-alpine Treeless Mosaic: Treeless Sub-alpine to recent mapping, may now 1004, 1011,1012,1013, 1014 1004, 1011,1012,1013, Sub-alpine Shrubland Sub-alpine Dry Shrubland 42 1003 Montane Riparian thicket Heathland 41 Wet Montane Alpine Damp Heathland Sub 184 204
36 Montane Rocky Shrubland 123 131 125 147 132 130Woodland Sub-alpine 43
bog Grassland Grassland Woodland Rocky Shrubland Sub-alpine Grassland Sub-alpine Shrub-Grass Montane Wet Sedge landWet Montane 126 Montane Swamp Montane Wet Heath-Herb Wet Montane Montane - Sub-Alpine Dry Tablelands Moist Sedge-Herb- Tablelands Montane/Sub-alpine wet heath/ Sub-alpine Dry Herb-Grassland 196 Cunninghamia 15: 2015 Mackey, Jacobs & Hugh, Australian Alps’ Native Vegetation Alpine Treeless Alpine Treeless Poa Empodisma Podocarpus with inter shrub spaces Celmisia spp. and grasses Sphagnum cristatum , along with a diversity Oxylobium ellipticum Craspedia spp . & . Richea continentis Fens adjoin the bog and are fawcettiae & P. hiemata. fawcettiae & P. Alpine Sphagnum Bogs and associated Fens occur in waterlogged and permanently wet treeless areas, such as along streams, drainage valley lines, edges and valley floors generally between 1200m to ASL. 1800m m They differ from Wet contain Heathland Sphagnum and spp. Sedgeland (which in most is that common of which typically is they underlain by peat), the of sedges, herbs and shrubs. Species gunniana, B. utilis, E. paludosa, Baeckea minus, Epacris glacialis, commonly include Pratia surrepens & devoid of woody vegetation, commonly dominated by sedges such gaudichaudiana . Carex as The Alpine Sphagnum Bogs Act. EPBC the under endangered as listed is community vegetation Fens and associated Arts. 2009). Heritage and the Water, (Department of the Environment, Alpine Heathland is and slopes a on high low found is open It ASL. heathland 2000m over occurring to 1400m typically from elevations at high rocky exposed areas on shallow soils. Shrubs may include containing the herbs lawrencii, Prostanthera cuneata, Grevillia australis, Leucopogon cuneata, Grevillia Prostanthera lawrencii, spp. Hovea montana & Fens Alpine Bogs and Alpine Heathland
211 171 1105 1013 1005 288-61 288-62
Mosaic peatlands. Heathland Alpine Fen Valley Bog Valley Raised Bog Heathland Mosaic 171, 211 and other 171, 211 bogs dataset). In Vic Vic bogs dataset). In “Alpine Bogs” Layer Alpine Rocky Outcrop Alpine Rocky Outcrop Alpine Valley Peatland Valley Alpine Alpine Valley Peatland Valley Alpine Peatland Valley Alpine contains 288, 210, 1011, contains 288, 210, 1011, Heathland/Alpine Dwarf Alpine Grassland Mosaic Alpine Grassy Heathland/ Sub-alpine Wet HeathlandWet Sub-alpine 210 Sub-alpine Wet Heathland/ Wet Sub-alpine (Australian Alps composite (Australian shrublandConiferous Alpine 156 Alpine Grassy Heathland 1004 Alpine Dwarf Heathland 170
Alpine peaty Heathland 1011 133 207
Bog Heathland Alpine Rocky Low Open from OEH Technical Report: Technical from OEH Alps composite bogs dataset) Peat-forming bogs and fens of the Snowy Mountains of NSW Sub-alpine Wet Herb-Grassland- Wet Sub-alpine “Alpine Bogs” Layer (Australian Layer Bogs” “Alpine Cunninghamia 15: 2015 Mackey, Jacobs & Hugh, Australian Alps’ Native Vegetation 197 Alpine Treeless
Poa Epacris petrophila, E. gunnii, Epacris petrophila, may occur in both. Celmisia spp., Craspedia spp., Aciphylla glacialis, Aciphylla Celmisia spp., Craspedia Carex gaudichaudiana. Carex Alpine Grasslands & Herbfields occur from 1500m to the highest peaks above 2000m ASL where snow cover is more prolonged. from They range extensive thick grassy swards on the high grassy treeless herbfields plains to of the the high alpina, Pentachondra pumila, peaks australis, Pimelia axiflora, P. Grevillea and ridges. Shrubs may include spp. & Oreobolus Acena Olearia Phlogopappa, Epacris glacialis, herbs, the Of pumilio . Plantago muelleri & Caltha introloba may be present. Grasses include nivicolum & Rytidosperma saxicola P. constiniana, P. Poa fawcettiae along with the sedge fawcettiae & Agrostis muelleriana Agrostis fawcettiae & Colobanthus pulvinatus, Ewartia nubigena, Chionohebe densifolia & Ranunculus acrophilus. Snowpatch herbfields occur on the outwash of accumulations of late thawing snow which may truncating persist the into growing summer, season. Snowpatch species commonly include niphophila, Colobanthus nivicola, Neopaxia australasica, Coprosma pumilio & various Ranunculus spp. Oreobolus Grasses such as Feldmark & Snowpatch Herbfields are bare low open alpine herbfields on barely developed soils at very high elevations, from 1600m to above 2000m ASL. Feldmark herbfields occur on exposed windswept ridges and summits and commonly include Alpine Herbfields Herbfields Snowpatch Feldmark & Grasslands &
