MVG 5 - EUCALYPT WOODLANDS

Eastern temperate grassy woodlands Tamworth, NSW (Photo: D. Keith)

Overview

Form a transitional zone between the higher rainfall forested margins of Australia (MVG 3) and

the open woodlands (MVG 11 and 13), shrublands (MVG 16) and hummock grasslands (MVG

20) of the arid interior.

Distributed in an arc from the subtropical Queensland to Tasmania and west to southeast South

Australia, with an outlier in south Western Australia. Replaced by MVG 12 at tropical latitudes.

Eucalypts are the dominant trees throughout, but species of Acacia or Callitris may occur in a

subcanopy.

Woodland generally describes ecosystems that contain trees widely spaced with their crowns not

touching (Hobbs 2002). The tree layer has a crown cover of 20 - 50% (projective foliage cover

10-30%).

Woodland understories in the east are mostly grassy, while those in the west are predominantly

shrubby.

Temperate eucalypt woodlands are highly fragmented due to clearing for crops and improved

pastures in the south-eastern and south-western wheat-sheep belts.

The ‘parkland’ landscapes, retaining remnant trees of the original woodlands in the eastern and

southern parts of Australia evoke a strong sense of place for many Australians.

Facts and figures

Major Vegetation Group MVG 5 - Eucalypt Woodlands

Major Vegetation Subgroups (number of NVIS descriptions)

09. Eastern temperate grassy woodlands ACT, NSW, QLD, VIC SA, TAS 59. Subalpine woodlands ACT, NSW, VIC, TAS 08. Western temperate shrubby woodlands WA 65.Semi-arid floodplain and wadi woodlands NSW, VIC, QLD, NT, SA, WA. xx. Semi-arid upland and peneplain woodlands NSW, QLD, NT, SA, WA.

Typical NVIS structural formations Woodland (low, mid)

Number of IBRA regions 80

Most extensive in IBRA region Est. pre-1750: Brigalow Belt South (Qld and NSW) Present: Einsaleigh Uplands (Qld)

Estimated pre-1750 extent (km2) 1 362 263

Present extent (km2) 892 920

Area protected (km2) 72 589

Western temperate shrubby woodlands, WA (Photo: D. Keith)

Structure and physiognomy

The tree layer has a crown cover of 20 - 50% (projective foliage cover 10-30%) and is typically

10 – 30 m tall (Keith 2004; Lindenmayer et al. 2014).

Trees canopy leaf sizes vary from notophyll (20 – 45 cm2) to mesophyll (45 – 150 cm

2) and

leaves are invariably vertically oriented with essentially identical surfaces.

May have a patchy understorey stratum of mostly non-sclerophyllous shrubs, which is more

prominent in south-western Australia than in south-eastern Australia.

The ground layer is dominated by tussock grasses with forbs, and is essentially continuous in

south-eastern Australia, but generally sparse in south-western Australia (Hobbs 2002).

Tussock grasses include both C3 and C4 species that vary in dominance depending on

temperature, light regimes and aridity.

Indicative flora

Eucalypts are dominant throughout, with one to four species represented in a stand, or more

species in the northern and western areas of the distribution.

Non-eucalypts are uncommon in the tallest tree stratum, but species of Acacia or Callitris may

occur in a subcanopy.

Woodland composition and understorey vary regionally and with landscape context.

Dominated in the east by ‘box’ and ‘ironbark’ eucalypts of section Adnataria within subgenus

Symphyomyrtus of Eucalyptus, with some species of section Exsertaria (red gums) and, in the

cooler climates, species from section Maidenaria. In the west, however, eucalypt species within

section Bisectaria, are dominant.

Woodland understories in the east are dominated by a largely continuous groundlayer

comprising a mixture of C3 and C4 grasses and herbs, differing markedly from those in the west,

which include a greater cover of shrubs and a less conspicuous grass component. The balance of

this mixture varies with C4 grasses dominating in warmer and drier climates, and C3 grasses

dominating in cooler more humid climates.

