Download Warkworth Sands Woodland - An Endangered Ecological

WarkworthSandsWoodland-AnEndangeredEcologicalCommunity
Distribution,EcologicalSignificanceandConservationStatus
Authors:TravisPeake,StephenBell,TerryTame,JohnSimpsonandTimCurran
Date:December2002
Preamble
InOctober2002,theNSWScientificCommitteemadeapreliminarydeterminationtolistWarkworth
SandsWoodlandasanEndangeredEcologicalCommunityontheNSWThreatenedSpecies
ConservationAct1995,andon13thDecember2002,afinaldeterminationwasmadetolistthe
communityasendangered.Thislistingfollowsalonghistoryofreportsandstatementsrecognising
thegeomorphologicalandbotanicalsignificanceofthearea,startingasearlyasthe1960's
(eg:Galloway1963;Storyetal1963;Benson1981a).TheHunterRarePlantsCommitteehas
preparedthisstatementinresponsetothepreliminaryandfinaldeterminationstoprovide
interestedindividualsandorganisationswithfurtherinformationonthecommunity.Thistechnical
noteaimstoprovideinformationonthedistribution,ecologicalsignificanceandconservationstatus
ofWarkworthSandsWoodlandforusebyresearchers,landmanagers,consultantsandthegeneral
public.
Background
DuringregionalvegetationsurveysrecentlyundertakenintheHunterValley,asmallareaofremnant
vegetationnearWarkworthwasidentifiedandclassifiedasaregionallysignificantcommunity(Peake
2000).Itwasalsorecognisedthattheareawasundersignificantandimmediatethreat.Sincethen,
theNSWScientificCommitteehasmadeadeterminationtolistthecommunityasendangered.
Asacomponentofothervegetationsurveys(eg.Bell2000;NSWNPWS1999;Peakeinprep.)
literaturereview,aerialphotographinterpretationandfieldreconnaissancewereundertakento
ascertainthespatialdistributionoftheWarkworthSandsWoodland.Subsequently,itwasrevealed
thatthisvegetationtypeishighlyrestricted,currentlyoccupyinganareaofapproximately800haina
largelyagriculturalandmininglandscapewithinSingletonLGAintheSydneyBasinBioregion.While
regionalsurveyandclassificationofthevegetationinthelowerHunterandCentralCoastregionhas
recentlybeencompleted(NSWNPWS1999),itwasrealisedthattheWarkworthSandsWoodland
didnotreadilyconformtoanyoftheunitsdescribedtherein.Consequently,follow-upinvestigations
aspartofothersurveysweredirectedatdeterminingthesignificanceofthiscommunityatalocal
andregionallevel.
Figure1:LocationofWarkworthSandsWoodland
Location&generaldescription
WarkworthSandsWoodlandoccupiesasmallareaintheHunterValleynearWarkworth,between
SingletonandBulga,intheSingletonLGAofthemidHunterValley(seeFigure1).Thevegetation
typeisdistinctinthelocalareaduetothedominanceofcoastbanksia(Banksia
integrifoliasubsp.integrifolia),rough-barkedapple(Angophorafloribunda),fern-leavedwattle
(Acaciafilicifolia),bracken(Pteridiumesculentum)andbladygrass(Imperatacylindricavar.major)
withinalargelygreybox(Eucalyptusmoluccana)-narrow-leavedironbark(E.crebra)andspotted
gum(Corymbiamaculata)woodlandlandscape.UnderstoreyvegetationinWarkworthSands
Woodlandsupportsspeciesmoretypicalofsandorsandstone-basedenvironments,andinclude
bluntbeard-heath(Leucopogonmuticus),Brachylomadaphnoidessubsp.daphnoides,Guineaflower
(Hibbertialinearis),slenderriceflower(Pimelealinifoliasubsp.linifolia),bladygrass,brackenand
thyme-leavedpaperbark(Melaleucathymifolia).Plates1&2illustratethecommunity.
Ithasbeenestimatedthatapproximately800haofanoriginal6020haofthisvegetationtype
remains,withthemajorityhavingbeenclearedforagriculturaldevelopment.
Plate1:Acaciafilicifolia,Banksiaintegrifolia
subsp.integrifoliaandPteridiumesculentumare
themostcharacteristicdominantspeciesin
WarkworthSandsWoodland.
