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.
(
click here to see geographic restrictions).
The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Turpentine-Ironbark Forest of the Sydney Basin Bioregion
Gazetted date:
26 Aug 2005
Profile last updated:
04 Mar 2024
Description
The Turpentine-Ironbark Forest of the Sydney Basin Bioregion originally existed as a forest with either a shrubby or grassy understorey (Benson, 1992; Benson & Howell, 1994; Keith & Benson, 1988; Ryan et al, 1996). The characteristic plant species for the Turpentine-Ironbark Forest of the Sydney Basin Bioregion are summarised below.
Tree canopy: Turpentine (Syncarpia glomulifera) and Ironbarks (Eucalyptus spp) are dominant. Turpentine occurs throughout the ecological community but the associated tree species varies with local abiotic conditions. Grey Ironbark (Eucalyptus paniculata), Narrow-leaved Ironbark (E. crebra), Red Ironbark (E. fibrosa), and Grey Gum (E. punctata) are common tree species in the Cumberland Plain. On the plateaux shale caps, Grey Ironbark and Mountain Mahogany (E. notabilis) may become common in association with Turpentine. At the upper end of its rainfall/elevation range the Turpentine-Ironbark Forest of the Sydney Basin Bioregion may be dominated by Blue Gum (E. saligna), Mountain Grey Gum (E. cypellocarpa), Round-leaved Gum (E. deanei) or Grey Gum (NSW NPWS, 2002, Tozer, 2003).
Midstorey: A stratum of small trees may occur, including Sweet Pittosporum (Pittosporum undulatum), Native Peach (Trema aspera), and Parramatta Wattle (Acacia parramattensis). Where present, a shrub layer may include Elderberry Panax (Polyscias sambucifolia), Mock Olive (Notelaea longifolia), Prickly Beard-heath (Leucopogon juniperinus), Rough-fruit Pittosporum (P. revolutum), Breynia (Breynia oblongifolia), Narrow-leaved Orangebark (Maytenus silvestris) and White Dogwood (Ozothamnus diosmifolius).
Ground layer: Where present in its natural state, the ground layer may include Basket Grass (Oplismenus aemulus), Pastel Flower (Pseuderanthemum variabile), Forest Hedgehog-grass (Echinopogon ovatus) Weeping Grass (Microlaena stipoides) and Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra).
The Turpentine-Ironbark Forest of the Sydney Basin Bioregion occurs primarily on clay soils derived from Wianamatta shale, including clay lenses of Wianamatta shale within Hawkesbury sandstone. The ecological community less commonly occurs on transitional areas between soils derived from the Wianamatta shale and Hawkesbury sandstone, or on soils derived from Holocene alluvium, or the Mittagong formation. As the parent geology is confined to the Sydney Basin Bioregion, this ecological community can only be found in this area.
The soil on which the ecological community is found is of relatively higher fertility than the sandy soils derived from the Hawkesbury sandstone. For this reason, the Turpentine-Ironbark Forest of the Sydney Basin Bioregion has been selectively cleared for agriculture and urban development (Benson & Howell, 1990; Haworth, 2002).
The Turpentine-Ironbark Forest of the Sydney Basin Bioregion is found predominantly in areas with a rainfall between 800-1100 mm/year (Benson & Howell, 1994; NSW NPWS, 2002), but remnant patches do occur in areas receiving rainfall outside of this range (Ryan et al, 1996). On the Cumberland Plain, the ecological community is generally found at elevations less than 320 m (NSW NPWS, 2002). In the hills on the surrounding Woronora, Blue Mountains and Hornsby Plateaux, this ecological community can be found on shale caps at elevations up to 750 m (Keith & Benson, 1988).
There have been no detailed studies of the fauna of the Turpentine-Ironbark Forest of the Sydney Basin Bioregion. The interactions between the faunal and floral components are poorly known.
Throughout its range, the Turpentine-Ironbark Forest of the Sydney Basin Bioregion may intergrade with the Cumberland Plains Woodland that occupies drier areas, Shale/Sandstone Transition Forest where the soil intergrades from shale to sandstone, or Blue Gum High Forest that abuts the higher rainfall ridges. The area of transition (ecotone) between ecological communities is dependent on the transition from one soil type to another. Where the soils change abruptly, there may be no intergradation between adjacent ecological communities. In ecotones, the vegetation can be considered a part of the Turpentine-Ironbark Forest of the Sydney Basin Bioregion where a majority of the species are characteristic of this ecological community, and considered to be a part of the adjacent ecological community where a majority of the species are more closely aligned with the adjacent ecological community.
All of the ecological communities with which the Turpentine-Ironbark Forest of the Sydney Basin Bioregion intergrades are listed as endangered under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act). The Cumberland Plains Woodland and Shale/Sandstone Transition Forest are also listed as endangered, and the Blue Gum High forest is listed as critically endangered, under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. 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
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
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 Turpentine-Ironbark Forest of the Sydney Basin Bioregion in New South Wales.
|
IBRA Bioregion
|
IBRA Subregion
|
Known or predicted
|
Geographic restrictions region
|
|---|