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: Coastal Swamp Oak (Casuarina glauca) Forest of New South Wales and South East Queensland ecological community
Gazetted date:
20 Mar 2018
Profile last updated:
06 Apr 2022
Description
The ecological community occurs in sub-tropical, sub-humid and temperate climatic zones from Curtis Island, north of Gladstone, in Queensland to Bermagui in southern New South Wales. The ecological community is found within the South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), NSW North Coast (NNC), Sydney Basin (SYB) and South East Corner (SEC) IBRA7 bioregions (Department of the Environment and Energy, 2012) (see Appendix A). The extent of the ecological community corresponds to country (the traditional lands) of a number of Indigenous groups, including the Gureng Gureng, Bajtala, Gubbi Gubbi, Yuggera, Bundjalung, Gumbaynggirr, Dainggatti, Biripi, Worimi, Awabakal, Kurin-gai, Eora, Dharug, Tharawa/D’harawal and the Yuin. The ecological community occurs in coastal catchments, mostly at elevations of less than 20 m above sea-level (ASL) that are typically found within 30 km of the coast. However, this
distance varies by catchment; for example, low elevations can occur as far as 40 km inland on the Hawkesbury River, or more than 100 km on the Clarence River. On the mid and north
coast of NSW the ecological community may also occur up to 50 m ASL on floodplains of, or coastland flats associated with, former or current coastal river systems (Department of Environment and Climate Change, 2007). Coastal Swamp Oak Forest typically occurs on unconsolidated sediments, including alluvium deposits, and where soils formed during the Quaternary period as a result of sea-level rise during the Holocene period (Sloss et al., 2007). These are most typically hydrosols, which are saturated with water for long periods of time (typically grey-black clay-loam and/or sandy loam soils). The ecological community can also occur on organosols (peaty soils). Occurrences of swamp oak trees on rocky headlands or other consolidated substrates are not considered to be a part of the ecological community, but areas where soils transition into unconsolidated sediments may contain the ecological community. The ecological community is typically found where groundwater is saline or brackish, but can occur in areas where groundwater is relatively fresh. It is typically found on coastal flats, floodplains, drainage lines, lake margins, wetlands and estuarine fringes where soils are at least occasionally saturated, water-logged or inundated. These are typically associated with low-lying coastal alluvial floodplains and alluvial flats (Keith and Scott, 2005). Minor occurrences can be found on coastal dune swales or flats, particularly deflated dunes and dune soaks. Coastal Swamp Oak Forest is often found in association with other vegetation types such as coastal saltmarsh, mangroves, freshwater wetlands, littoral rainforests or swamp sclerophyll forests in a ‘mosaic’ of coastal floodplain communities.
The structure of Coastal Swamp Oak Forest can vary from forest to woodland depending on its location in the landscape and disturbance history. The local expression of the ecological
community is influenced by soils, history of inundation by tidal flows/estuarine system dynamics, groundwater salinity, site history, disturbance regimes and current land management. Many remaining patches of the ecological community contain regrowth from past clearance or other disturbances, and/or due to naturally occurring river and coastal dynamics. Some patches, for example where drainage is more impeded, may be expressed primarily as sedgeland or rushland, with a very sparse canopy (down to 10 per cent crown cover) of predominantly swamp oak. Other patches may just occur as canopy trees, over dense needle litter with sparse native groundcover. Where groundwater is more saline, for example on estuarine and/or coastal lake fringes, the ecological community is typically expressed as a low woodland or forest. In these areas, the composition of the understory is more likely to include saline tolerant (typically saltmarsh) species. In more freshwater areas, the ecological community is more likely to demonstrate greater structural diversity – often being expressed as a taller open or rarely closed forest with a diverse understory, typically including a greater abundance of grasses and herbs. Many patches have a sub-canopy of smaller trees, but the mid-layer or shrub layer is typically sparse. Climbing and epiphytic plant species are commonly observed and are characteristic of Coastal Swamp Oak Forest. The ecological community typically includes a continuous to semi-continuous ground layer that may include either forbs, sedges, grasses and/or plant litter (including branchlets/needles, leaves, bark, twigs). In order to meet the definition of the TEC sites must satisfy condition criteria stipulated in the Listing Advice and/or Conservation Advice. Typically condition is assessed by reference to patch size and vegetation structure thresholds or species composition metrics.
Distribution
Regional distribution and habitat
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Recovery strategies
Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological
community. The Office of Environment and Heritage has identified
0 priority actions
to help recover the Coastal Swamp Oak (Casuarina glauca) Forest of New South Wales and South East Queensland ecological community in New South Wales.
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