Plate2:HereAngophorafloribundaforms
thecanopy,withBreyniaoblongifolia
occurringintheshrublayerabovePteridium
esculentum.
GeomorphologicalSetting
ItisbelievedthatthesanddunesatWarkworthformedsome18,000to15,000yearsagofromthe
sandyalluviumofWollombiBrook(Galloway1963).Currently,linearsanddunesbetween1and6m
high,restonahighriverterrace(Storyetal.1963).ThemaindunedepositisalignedNW-SE;Storyet
al.(1963)notethatitisgenerallystablebutissubjecttoblow-outs.Afurthertwosmalldepositsare
locatedeastofWattstrigandanothernearthevillageofWarkworthitself,bothofwhichhavebeen
largelycleared.Benson(1981a)notesthataswellasthedeepersanddeposits,thereisashallow
"veneer"ofsandcontinuingsouthwardfromthenorth-westendofthemainsanddeposit,whichis
separatedfromthemaindepositbyanareaofclaysoilsdevelopedonPermiansediments.Anarea
ofsimilar"sandyveneer"occurstothenorthoftheintersectionbetweentheGoldenHighwayand
LongPointRoad,about2kmnorth-eastofthemaindeposit.Bothareasofsandyveneerwere
includedinthecommunitydescribedbythepreliminarydetermination,duetothepresenceof
characteristicspeciessuchasBanksiaintegrifoliasubsp.integrifolia,AcaciafilicifoliaandAngophora
floribunda,albeitinreducedabundance.
SoillandscapemappingpublishedfortheSingleton1:250000mapsheetshowsthreeoccurrencesof
theWarkworthsoillandscape(SS-ww)(KovacandLawrie1991);however,noneofthesethree
coincideswiththemainsanddepositdescribedbyStoryetal.(1963),Benson(1981a)andPeake(in
prep.).TheWarkworthsoillandscapeisthereindescribedasoneoflinearsanddunes1-3mhighon
oldriverterraces,generallyalignednorth-westtosouth-west(sic)(KovacandLawrie1991).
Description
IndefiningWarkworthSandsWoodlandthefollowingcommonspecieswerelistedinthepreliminary
andfinaldeterminations,andareherelistedaccordingtowhetherornottheyareabundantand/or
characteristic,orlesscommon:
Abundantand/orCharacteristicTaxa
LessCommonTaxa
Acaciafilicifolia
Acaciafalcata
Allocasuarinalittoralis
Ajugaaustralis
Amyemapendulumsubsp.pendulum
Allocasuarinaluehmannii
Angophorafloribunda
Aristidaramosavar.speciosa
Aristidacalycinavar.calycina
Aristidawarburgii
Aristidavagans
Calotiscuneifolia
Banksiaintegrifoliasubsp.integrifolia
Cheilanthessieberisubsp.sieberi
Brachylomadaphnoidessubsp.daphnoides Chrysocephalumapiculatum
Breyniaoblongifolia
Desmodiumvarians
Callitrisendlicheri
DichondraspeciesA
Dianellarevolutevar.revoluta
Echinopogoncaespitosusvar.caespitosus
Entolasiastricta
Echinopogonintermedius
Eucalyptusblakelyi/tereticornis
Einadiatrigonos
Exocarposcupressiformis
Eucalyptuscrebra
Exocarposstrictus
Eucalyptusglaucina
Hardenbergiaviolacea
Hovealinearis
Hibbertialinearis
Hypoxishygrometricavar.hygrometrica
Imperatacylindricavar.major
Indigoferaaustralis
Jacksoniascoparia
Melaleucadecora
Leucopogonmuticus
Solanumprinophyllum
Lomandraglauca
Vittadiniasulcata
Lomandraleucocephalasubsp.leucocephala
Melaleucathymifolia
Persoonialinearis
Pimelealinifoliasubsp.linifolia
Pomaxumbellata
Pteridiumesculentum
AsnotedbytheNSWScientificCommitteepreliminaryandfinaldeterminations,notallspeciesare
presentineverysinglestand,andthetotalspecieslistfromallstandsofthecommunityis
considerablylargerthanthatlistedabove,withsome99speciesbeingrecordedtodate.Atanyone
time,seedsofsomespeciesmayonlybepresentinthesoilseedbankwithnoaboveground
individualspresent.Thespeciescompositionofastandwillbeinfluencedbythesizeofthestand
andbyitsrecentdisturbancehistory.Thenumberofspeciesandtheabove-groundcompositionof
specieswillchangewithtimesincefire,andmayalsochangeinresponsetoalteredfirefrequencies.
