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.
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The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Southern Highlands Shale Woodlands in the Sydney Basin Bioregion
Gazetted date:
15 Jun 2001
Profile last updated:
09 Aug 2023
Description
This community is related to the EPBC listed Southern Highlands Shale Forest and Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion Threatened Ecological Community. It has a listing status of 'Critically Endangered' under the EPBC Act.
Southern Highlands Shale Woodland is a variable community in terms of both structure and composition. The community may exist as tall open forest, grassy woodland or scrub; though it originally existed as woodland. The dominant canopy species vary across the distribution of the community. Common species throughout much of the community’s range are Mountain Grey Gum Eucalyptus cypellocarpa, Sydney Peppermint E. piperita, Swamp Gum E. ovata, Narrow-leafed Peppermint E. radiata and White Stringybark E. globoidea. Brittle Gum E. mannifera, Snow Gum E. pauciflora, Cabbage Gum E. amplifolia and Rough-barked Apple Angophora floribunda are less common. Camden Woollybutt E. macarthurii occurs throughout, but appears to be most common in the south-west of the distribution of the community, around Bundanoon. The shrub layer is usually open, though there may be denser patches of shrubs in some areas. As with the canopy layer, the shrub layer of this community varies (eg. typical species in the north-eastern parts of the distribution of the community include Oxylobium ilicifolium, Melalueca thymifolia and Olearia microphylla, while in south-western areas these species are rare or absent and Daviesia ulicifolia may be locally common). The groundlayer is usually diverse and dominated by native grasses such as Themeda australis, Austrostipa rudis, Microlaena stipoides and Austrodanthonia species. Common herb species include Gonocarpus tetragynus, Veronica plebeia, Hypericum gramineum, Poranthera microphylla and Viola hederacea.
Distribution
Southern Highlands Shale Woodland is confined to a small area in the Southern Highlands. It occurs roughly within an area bounded by the Illawarra Escarpment in the east, Burrawang and Bundanoon in the south, Canyonleigh in the west and Berrima and Colo Vale in the north. Occurs in the Wingecarribee local government area, but may occur elsewhere in the Sydney Basin Bioregion.
Habitat and ecology
- Restricted to clay soils derived from Wianamatta Shale.
- Occurs at elevations of between 600 to 800 m.
- Generally found on gently rolling hills, though sometimes on steeper slopes in some areas.
- Found in areas where rainfall ranges from 1400 mm in the east to 900 mm in the west.
- Occurs mostly in scattered patches of less than 5 hectares in area, remnants are extensively fragmented; about 2000 hectares, or less than 5% of the original extent now remains.
- Disturbed remnants are considered to form part of the community, including where the vegetation would respond to assisted natural regeneration.
- Fauna species that may occur in remnants include Giant Burrowing Frog, (Heleioporus australiacus), Rosenberg's Goanna (Varanus rosenbergi), Glossy Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami), Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua), Regent Honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia) and Yellow-bellied Glider (Petaurus australis).
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Clearing, including fragmentation, and other degradation for activities including agriculture, 'hobby farms', infrastructure establishment and maintenance (especially for roads, fences, dams, and asset protection zones), residential development and 'tidying-up' (including the removal or suppression of mid and understorey).
- Private and small-scale commercial harvesting of firewood (either living or standing dead, including material on the ground).
- Inappropriate fire regimes; primarily the absence of fire.
- Weed invasion by non-native pasture species.
- Grazing, browsing, trampling and other impacts such as ringbarking of remnants by domestic stock.
- Grazing, browsing, trampling and other impacts such as ringbarking of remnants by feral herbivores.
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
- Do not harvest firewood from remnants (this includes living or standing dead trees and fallen material).
- Erect on-site markers to alert maintenance staff to the presence of a high quality remnant.
- Encourage regeneration by fencing remnants, controlling stock grazing and undertaking supplementary planting, if necessary.
- Undertake weed control (taking care to remove only target species).
- Protect all sites from further clearing and disturbance.
- Mark remnants onto maps (of the farm, shire, region, etc) and use to plan activities (e.g. remnant protection, rehabilitation or road, rail and infrastructure maintenance work).
Information sources
- Benson, D. and Howell, J. (1994) Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Vegetation Mapping - Moss Vale - Kiama draft 1:100 000 vegetation map sheets. (Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney).
- Eco Logical Australia Pty Ltd (2003) Wingecarribee Biodiversity Study: Vegetation Mapping, Threatened Species, Corridors and Conservation Assessment. Unpublished report prepared for Wingecarribee Shire Council.
- Eddy, D. (2002) Managing Native Grassland: a guide to management for conservation, production and landscape protection. (World Wide Fund for Nature Australia, Sydney)
- Eddy, D., Mallinson, D., Rehwinkel, R and Sharp. S. (1998) Grassland Flora: a field guide for the Southern Tablelands (NSW & ACT). (Environment ACT, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, World Wide Fund for Nature Australia, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Natural Heritage Trust, Canberra)
- Fisher, M., Ryan, K. and Lembit, R. (1995) The natural vegetation of the Burragorang 1:100 000 map sheet. Cunninghamia 4(2): 143-215.
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