Indicative distribution
The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas.
(
click here to see geographic restrictions).
The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Mount Gibraltar Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion
Gazetted date:
16 Mar 2001
Profile last updated:
15 Oct 2024
Description
This community is related to the EPBC listed Upland Basalt Eucalypt Forests in the Sydney Basin Bioregion Threatened Ecological Community. It has a listing status of 'Endangered' under the EPBC Act.
Mount Gibraltar Forest is a variable community, existing as either open forest, woodland or scrub. The floristic composition largely reflects topographic position and aspect. The dominant tree species are Narrow-leaved Peppermint Eucalyptus radiata, Sydney Peppermint E. piperita and Gully Gum E. smithii on the upper slopes, and E. radiata, E. piperita, Brown Barrel E. fastigata and Manna Gum E. viminalis on deeper soils on southern aspects. A shrub or small tree layer dominated by species such as Acacia melanoxylon, Hedycara angustifolia, Notelea venosa and Pittosporum undulatum occurs in the more sheltered areas. Dominant groundlayer species include Stypandra glauca, Dianella caerulea, Dichondra repens and Themeda australis in drier, more exposed sites. In more sheltered sites, fern species such as Blechnum cartilagineum, Doodoa aspera and Pterideum esculentum, and vines such as Eustrephus latifolius and Tylophora barbata are dominant.
Distribution
Mount Gibraltar Forest is confined to a small number of pockets in the Southern Highlands region. The main occurrence is on Mount Gibraltar near Bowral and Mittagong. Minor occurrences of the community are known from Mount Misery, Mount Flora, Cockatoo Hill and Mount Jellore. Occurs in the Wingecarribee local government area, but may occur elsewhere in the Sydney Basin Bioregion.
Habitat and ecology
- Restricted to clay soils on microsyenite intrusions in the central parts of the Southern Highlands.
- Occurs on gentle to steep slopes with correspondingly deep and shallow soils respectively; combined with aspect, these factors contribute to the variability evident in the floral composition of this community.
- Remnants may provide habitat for the Powerful Owl Ninox strenua, which has been recorded in vegetation adjoining the main remnants of Mount Gibraltar Forest.
- Disturbed remnants are considered to form part of the community, including where the vegetation would respond to assisted natural regeneration.
- Has been cleared for agriculture and rural development and most remnants are small and isolated.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Continued clearing, degradation and fragmentation of remnants for agricultural activities and infrastructure and residential development.
- Invasion of remnants by non-native plant species.
- Pressures from adjacent urban development (including dogs, cats, rubbish dumping, noise, trampling and vehicular access).
- Inappropriate fire regimes.
- Disturbances associated with communication tower infrastructure, including clearing, movement of machinery, introduction of weeds and dumping of rubbish.
- Clearing, mostly historic, for stock production and quarrying of trachyte.
- Grazing by native and non-native herbivores (pigs, deer goats) preventing recruitment of canopy species and causing damage to ground layers and soil compaction.
- Inappropriate recreational activities such as trailbikes, motorbikes and 4WDs resulting in informal track creation, erosion, vegetation degradation and noise pollution.
- Lack of ecological knowledge about the relationship between this community and Robertson Basalt Tall Open Forest.
- Degradation by over grazing and trampling by domestic stock resulting in losses of plant species and structural diversity.
Recovery strategies
A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.
Activities to assist this species
- Conduct an education campaign to raise awareness of the community, to eliminate threats associated with inappropriate disturbances from urban areas and infrastructure development.
- Undertake hazard reduction burns in nearby areas of vegetation on sandstone to reduce the impacts of wildfire; only construct firebreaks outside of remnants.
- Fence around sites and revegetate, to increase the size of remnants and reduce impacts of grazing and trampling.
- Erect interpretive signs to provide information to visitors and residents.
- Undertake weed control (taking care to remove only target species).
- Protect all sites from further clearing and disturbance.
- Mark remnants onto maps (of the property, shire, region, etc) and use to plan activities (e.g. remnant protection, rehabilitation or road, development proposals).
Information sources
- Fisher, M., Ryan, K. and Lembit, R. (1995) The natural vegetation of the Burragorang 1:100 000 map sheet. Cunninghamia 4(2): 143-215.
|
IBRA Bioregion
|
IBRA Subregion
|
Known or predicted
|
Geographic restrictions region
|
|---|