WhilstthespecieslistedabovearefoundregularlyinWarkworthSandsWoodland,manyalsooccur
inothercommunities.Smalldrainagelineswithinthecommunitymaysupportahigherabundance
ofcertainspecies(suchasMelaleucathymifolia)andlessofothers(suchasBanksia
integrifoliasubsp.integrifolia).Suchareasareincludedaspartofthiscommunity.Inaddition,
adjacentareaswherewoodlandoccursonathin"veneer"ofsandareincludedwiththiscommunity
description,despitethepresenceofotherspeciesmoretypicalofsurroundingcommunities.
WoodlandoccurringadjacenttothesanddunesonPermianclayssharesmanyspecieswith
WarkworthSandsWoodland,butalsohasahigherabundanceofPermiansubstratespecies,such
asCorymbiamaculata,Eucalyptusmoluccana,AllocasuarinaluehmanniiandEucalyptuscrebra.
Theseareasarenotconsideredtobepartofthiscommunity,exceptinecotoneswherethereisa
dominantabundanceofthecommonandcharacteristicspecieslistedabove,particularlywherea
thin,"sandyveneer"overliesthePermiansubstrate.
WarkworthSandsWoodlandwasnotdescribedinNSWNPWS(1999).However,comparisonsof
speciespresentandrelativeabundanceswithothercommunitiesdefinedinthatdocumentconfirm
thatWarkworthSandsWoodlandrepresentsadistinctassemblage.
DistributionandCondition
WarkworthSandsWoodlandisknownonlyfromSingletonLocalGovernmentArea,whereit
currentlyoccupiesanareaofapproximately800ha.MappingoflandsystemsbyStoryetal.
(1963)includesafurther10locations(inadditiontothetwooccurrencesatWarkworth)withsimilar
soils,landformandvegetation,alltermedthe"WarkworthLandSystem".TwooftheseatKurriKurri
cannowbeconfirmedtobefloristicallyquitedifferent(Benson1981a).Duetotheextentof
vegetationclearingandalterationattheremainingeightothersites,theydonotnowsupporta
similarvegetationcommunity.Itislikely,however,thatatleastsomeoftheotheroccurrencesof
theWarkworthLandSystemsupportedasimilarvegetationcommunity,somebeingnowsimply
dominatedbyAcaciafilicifoliaandPteridiumesculentumwhileothersnowaretotallycleared.
Indeed,thelocationofalloccurrences,excepttwonearKurriKurri,adjacentorclosetoexistingor
formerriverchannelssuggeststhatmostmaywellhavesupportedabroadlysimilarvegetation
communitytothatoccurringatWarkworth.
Currently,theWarkworthSandsWoodlandcomprisessome77%oftheextantvegetation(Peakein
prep.)onthetenoccurrencesofthelandsystemthatareconsideredtohavesimilarattributes(ie.
excludingthetwooccurrencesoftheWarkworthLandSystemnearKurriKurri).Assumingthatthe
tenrelevantoccurrencesofthelandsystemwerefullyvegetatedpriortoEuropeansettlement,itis
estimatedthatonly13%oftheformerdistributionofthisvegetationcommunityremains.Noneof
theknowncommunityoccurswithinconservationreserves.Alargeproportioncouldberegardedto
bethreatenedbyproposedopencutcoalmineextensionsandarecently-approvedsandmine,
togetherwiththeassociatedinfrastructurenecessarytosupporttheseprojects.
ConservationStatusandThreats
Basedonaerialphotographicinterpretation,GISmappingandfieldreconnaissance,approximately
800haofWarkworthSandsWoodlandremains.Ofthis,approximatelyhalfismadeupofWarkworth
SandsWoodland(asdescribedinthepreliminarydetermination),whiletheotherhalfcontains
dominantandcharacteristicspeciesofsurroundingEucalyptuscrebra-Eucalyptusmoluccana-
Corymbiamaculataforestsandwoodlands.Bothexpressionsofthecommunitywereincludedinthe
preliminarydetermination.Noneofthecommunityoccurswithinanyconservationreserve,anda
substantialproportionofitisthreatenedbyproposeddevelopments.
