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Western Australia, Swan Coastal Plain, N of Perth, Gnangara-Moore
River State Forest, Gilderton, S of Woodridge (settlement)
Zonobiome IV: Sclerophyllous Woodlands & Scrub
Subzonobiome (accord. to Mucina, unpubl.): Mediterranean
Sclerophyllous Woodlands & Scrub
Regional Azonal Biome(accord. to Mucina, unpubl.): Western Australian
Kwongan
Community: Verticordia nitens-Banksia menziesii Woodland
Part of very extensive banksia woodland patch. Banksia woodlands are peinobiome communities on deep, nutrientdeprived
sandy soils (so called Bassendean Sands) 2-5 My old. These
soils (actually regolith) has been accumulating here for millions of years
and have experienced gradual leaching, with hardly any notable soil
rejuvenation. The woodlands are actually kwongan scrub (undergrowth),
overtopped by scattered Banksia and Eucalyptus trees. Grass trees
(Xanthorrhoea preissii) can also become taller than 2 m. The tree Banksia
species (B. attenuata and B. menziesii) are phreatophytes and their
occurrence int his kwongan type is a result of their ability to reach ground
water supplies as well as generally reasonable precipitation (around 700
mm MAP).
The site on even ground and the surrounding landscape is very smoothly
undulating. The site is not under strict protection (conservation status), however,
having the status of ‘state forest’ it is under management of the
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (Western
Australian Government). The vegetation is a typical low, sparse woodland with dense scrub
undergrowth. Only one large tree of Eucalyptus todtiana reaches the tree
layer (8 m tall). The banksia trees concentrate in E2B and are also
represented (as samplings and seedlings) in E2a and E1 layers. The herb
layer is very sparse and contains number of orchids (most of them still
visible as basal rosettes only), numerous rosette-forming (mainly not
flowering yet) aliern Hypochaeris glabra (Mediterranean herb), and very
numerous, also alien Heliophila pusilla and Ursinia anthemoides s.str.
(both annual herbs of South African origin).
Total cover: 60 %
E3a
Eucalyptus todtiana 10% (8 m tall)
E2b:
Banksia attenuata 10% (5 m)
Banksia menziesii 10% (5 m)
Eucalyptus todtiana 5% (4 m)
Daviesia divaricata subsp. divaricata 2% (3 m)
Xanthorrhoea preissii 5% (3 m)
Hakea prostrata 1% (2.5 m)
E2a:
Hibbertia hypericoides 20%
Xanthorrhoea preissii 10% (grass tree)
Banksia menziesii juv. 5%
Banksia attenuata juv. 2%
Petrophile sp1. 6%
Stirlingia latifolia 5%
Pimelea sulphurea 1%
Melaleuca sp. 2%
Isotropis cuneifolia subsp. cuneifolia 1%
Hakea prostrata 5%
Jacksonia sp.1 2% (pea)
Hakea costata 1%
Hibbertia huegelii 5%
Daviesia divaricata subsp. divaricata 2%
Verticordia nitens 1%
Hybanthus calycinus 1%
Conostylis setigera 1%
Macrozamia fraseri 2%
Calectasia narragara 1%
Banksia dellanneyi subsp. pollosta 2% (det. K.R. Thiele)
Gastrolobium capitatum 1%
E1:
Hypochaeris glabra 1%
Calanthe flava 1%
Loxocarya sp. 1%
Mesomelaena pseudostygia 2%
Drosera pallida 1%
Drosera menziesii 1%
Mesomelaena tetragona 2%
Laxmannia squarrosa 1% (det. P. Macintyre)
Ursinia anthemoides s.str. 1%
Heliophila pusilla 1%
Kennedia prostrata 1%
Anigozanthos humilis 1%
Drosera erythrorhiza 5%
No anthropogenic disturbance; occasional crossing by kangaroos (spoor
suggesting that it is the Western Grey Kangaroo). No obvious traces of
grazing or browsing. The site is close to a dirt (sandy) road, but only the
edge of the road is disturbed. The site has not burnt for a long time as
witnessed by numerous decaying logs of Banksia. Leaf litter is dense, yet
not very deep (depth of 1 or 2 layers of sclerophyllous leaves). The sampling was done within the distance of at least 10 m of the forest
edge (in any direction), using the prescribed 30 x 30 m design.
Moving through the vegetation was easy. |