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: Grey Box-Grey Gum Wet Sclerophyll Forest in the NSW North Coast Bioregion
Gazetted date:
31 Jul 2009
Profile last updated:
21 Mar 2022
Description
Grey Box—Grey Gum Wet Sclerophyll Forest in the NSW North Coast Bioregion an ecological community which, at maturity, is typically dominated by a tall open tree canopy of eucalypts Grey Box Eucalyptus moluccana and Grey Gum Eucalyptus propinqua and, less commonly, Grey Gum Eucalyptus biturbinata, Grey Ironbark Eucalyptus siderophloia and Hoop Pine Araucaria cunninghamii. Some botanists apply the name Eucalyptus punctata in a broad sense to include E. biturbinata. Grey Box—Grey Gum Wet Sclerophyll Forest has a structurally complex understorey including rainforest trees and shrubs, vines, ferns and herbs. Structural characteristics of the community may vary, depending on the intensity and nature of past disturbances including fire, logging and partial clearing. The understorey typically includes a diverse and prominent stratum of rainforest trees and shrubs including Orangebark Maytenus bilocularis, Guioa Guioa semiglauca, Red Kamala Mallotus philippensis, Smooth Psychotria Psychotria daphnoides, Large Mock-olive Notelaea longifolia and Celery Wood Polyscias elegans. Vines, including Water Vine Cissus antarctica, Native Derris Derris involuta, Austral Sarsaparilla Smilax australis, Large-leaved Staff Vine Celastrus subspicatus, Wonga Vine Pandorea pandorana and Scrambling Lily Geitonoplesium cymosum commonly grow over and amongst the understorey shrubs and trees. The groundcover comprises graminoid herbs, including Slender Flat-sedge Cyperus gracilis, Red-fruited Saw Sedge Gahnia aspera, Ottochloa Ottochloa gracillima and Spiny-headed Matrush Lomandra longifolia, and ferns, including Rasp Fern Doodia aspera.
Distribution
Grey Box—Grey Gum Wet Sclerophyll Forest typically occurs on the escarpment slopes and foothills of north-eastern NSW, most commonly between 200 and 500m elevation, where mean annual rainfall exceeds approximately 1000mm and has a summer maximum. Soils that support the community are relatively fertile and derived from a range of igneous (including acid volcanic, basic volcanic and intrusive igneous) or fine-grained sedimentary rocks. Grey Box—Grey Gum Wet Sclerophyll Forest is currently known from the local government areas of Kyogle and Tenterfield, but may occur elsewhere within the NSW North Coast bioregion.
Habitat and ecology
- Grey Box-Grey Gum Wet Sclerophyll Forest typically occurs on the escarpment slopes and foothills of north-eastern NSW, most commonly between 200 and 500m elevation, where mean annual rainfall exceeds approximately 1000mm and has a summer maximum. Soils that support the community are relatively fertile and derived from a range of igneous (including acid volcanic, basic volcanic and intrusive igneous) or fine-grained sedimentary rocks.
Regional distribution and habitat
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Threats
- Loss of hollow-bearing trees
- Cattle grazing and trampling causing loss of plants, prevention of regeneration and recruitment, compaction of soil, erosion, and transfer of weeds
- Landuse practices resulting in habitat loss and fragmentation
- Invasion of weeds, most commonly Lantana camara.
Invasion and establishment of transformer weed species, particularly lantana, changing community structure and floristic composition and/or altering the soil chemistry and microrhiza.
- Bell miner associated dieback
- Altered fire regimes: Low frequency fire can cause canopy closure, which shades out ground layer flora communities, displaces fauna habitat and encourages Bell Miner. Too frequent fire can simplify ground layer vegetation through loss of flora species.
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
- Integrate fire, grazing and weed management to facilitate the recovery of disturbed forests towards maturity and ecological function
- Protect old growth trees
Information sources
- DECC (2008) Nomination to list Grey Box (Eucalyptus moluccana) Grey Gum (Eucalyptus propinqua/Eucalyptus punctata) wet sclerophyll forest in the NSW North Coast Bioregion as an Endangered Ecological Community under the NSW TSC Act 1995. Department of Environment and Climate Change, Coffs Harbour.
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