OftheremainingWarkworthSandsWoodland,thereisahighpotentialforvegetationclearingfor
opencutcoalminingandsandminingduetothetenureofthelandonwhichitoccursandbasedon
recentproposeddevelopments,oneofwhich(asandmine)hasalreadybeenapproved(eg.ERM
2002,HLA-Envirosciences2000).Inaddition,arailwaylineassociatedwithanexistingopencutcoal
mineisproposedtopassthroughthemiddlesandmass.
WarkworthSandsWoodlandiscurrentlysubjecttothreatsfromclearingassociatedwiththe
proposedextensionofanopen-cutcoalminetotheeastofWallabyScrubRoad(ERM2002),andby
arecently-approvedsandmineadjacenttoWollombiBrookwhichwillrequiretheminingofthevery
substratethatthecommunityoccurson(HLA-Envirosciences2000).Itisalsoconsideredthat
WarkworthSandsWoodlandislikelytobesubjecttopressuresfromagriculturalclearing,andfrom
threatstothecommunity'sstructureandcompositionassociatedwithfirefrequency,weedinvasion
andgrazing.
PreviousWork-CSIROGeneralReportontheLandsoftheHunterValley
Thelandmark1963reportbyCSIROsubdividedtheHunterValley(includingLakeMacquarie)into43
landsystems(Storyetal.1963).Landsystemsweredefinedas"areaseachwithitsown
characteristiccombinationoflandforms,soils,andvegetation,andconsequentlyitsownpotential
andownreactionunderanygivensetofconditions"basedonworkbyChristianandStewart(1953).
Ofthese,theWarkworthlandsystemisdescribedas"lowdunesorthinsandsheets;brownsingle-
grainedsandyAeolianregosols;anomalouswoodland,mostlycleared,withwirygrasses,orheath;
woodedorshrubbyarea50%;rainfall24-28in"(Storyetal.1963).
Theauthorsmapped12occurrencesoftheWarkworthlandsystem,withtenoftheseoccurringclose
totheHunterRiverorWollombiBrook,andtheothertwobeingwellawayfromanymajorcreekin
theKurriKurriarea.TwooccurringatWarkworthincludeWarkworthSandsWoodland.Theydescribe
twodistinctunitsforthelandsystem,onedominatedbywoodland,makingupabout75%
ofthelandsystem'sarea,andtheotherdominatedbydenseheath,makinguptheremaining25%.
Intotalthelandsystemisrecordedtocover31squaremiles(about8,030ha).Inthesupporting
technicalreportonthevegetationofthelandsystems,Story(1963,p.42)notesthat"mostofthe
treeshavebeenclearedfromthewoodlandandagrasslandwithscatteredtreesremains."
PreviousWork-TheHunterRemnantVegetationProject
TheHunterCatchmentManagementTrustiscurrentlyfinalisingitsreportonthis6yearproject.The
studyaimedtomapthedistributionofvegetationcommunitiesinthemidHunterValley,andto
undertakebotanicalsurveysoftheircompositionandstructure(Peakeinprep.).Thepurposeofthe
projectwastodeterminetheconservationstatusofeachvegetationcommunity,andtoassesstheir
relativethreatsanddegreeofreservation.
20x20metrefloristicplotsweresampledinandaroundtheWarkworthSandsWoodlandareain
1999aspartofthisprojectandalsobyNSWNPWS(NSWNPWS1999)aspartoftheComprehensive
RegionalAssessment(CRA)process.TheHunterTrust'sremnantvegetationstudyhasfoundthat
WarkworthSandsWoodlandisthemostrestrictedvegetationcommunityinthe3,200km2 study
area,andismostlikelytobeunderthehighestthreatofextinctioninthenext50years(Peakein
prep.).
ComparisonwithPotentiallySimilarCommunities
WarkworthSandsWoodlandoccursonasand-basedsoillandscapeuniqueintheHunterValley.
Severalothervegetationcommunitieshavebeendescribedinthescientificliteraturewhichbear
someresemblancetotheWarkworthSandsWoodland(includingtenEndangeredEcological
Communities).FirsthandexperienceofmostofthoseintheSydneyBasinbioregionhasbeen
obtainedbythemembersoftheHunterRarePlantsCommitteewhichhasaidedtheminthe
preparationofthistechnicalnote.
