Allocasuarina luehmannii Woodland in the Riverina and Murray-Darling Depression Bioregions - profile

Indicative distribution

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known

predicted

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: Allocasuarina luehmannii Woodland in the Riverina and Murray-Darling Depression Bioregions

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered Ecological Community

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Gazetted date: 28 Mar 2008

Profile last updated: 05 Oct 2023

Description

Allocasuarina luehmannii Woodland in the Riverina and Murray-Darling Depression bioregions is the name given to the ecological community dominated by Buloke (Allocasuarina luehmannii), sometimes with co-occurring tree species. The community typically comprises an open tree canopy with a sparse and highly variable ground layer dominated by grasses and herbs, sometimes with scattered shrubs and/or small trees. The structure and species composition of the community varies depending on disturbance history and temporal variability in rainfall. The species composition of a site will be influenced by the size of the site, recent rainfall or drought conditions and by its disturbance (including grazing, land clearing and fire) history. The number and relative abundance of species will change with time since fire, and may also change in response to changes in fire frequency or grazing regime. The groundcover is highly variable in structure and composition. It is typically sparse, but may be more continuous within patches or following substantial rainfall events.

Allocasuarina luehmannii Woodland shares a number of species with another endangered ecological community listed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995: Sandhill Pine Woodland in the Riverina, Murray-Darling Depression and NSW South Western Slopes bioregions. These two ecological communities inhabit similar soils and landforms and have similar geographic distributions. They may be distinguished on the basis of the relative abundance of their tree species and subtle differences in composition of their understorey. When tree abundance is assessed at hectare scales, A. luehmannii is the most abundant tree species in Allocasuarina luehmannii Woodland, whereas Callitris glaucophylla is the most abundant tree species in Sandhill Pine Woodland.

Distribution

Allocasuarina luehmannii Woodland has been recorded in the southern part of the Riverina bioregion from near Urana and Mulwala in the east to the Barham district, and may extend as far west as Euston in the southern part of the Murray-Darling Depression bioregion. The community occurs in small patches within this range and is currently estimated to cover less than 500-1500ha. Approximately 6 ha of Allocasuarina luehmannii Woodland are estimated to occur within Lake Urana and Wiesners Swamp Nature Reserves. The remainder of the community occurs on private land or on public easements.

Habitat and ecology

Allocasuarina luehmannii Woodland typically occupies patches of red-brown loamy sands with alkaline sub-soils on the alluvial plain of the Murray River and its tributaries in south-western NSW.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Overgrazing by domestic livestock and feral herbivores, including rabbits and goats, has resulted in a scarcity of woody understorey plants and a lack of regeneration of palatable trees and shrubs. Consequently, senescent trees are not replaced with new individuals and there is a prolonged trend of stand degeneration. Overgrazing also reduces structural complexity, plant species diversity and habitat suitability for vertebrate fauna of the community.
The sandy-textured soils of Allocasuarina luehmannii Woodland are sensitive to erosion as a result of trampling by hooved animals and burrowing by rabbits.
Roadside clearing, travelling livestock (droving) and opportunistic livestock grazing on roadside reserves, land clearing on private and leasehold land, firebreak construction, herbicide application and fertiliser drift are also threats affecting Allocasuarina luehmannii Woodland in New South Wales.
Lack of regeneration partly due to isolation and predation by grazers. Seed production is intermittent and sometimes it is mostly male trees in the remnants and hence not getting seed production. Rare to see natural seedling regeneration. When germination does occur, seedlings are not very long lived.
Lack of genetic diversity.
Grazing by rabbits and hare in areas where there is regeneration.
Grazing by domestic stock in areas where there is regeneration.
Competition from African Boxthorn - causing death of older trees.
Agricultural cultivation too near the trees disturbing the ground layer & removes potential for regeneration and encourages weed encroachment.
In many cases, remnants are confined to roadsides or other small fragments, while some stands of the community have been reduced to a few isolated trees. Fragmentation of the remaining stands is likely to have resulted in a large reduction in the ecological function of the community. Potential for further fragmentation and isolation of patches from other remnants across the distribution of the TEC is an issue.
Degradation and fragmentation of the TEC.
Lack of long term protection for remaining TEC remnants and potential for change of land use causing further negative impacts.
Threats including weeds, grazing restrictions, and pest control.
Lack of understanding within the general community about the significance of the TEC and the ability to identify it.
Competition from a variety of weeds (including invasive grasses, Paterson's Curse, Cape Weed and African Boxthorn) impeding regeneration and causing a change in species composition.

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

Reduce agricultural grazing pressures through the adoption of suitable grazing regimes which allow for regeneration.
Control feral rabbit and goat populations to reduce erosion and grazing pressure.
Create wildlife corridors between remnant vegetation patches were possible to reduce the ecological impact associated with environmental fragmentation.
Protect roadside patches from clearing, grazing and damage from the construction of fire breaks and adopt practices to reduce herbicide application and fertilizer drift.

Information sources

Benson, J.S., Allen, C.B., Togher, C. and Lemmon, J. (2006) New South Wales Vegetation Classification and Assessment: Part 1 Plant communities of the NSW Western Plains. Cunninghamia 9(3): 383-450
Cheal, D., Lucas, A. and Macaulay, L. (2011) National Recovery Plan for Buloke Woodlands of the Riverina and Murray-Darling Depression Bioregions. (Department of Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne)
Cunningham, G.M., Mulham, W.E., Milthorpe, P.L. and Leigh, J.H. (1992) Plants of Western New South Wales. (Inkata Press, Sydney)
Keith, D.A. (2004) Ocean shores to desert dunes: the native vegetation of New South Wales and the ACT. (NSW Department of Environment and Conservation, Sydney)
Murray Catchment Management Authority and Office of Environment and Heritage (2012) New South Wales Murray Biodiversity Management Plan: A guide to terrestrial biodiversity investment priorities in the central and eastern NSW Murray catchment. (Murray CMA, Albury)
NSW Scientific Committee (2008) Allocasuarina luehmannii Woodland in the Riverina and Murray-Darling Depression bioregions – endangered ecological community. Final determination..
Porteners, M.F. (1993) The natural vegetation of the Hay Plain: Booligal-Hay and Deniliquin-Bendigo 1:250 000 maps. Cunninghamia 3(1): 1-122
Scott, J.A. (1992) The natural vegetation of the Balranald-Swan Hill Area. Cunninghamia 2(4): 597-652
Sluiter, I.R.K., Minchin, P.R. and Jaensch, S.C. (1997) The buloke and pine woodlands of semi-arid and dry sub-humid Victoria and nearby areas. (Ogyris, Birdwoodton)
Wilson, K.L. and Johnson, L.A.S. (2000) Allocasuarina. Pp 510-517 in Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 1. Revised Edition (New South Wales University Press, Sydney)

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Murray Darling Depression	South Olary Plain	Known	None
Riverina	Lachlan	Known	None
Riverina	Murray Fans	Known	None
Riverina	Murray Scroll Belt	Known	None
Riverina	Murrumbidgee	Known	None

Images

<em>Allocasuarina luehmannii</em> Woodland, D. Greig

Allocasuarina luehmannii Woodland, D. Greig Image 1 of 4.
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