239 913 1014
Herbland Late -lying Snowpatch
Alpine Creekline herbland Alpine Grassland Alpine Damp Grassland 1002 1001 Alpine Pond Herbland Snow Patch herbland 202 129
Exposed Feldmark 204 Alpine Tall Herbfield Tall Alpine Short Alpine HerbfieldShort 206 Alpine Short herbland 905 Snowpatch Alpine FeldmarkSnowpatch 205 Snowpatch Grassland 1012 198 Cunninghamia 15: 2015 Mackey, Jacobs & Hugh, Australian Alps’ Native Vegetation
The mapped vegetation classes varied in the accuracy of their Office of Environment and Heritage NSW), Dr Arn Tolsma, mapping, and of particular concern were the treeless areas (Program Leader, Disturbance Ecology, Arthur Rylah (K. McDougall, personal communication, 2014; A. Tolsma, Institute) and David Cheal (former Principal Scientist, personal communication, 2014) for which the more recent Arthur Rylah Institute). This research is an output from the Alpine Peatlands and Bogs mapping allowed a significant Landscapes and Policy Research Hub which was funded improvement. Despite the limitations and inconsistencies from the Australian Government’s National Environmental of data, the new vegetation classification and map is Research Programme. considered by the authors and experts who were consulted to be of sufficient accuracy for broad scale park planning and management purposes. Furthermore, being a digital, GIS- References based information product, the new vegetation classification Armstrong, R.C., Turner, K.D., McDougall K.L., Rehwinkel, and map is readily refined and updated in response to new R. and Crooks, J.I. (2013) Plant communities of the upper information from multiple sources including field survey Murrumbidgee catchment in New South Wales and the data and remotely sensed data. Australian Capital Territory. Cunninghamia,13(1): 125-265. doi: 10.7751/cunninghamia.2013.13.003 We therefore encourage the Australian Alps Co-operative Arthur Rylah Institute (2008). Mapping of Peatlands for Parks management program to further refine this new vegetation Victoria, unpublished description. information system by updating mapping of selected Australian Alps Liaison Committee (2012) Strategic Plan for the areas and incorporating contemporary ecological studies. Australian Alps national parks Co-operative Management The priority for further work should be based on the most Program 2012-15. Australian Alps Liaison Committee https://theaustralianalps.wordpress.com/the-alps-partnership/ sensitive and complex vegetation types and in particular the publications-and-research/strategic-plan-2012-2015/ Sub-alpine and Alpine Treeless Areas, the Moist Montane Commonwealth of Australia (2008) Inclusion of a Place in the Forests and their relationship with Montane Woodlands and National Heritage List. Gazette No. S237 7 Nov 2008. Open forest, and Tall Wet Forests and their relationship with Dehaan, R., Louis, J., Wilson, A., Hall, A., & Rumbachs, R. (2007). Cool Temperate Rainforest. Discrimination of blackberry (Rubus fruticosus sp. agg.) using hyperspectral imagery in Kosciuszko National Park, NSW, Providing information about the composition and structure Australia. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote of major vegetation classes in a common form across Sensing, 62, 13–24. doi:10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2007.01.004 the multi-jurisdictional landscape provides fundamental Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. (2014) information for protected area managers and practitioners Native Vegetation – Modelled 2005 Ecological Vegetation working within the Australian Alps Network co-operative Classes (with Bioregional Conservations status)(NV2005_ management framework. Mapped common vegetation EVCBCS/EVCBCS). Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Victoria. (https://www.data.vic.gov.au/ classes can function as spatial planning units that serve data/dataset/native-vegetation-modelled-2005-ecological- a range of purposes including: locating representative vegetation-classes-with-bioregional-conservation-status) monitoring plots; extrapolating management prescriptions; Department of Sustainability and Environment. (2015) Ecological identification of nature-based tourist activities; establishing Vegetation Classes (EVC) Bioregions: Victorian Alps, baselines for tracking ecosystem-level responses to climate Highlands Northern Fall, Highlands Southern Fall & Highlands change and fire regimes; and as inputs to models of wildlife Far East. Department of Sustainability and Environment (Now habitat and species distributions. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning). Department of the Environment and Heritage. (2003) Australian Vegetation Attribute Manual National Vegetation Information System, Version 6.0. Executive Steering Committee for Conclusion Australian Vegetation Information (ESCAVI) ISBN 0 642 54953 2. In geographically extensive multi-jurisdictional protected Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. area landscapes, a common vegetation mapping system is (2009). EPBC Act 1999 Policy Statement 3.16. Nationally an essential information layer for systematic conservation threatened species ecological communities guidelines: alpine planning and management. As we have shown here, this sphagnum bogs and associated fens. Department of the Environment. (2015) IBRA: Australia’s Bioregions. can be developed at a low cost utilising existing mapped http://www.environment.gov.au/land/nrs/science/ibra data and integrating existing vegetation classifications by Department of the Environment. (2015a) National Heritage Places aligning and matching classes across the jurisdictions into - Australian Alps National Parks and Reserves. http://www. a common system. This approach retains the connections environment.gov.au/heritage/places/national/australia-alps to wider National and State or Territory corporate systems Doherty, M.D., Wright, G. and McDougall K.L. (2015) The flora while generating a classification that recognised here both of Kosciuszko National Park, New South Wales: Summary the common and distinctive vegetation character of the and overview. Cunninghamia 15, 13-68, doi 10.7751/ cunninghamia.2015.15.002. diverse landscapes that comprise the Alps Network. ESRI 2014. ArcGIS Desktop: Release 10.2.1. Redlands, CA: Environmental Systems Research Institute. Acknowledgements
The following people provided valuable expert advice and assistance with the project: Dr Keith McDougall, (Botanist, Cunninghamia 15: 2015 Mackey, Jacobs & Hugh, Australian Alps’ Native Vegetation 199
Felton, A., Fischer, J., Lindenmayer, D. B., Montague-Drake, R., Lowe, A. R., Saunders, D., Felton, A. M., Steffen, W., Munro, N.T., Youngentob, K., Gillen, J., Gibbons, P., Bruzgul, J.E., Fazey, I., Bond, S.J., Elliott, C.P., Macdonald, B.C.T., Porfirio, L.L., Westgate, M. & Worthy, M. (2009). Climate change, conservation and management: an assessment of the peer-reviewed scientific journal literature. Biodiversity and conservation, 18(8), 2243-2253. Gellie, N.J.H. (2005) Native Vegetation of the Southern Forests: South-east Highlands, Australian Alps, South-west Slopes, and SE Corner bioregions. Cunninghamia 9(2): 219–254. Lesslie, RG, Hill, MJ, Hill, P, Cresswell, HP & Dawson, S. (2008) The Application of a Simple Spatial Multi-Criteria Analysis Shell to Natural Resource Management Decision Making, in Landscape Analysis and Visualisation: Spatial Models for Natural Resource Management and Planning, (Eds. Pettit, C, Cartwright, W, Bishop, I, Lowell, K, Pullar, D & Duncan, D), Springer, Berlin, pp 73–96. McDougall, K. (2014) Office of Environment and Heritage, PO Box 733, Queanbeyan, NSW, 2620. McDougall, K.L. & Walsh, N.G. (2007). Treeless vegetation of the Australian Alps. Cunninghamia 10(1): Pages 1–57. National Environmental Research Program (2014) Managing Natural Values in the Australian Alps. National Environment Research Program. Landscape and Policy Hub. University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania. Office of Environment and Heritage. (2012)Peat-forming bogs and fens of the Snowy Mountains of NSW. Office of Environment and Heritage, NSW Government. R Core Team (2015). R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. http://www.R-project.org/. Tolsma, A. (2014) Program Leader, Disturbance Ecology, Arthur Rylah Institute, Land, Fire and Environment, Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning 123 Brown St, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084. Manuscript accepted 4 November 2015