Table1outlinesthefloristiccompositionofSydneyBasinsand-basedvegetationintheliterature,
basedonpublishedandunpublishedreports,aswellasonefurthersanddepositintheBrigalowBelt
South,whichbearssomeresemblancetoWarkworthSandsWoodland.Wherepossible,published
accountsofvegetationhavebeencited.Standardvegetationsurveyhasyettooccuracrossallsand-
basedvegetationtypes,andconsequentlyanalysiscannotyetbeundertakentoclarifyrelationships.
Nevertheless,theinformationprovidedinTable1indicatesbasicdifferencesinthefloristic
compositionofeachvegetationtype.TheWarkworthSandsWoodlandhasasuiteofdominant
speciesthatisdistinctlydifferenttotheothersand-basedvegetationtypeslistedinTable1anddoes
notmatchanyotherEndangeredEcologicalCommunities.
Alsoofrelevanceisanexaminationofthegeologicalhistoryofeachofthesesanddeposits(Table2).
TheWarkworthSandsWoodlandisoneoffourvegetationtypesthataregroupedas"inlandAeolian
sanddeposits."ItiscertainthatbothAgnesBanksandWarkworthSandsWoodlandareof
Pleistoceneage,whileitisspeculatedthattheMendoorandepositabout16kmwestofMendooran
isofsimilarageaswell.TheMarootasandmasscomplexappearstobepossiblyofTertiaryage(Ryan
etal.1996).OfthetwoothercommunitieswhichoccuronPleistoceneinlandAeoliansands,
(MendooranSandsandAgnesBanks),only14%and23%ofplantspeciesrespectivelyareshared
betweenthesesitesandthe99nativeplantspeciesrecordedinWarkworthSandsWoodlandto
date.
TheEcologicalSignificanceofWarkworthSandsWoodland
WarkworthSandsWoodlandoccursonahighlyrestricted,aeoliansandmassderivedfromsand
depositsalongthenearbyWollombiBrook.Consequently,itisfloristicallydistinctfromother
vegetationinthelocalareawhichispredominantlyvariousassociationsofgreybox(Eucalyptus
moluccana),narrow-leavedironbark(E.crebra)andspottedgum(Corymbiamaculata)(Peakein
prep.).WarkworthSandsWoodlandhasalsobeenshowntohaveadifferentfloristiccomposition,
particularlyasregardsthedominantspecies,toothersand-basedcommunitiesoftheSydneyBasin
Bioregion(Table1).ThehighlyrestrictednatureofboththesandysubstrateandtheWarkworth
SandsWoodlanditsupportsisfurtherevidencedbythefactthatneitherweredelineatedor
describedinrecentregionalvegetationmapping(NSWNPWS1999).
TheNSWScientificCommitteehasmadeafinaldeterminationtolistWarkworthSandsWoodlandas
anEndangeredEcologicalCommunityontheNSWThreatenedSpeciesConservationAct1995.
Underthedraftnationalcriteriausedforassessingthelevelofthreattoecologicalcommunities
(Landsberg2000),theWarkworthSandsWoodlandisratedasCriticallyEndangeredundercriteriaA
&B.Thisstatusisachievedonthebasisofcriterion"A"(veryseveredeclineingeographic
distribution)and"B"(smallgeographicdistributioncoupledwithdemonstrablethreat).Thetotal
pre-1750areaofoccupancyisestimatedat6020ha,ofwhichapproximately800ha(13%)remains.
Thereiscurrentlynorepresentationofthiscommunitywithindedicatedreserves,despiteprevious
considerationbyNPWSfordedicationasanaturereserve(Pavich1992).
FourthreatenedfaunaspecieswerelocatedbyERM(2002)onthelandproposedfortheextension
oftheWarkworthopen-cutcoalmine,includingsquirrelglider(Petaurusnorfolcensis),speckled
warbler(Pyrrholaemussaggitata),browntreecreeper(Climacterispicumnussubsp.victoriae)and
grey-crownedbabbler(Pomatosomustemporalissubsp.temporalis).Allofthesearelistedas
VulnerableontheNSWThreatenedSpeciesConservationAct1995.O'Brien(1999)recordedthe
Vulnerableturquoiseparrot(Neophemapulchella)atthesiteoftheproposedsandmine,and
consideredthattheEndangeredregenthoneyeater(Xanthomyzaphrygia)islikelytobepresenton
occasionduringmigration.InadditionitishighlylikelythattheVulnerable(TSCAct1995)glossy
blackcockatoo(Calyptorhynchuslathami)ispresentinWarkworthSandsWoodland.
