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: Porcupine Grass-Red Mallee-Gum Coolabah hummock grassland/low sparse woodland in the Broken Hill Complex Bioregion
Gazetted date:
24 Sep 2010
Profile last updated:
07 Sep 2017
Description
This Porcupine Grass - sparse open woodland community contains an unusual scattered occurrence of Red Mallee (Eucalyptus socialis) and Gum Coolabah (Eucalyptus intertexta) growing in a Porcupine Grass (Triodia scariosa subsp. scariosa) dominated landscape on rocky ranges. All three species, especially the eucalypts, are normally plants of plains or sand-dune country and rarely occur on rocky range substrates in NSW. Shrubs are very sparse and include Senna form taxon 'artemisioides', Acacia aneura, Acacia victoriae subsp. arida, Acacia tetragonophylla, Maireana pyramidata and Atriplex vesicaria. The ground cover is domianted by Porcupine Grass but other ground species include Sida petrophila, Atriplex angulata, Enneapogon cylindricus and Sclerolaena obliquicuspis.
Distribution
This community occurs on thin red sandy loam soils of primarily aeolian origin, deposited (possibly during the last glacial maximum) over rocky outcrops of the Willyama complex. It occurs on rocky hills in the Umberumberka Range section of the Barrier Range, north of Silverton. It is known from two areas of approximately 300ha and 200ha on leasehold land; it is not known from any conservation reserves.
Habitat and ecology
- Mostly not cleared due to its occurrence on rocky hills in the arid zone but some trees may have been cut in the past for smelters at Silverton.
- Porcupine Grass - Red Mallee - Gum Coolabah community is habitat for a reptile fauna that includes the Slender Mallee Blue Tongue Lizard (Cyclodomorphus melanops elongatus), the Marble-faced Delma (Delma australis), and the Tawny Crevice-dragon (,em>Ctenophorus decresii), all listed as Endangered (TSC Act). This includes an extension of habitat and range for the first two species.
- Porcupine Grass (Triodia) is likely to be a crucial component of ecological function for this community, and also an important element in retaining the thin aeolian soil layer.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Grazing by goats may reduce regeneration of woody species, while trampling and scat accumulation may reduce habitat for reptile and other fauna species.
- Invasion by exotic weed species.
- Mining or quarrying.
- Harvesting or collecting of key species (e.g. for fire wood or fence posts).
- Grazing and trampling by stock.
- Inappropriate fire regimes leading to a reduction in Porcupine grass cover.
- Reduced rainfall, higher temperatures and evaporative rates associated with climate change affecting species composition, vegetation condition and species diversity.
- Unsympathetic land management practices leading to potential reductions in distribution, connectivity and structural diversity for the ecological community.
- Foxes and cats are preying upon native fauna species found with the ecological community. Removal of fauna species can inadvertently lead to increased cover of introduced weeds.
- Feral goats and domestic stock trampling and browsing on native vegetation, limiting species recruitment and ecological community recovery.
- Road and track construction and maintenance impacting the ecological community.
- Development and installation of utility services within the ecological community impacting native vegetation survival.
- Little is known about the ecological communities’ geographic extent and threats. throughout the region.
- Lack of awareness of threatened ecological community ecology, identification, threats and management by the public leading to degradation of sensitive sites
- Insufficient understanding of appropriate fire regime, including fire frequency, intensity, seasonality and scale.
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
- Manage grazing by feral goats and other herbivores.
- Control foxes and feral cats.
- Develop appropriate fire regimes that provide for retention of unburned refuge habitat.
- Protect all known areas from clearing, fragmentation, and timber collection.
- Exclude from development impacts
- Monitor and report on circumstances and condition
Information sources
- Benson JS (2008) New South Wales vegetation Classification and Assessment: Part 2 Plant communities of the NSW South-western Slopes Bioregion and update of NSW Western Plains plant communities, version 2 of the NSWVCA database. Cunninghamia 10, 599-673.
- NGH Environmental (2008) Proposed development of Stage 1, Silverton Wind Farm, far western New South Wales. Biodiversity Addendum; Final. November 2008. Bega, NSW.
- NSW Scientific Committee (2010) Porcupine Grass - Red Mallee - Gum Coolabah hummock grassland / low sparse woodland in the Broken Hill Complex Bioregion Critically Endangered Ecological Community final determination, 24/09/2010. DECCW (NSW), Sydney.
- Sass S, Swan G, Marshall B, Browne T, Graham-Higgs N (2010) Disjunct populations of Spinifex-obligate reptiles revealed in a newly described vegetation community near Broken Hill, far-western New South Wales. Australian Zoologist)
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