Ala kommentaar: |
Western Australia, Menzies, 5.4 km NE of town’s center on Highway
Relative intact strip of tall mulga scrub. Zonobiome III (acc. to Walter): Subtropical Semideserts and Deserts
Subzonobiome (acc. to Mucina unpubl.): Subtropical Inland Hot Semi-
Deserts
Regional Biome (acc. to Mucina unpubl.): Mulga Scrub
Plant Community: Acacia caesioaneura Community
Typical mulga (Acacia-dominated subtropical shrubland) scrub, having
two shrub layers: dense and species-richer E2a and usually
monodominant, yet sparse E2b; ground layer contains saplings (and
seedlings) of various mulga species and occasional C4 grass tufts.
The landscape is an old inland plateau receiving low rainfall falling
mainly in summer and originating from tropical troughs penetrating deep
inland and sometimes bringing rare deluge).
Soils are deep red leptosols, sandy, with admixture of loam.
Fire is a rare appearance.
The total (combined) vegetation cover is 40%; litter is sparse (10% of
cover; not deeper than 1 cm) and composed of shed leaves of mulga and
concentrating around the shrubs. Some dead trunks and branches are also
found to decay on the surface (covering 1-2% of surface).
Ants are very common, but the ant nests are small. The sampled area does not enjoy formal protection and is also obviously
not used for any agricultural activity (no sheep or cow droppings). E2b:
Acacia caesioaneura 20% (4 m tall)
E2a:
Acacia aneura agg. sp1. 20%
Unknown grey round shrub 20%
Acacia caesioaneura juv. 5%
Acacia aneura agg. sp2. 10%
E1:
Stipagrostis sp. 20%
Acacia aneura agg. sp2. 1%. The mulga adjacent to the road is a bit disturbed (glass bottles and tins),
but the sampling avoided those patches.
The area is frequented by kangaroos (spoors). 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. |