TheVulnerabletreeEucalyptusglaucinahasbeenrecordedwithinthecommunityduringCRA
surveysbyNPWS(NPWS1999),howeverthismayrequireconfirmation.
Finally,a1992referencestatementbyNPWSindicatedthattheServicehadsinceatleast1978
"beenconsideringthelongtermprotectionof……WarkworthSands,preferablybydedicationasa
NatureReserveifthisprovedpossible"(Pavich1992,p.1).However,noformalprotectionofthe
WarkworthSandsWoodlandhasbeenattainedinthattime.
Conclusion
WarkworthSandsWoodlandisanaturallyrestrictedvegetationcommunitypresentlyoccurringin
onlyabout13%ofitsformerpre-Europeandistribution.Itiscurrentlythreatenedbyanumberof
landmanagementpractices,andhasbeenrecognisedbytheNSWScientificCommitteeasan
EndangeredEcologicalCommunity.Inordertosecurethelong-termviabilityofthiscommunity,the
retentionofexistingpatchescoupledwiththerestorationofdegradedcomponentsoftheland
systemonwhichitoccurswillbecrucial.
Warkworth Sands Woodland - An Endangered Ecological
Community
Table 1 Floristic Composition of Recognised Sand-based
Vegetation Communities
Community / Location
Floristic Composition
Subject
Warkworth Sands Woodland
Angophora floribunda, Banksia
integrifolia, Allocasuarina littoralis,
Melaleuca thymifolia, Acacia filicifolia,
Pteridium esculentum, Imperata
cylindrica var. major, Hibbertia
linearis, Brachyloma daphnoides
subsp. daphnoides, Exocarpus
cupressiformis, Callitris endlicheri,
Jacksonia scoparia, Leucopogon
muticus, Pimelea
linifolia subsp. linifolia
Endangered Ecological Communities (TSC Act 1995)
Agnes Banks Woodland
(Benson 1981b)
Eucalyptus sclerophylla, Eucalyptus
parramattensis subsp. parramattensis,
Angophora bakeri, Banksia serrata,
Banksia aemula, Ricinocarpus
pinifolius, Dillwynia glaberrima,
Leptospermum trinervium,
Conospermum taxifolium, Philotheca
salsolifolia, Acacia brownii,
Leptospermum polygalifolium,
Isopogon anemonifolius, Kunzea
capitata, Persoonia nutans, Melaleuca
thymifolia, Monotoca scoparia,
Pteridium esculentum, Callistemon
citrinus
Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub
(NSW Scientific Committee)
Banksia aemula, Banksia serrata,
Banksia integrifolia, Banksia ericifolia,
Pteridium esculentum, Corymbia
gummifera, Acacia suaveolens, Acacia
terminalis, Allocasuarina distyla,
Brachyloma daphnoides, Bossiaea
heterophylla, Hakea teretifolia,
Kunzea ambigua, Lambertia formosa,
Leptospermum trinervium,
Leptospermum laevigatum, Monotoca
scoparia, Ricinocarpus pinifolius,
Persoonia lanceolata, Pimelea linifolia
Elderslie Banksia Scrub Forest
(NPWS 1997)
Eucalyptus botryoides, Eucalyptus
baueriana, Banksia integrifolia,
Melaleuca decora, Acacia decurrens,
Angophora subvelutina, Aotus
ericoides, Dillwynia glaberrima, Acacia
implexa, Duboisia myoporoides,
Ozothamnus diosmifolius, Platysace
lanceolata, Pteridium esculentum,
Hibbertia diffusa, Clerodendrum
tomentosum, Ricinocarpus pinifolius
Castlereagh Scribbly Gum
Woodland
(NPWS 2000a)
Eucalyptus
parramattensis subsp. parramattensis,
Angophora bakeri, Eucalyptus
sclerophylla, Melaleuca decora,
Banksia spinulosa var. spinulosa,
Melaleuca nodosa, Hakea sericea,
Hakea dactyloides, Themeda australis,
Entolasia stricta, Cyathochaeta
diander, Dianella revoluta subsp.
revoluta, Stylidium graminifolium,
Platysace ericoides, Laxmannia
gracilis, Aristida warburgii
Castlereagh Swamp Woodland
(NPWS 2000a; NSW Scientific
Commit.)
Eucalyptus
parramattensis subsp. parramattensis,
Melaleuca decora, Eucalyptus
sclerophylla, Angophora bakeri,
Eucalyptus sideroxylon, Melaleuca
nodosa, Baumea articulata,
Callistemon linearis, Kunzea capitata,
Leptospermum polygalifolium, Banksia
oblongifolia, Melaleuca thymifolia,
Melaleuca erubescens, Pultenaea
villosa, Lepyrodia muelleri
Kurnell Dune Forest
(NSW Scientific Committee)
Eucalyptus botryoides, Eucalyptus
robusta, Endiandra sieberi, Angophora
costata, Banksia serrata, Elaeocarpus
reticulatus, Monotoca elliptica,
Leptospermum laevigatum,
Cupaniopsis anacardioides, Glochidion
ferdinandi, Banksia ericifolia, Aotus
ericoides, Clerodendrum tomentosum,
Breynia oblongifolia, Leucopogon
parviflorus, Pimelea linifolia
Kurri Sand Swamp Woodland
(NPWS 2000b)
Eucalyptus
parramattensis subsp. decadens,
Angophora bakeri, Eucalyptus signata,
Eucalyptus sparsifolia, Melaleuca
nodosa, Banksia spinulosa, Jacksonia
scoparia, Hakea dactyloides, Acacia
ulicifolia, Lambertia formosa, Pimelea
linifolia, Dillwynia retorta, Lissanthe
strigosa, Melaleuca thymifolia
Low Woodland - Heathland, Norah Eucalyptus camfieldii, Corymbia
Head
gummifera, Melaleuca sieberi,
Melaleuca quinquenervia, Acacia
(Payne 1997)
longifolia, Acacia suaveolens,
Allocasuarina distyla, Callistemon
citrinus, Banksia oblongifolia, Grevillea
sericea, Hakea teretifolia, Lambertia
formosa, Isopogon anemonifolius,
Bossiaea ensata, Leptocarpus tenax,
Epacris microphylla, Melaleuca
thymifolia, Pimelea linifolia, Persoonia
levis, Xanthorrhoea fulva, Themeda
australis
Quorrobolong Scribbly Gum
Woodland
(Bell and Murray 2001)
Eucalyptus racemosa, Eucalyptus
piperita, Angophora costata,
Eucalyptus
resinifera subsp. resinifera, Eucalyptus
punctata, Syncarpia glomulifera,
Banksia spinulosa, Leptospermum
trinervium, Xylomelum
pyriforme, Melaleuca nodosa,
Persoonia linearis, Acacia ulicifolia,
Melaleuca sieberi, Callistemon
pinifolius, Leucopogon juniperinus,
Breynia oblongifolia, Daviesia
ulicifolia, Zieria smithii subsp. smithii,
Lomatia silaifolia, Correa reflexa
Umina Coastal Sandplain
Woodland
(NSW Scientific Committee)
Angophora floribunda, Banksia
integrifolia, Eucalyptus botryoides,
Eucalyptus paniculata, Melaleuca
quinquenervia, Monotoca elliptica,
Banksia serrata, Allocasuarina
torulosa, Banksia ericifolia,
Macrozamia communis, Aotus
ericoides, Duboisia myoporoides,
Dodonaea triquetra, Elaeocarpus
reticulatus, Eriostemon australasius,
Xanthorrhoea arborea, Pteridium
esculentum, Leptospermum
trinervium, Leptospermum
polygalifolium, Lomandra longifolia,
Platysace lanceolata, Persoonia
linearis, Pomax umbellata
Other Communities Occurring on Sand Bodies
Mellong Woodland
(Ryan et al. 1996)
Angophora bakeri, Eucalyptus
sclerophylla, Leptospermum
trinervium, Isopogon anemonifolius,
Bossiaea heterophylla, Hakea
dactyloides, Banksia spinulosa,
Cryptandra spinescens, Monotoca
scoparia, Pteridium esculentum,
Platysace ericoides, Haemodorum
planifolium, Gompholobium latifolium,
Lindsaea linearis
Mendooran Sand Deposit
(Benson 1979)
Angophora floribunda, Eucalyptus
macrorhyncha, Callitris endlicheri,
Hovea lanceolata, Brachyloma
daphnoides, Calytrix tetragona, Acacia
brownii, Dianella revoluta,
Lepidosperma laterale, Schoenus
ericetorum, Melaleuca thymifolia,
Pultenaea microphylla, Allocasuarina
luehmannii, Acacia gladiiformis,
Gahnia aspera, Imperata
cylindrica var. major
Upper Cudgegong Sandslope
Woodland
(Bell 1998)
Eucalyptus rossii, Eucalyptus
mannifera, Eucalyptua macrorhyncha,
Angophora floribunda, Eucalyptus
blakelyi, Eucalyptus punctata,
Eucalyptus cannonii, Persoonia
myrtilloides, Monotoca scoparia,
Leucopogon virgatus, Boronia
microphylla, Dillwynia phylicoides,
Brachyloma daphnoides, Acacia
buxifolia, Petrophile pulchella, Hakea
dactyloides, Mirbelia platyloboides,
Caustis pentandra, Acacia echinula,
Petrophile canescens
Maroota Sandmass Complex
(Ryan et al. 1996)
Eucalyptus haemastoma, Eucalyptus
squamosa, Corymbia gummifera,
Angophora bakeri, Eucalyptus
globoidea, Eucalyptus punctata,
Angophora costata
Tomago Sand Swamp Woodland
(NPWS 2000b)
Eucalyptus
paramattensis subsp. decadens,
Eucalyptus signata, Leptospermum
polygalifolium, Melaleuca nodosa,
Persoonia lanceolata, Hakea
teretifolia, Melaleuca sieberi, Banksia
oblongifolia, Dillwynia retorta,
Melaleuca thymifolia, Aotus ericoides,
Leucopogon ericoides, Lepyrodia
scariosa
Wilpinjong Scribbly Gum Woodland Eucalyptus rossii, Eucalyptus crebra,
Callitris endlicheri, Corymbia
(Bell 1995; Hill 1999)
trachyphloia subsp. amphistomatica,
Eucalyptus dwyeri, Brachyloma
daphnoides, Calytrix tetragona,
Persoonia myrtilloides subsp.
cunninghamii, Bossiaea rhombifolia
subsp. rhombifolia, Styphelia triflora,
Grevillea sericea, Persoonia linearis,
Patersonia sericea, Pomax umbellata,
Macrozamia spiralis, Melichrus
urceolatus, Leucopogon virgatus,
Xanthorrhoea johnsonii
Warkworth Sands Woodland - An Endangered Ecological
Community
Table 2 Geological History of Sandmass Vegetation
Community
Geological History
Warkworth Sands Woodland
Agnes Banks Woodland
Maroota Sandmass Complex
Mendooran Sand Deposit
Inland
Inland
Inland
Inland
Quorrobolong Scribbly Gum
Woodland
Kurri Sand Swamp Woodland
Deeply Weathered Sandstone (Permian Maitland
Group)
Deeply Weathered Sandstone (Permian Maitland
Group)
Aeolian
Aeolian
Aeolian
Aeolian
Sands
Sands
Sands
Sands
(Pleistocene)
(Pleistocene)
(Tertiary?)
(Pleistocene?)
Upper Cudgegong Sandslope
Woodland
Wilpinjong Scribbly Gum Woodland
Mellong Woodland
Deeply Weathered Sandstone (Triassic Narrabeen)
Deeply Weathered Sandstone (Triassic Narrabeen)
Deeply Weathered Sandstone (Triassic Narrabeen)
Tomago Sand Swamp Woodland
Low Woodland - Heathland, Norah
Head
Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub
Coastal Aeolian Sands (Pleistocene)
Coastal Aeolian Sands (Pleistocene)
Coastal Aeolian Sands (Pleistocene)
Umina Coastal Sandplain Woodland
Kurnell Dune Forest
Coastal Aeolian Sands (Holocene)
Coastal Aeolian Sands (?Holocene)
Elderslie Banksia Scrub Forest
Tertiary Alluvium
Castlereagh Scribbly Gum Woodland Tertiary Alluvium
Castlereagh Swamp Woodland
Tertiary Alluvium