Five subgroups are recognised, including two that are also represented in MVG 11.

o Eastern temperate grassy woodlands are dominated by Eucalyptus within subgenus

Symphyomyrtus section Adnataria. Some communities include species from section

Exsertaria and the genus Angophora. Widespread species include Eucalyptus melliodora,

Eucalyptus albens, Eucalyptus blakelyi, Eucalyptus microcarpa, Eucalyptus tereticornis,

Eucalyptus crebra, Eucalyptus melanophloia, Eucalyptus viminalis and Eucalyptus ovata

(Keith 2004; Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment 2004; Harris and

Kitchener 2005; Neldner et al. 2014). Scattered shrubs include Bursaria spinosa and

species of Cassinia and Acacia. Dominant C4 grasses in warmer drier sites include

species of Aristida, Bothriochloa, Chloris, Cymbopogon, Eragrostis, Heteropogon,

Panicum, Sporobolus and Themeda. C3 grasses characteristic of more mesic or cooler

areas include species of Austrodanthonia, Microlaena and Poa. The groundlayer also

includes a diversity of forbs in families Asteraceae, Anthericaceae, Campanulaceae,

Convolvulaceae and Orchidaceae.

o Subalpine woodlands typically include eucalypts in section Renantheria within subgenus

Eucalyptus. The main high country species are Eucalyptus pauciflora, Eucalyptus

stellulata, Eucalyptus niphophila and Eucalyptus coccifera in Tasmania. Grasses are

primarily species of Poa, with Agrostis, Austrodanthonia and Deyeuxia, all with C3

photosynthetic pathways. Forbs include species of Acaena, Asperula, Geranium and

Stellaria. While grasses and forbs dominate sites with deeper soils, shrubs in families

Ericaceae and Fabaceae may be prominent in rocky sites (Keith 2004; Victoria

Department of Sustainability and Environment 2004; Harris and Kitchener 2005).

o Western temperate shrubby woodlands are dominated by species of Eucalyptus in

section Bisectaria within subgenus Symphyomyrtus. As well as eucalypts with typical

woodland growth forms, this MVG includes trees with ‘mallet’ and ‘marlock’ growth

forms. Common species include Eucalyptus loxophleba, Eucalyptus salubris, Eucalyptus

salmoniphloia and Eucalyptus wandoo, The understorey is highly variable in structure

and composition (Commonwealth Government 2015). The main shrub genera include

Allocasuarina, Acacia, Melaleuca, Grevillea, Eremophila, Maireana and Atriplex, with

the latter more prominent in drier climates, as well as a number of smaller Eucalypt

species (Beard et al. 2013; Commonwealth Government 2015). Where the shrub layer

becomes sparse grass-like herbaceous perennials and grasses from the Anthericaceae,

Cyperaceae, Dasypogonaceae, Liliaceae and Restionaceae are common (Yates et al.

2000).

o Semi-arid floodplain and wadi woodlands (also represented in MVG 11) are dominated

by species of Eucalyptus in sections Adnataria and Exsertaria in subgenus

Symphyomyrtus. Eucalypts such as Eucalyptus coolabah, Eucalyptus largiflorens,

Eucalyptus ochrophloia, Eucalyptus populnea, Eucalyptus tereticornis and Eucalyptus

camaldulensis are widespread with Eucalyptus microtheca occurring in northern and

central Australia. The understorey may consist of a shrub layer of species from the genera

Acacia, Dodonaea, Eremophila, Muehlenbeckia, and Rhagodia and the groundlayer has

an abundance of forbs, chenopods, graminoids & tussock grass (Keith 2004; Victoria

Department of Sustainability and Environment 2004; Beard 2013, Neldner et al. 2014)

o Semi-arid upland and peneplain woodlands (also represented in MVG 11) include

species such as Eucalyptus intertexta, Eucalyptus populnea, Eucalyptus melanophloia

Eucalyptus siderophloia (all in section Adnataria of subgenus Symphyomyrtus) and

Callitris glaucophylla (Keith 2004). The understorey typically has a shrub layer of genera

such as Acacia, Allocasuarina, Dodonaea, Eremophila, Hakea, Myoporum and

chenopods (Keith 2004; Neldner et al. 2014). The gound layer is rich in forbs and

graminoids including species of Aristida, Astrebla Austrostipa, Chloris, Dichanthium,

Enteropogon, Heteropogon, Panicum, Rytidosperma, Abutilon, Alternanthera,

Brunoniella, Evolvulus, Fimbristylis, Goodenia, Sida and a range of chenopods (Keith

2004; Neldner et al. 2014).

Environment

Occur across a wide range of environments varying in climate, soil type, soil parent material and

hydrology (Yates and Hobbs 2000).

The climate varies from Mediterranean in south western and southern South Australia to

summer rainfall dominant in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland (Hobbs

2002).

MVG 5 is most prevalent in regions with 200 – 800 mm mean annual rainfall (Yates and Hobbs

(2000).

Occurs from sea level to 1800 m in altitude on relatively fertile loam – clay soils on a variety of

fine grained sedimentary and igneous substrates.

Usually found on the fringes of forested areas and water courses or where soil moisture or

nutrients may be limiting for tree growth.

The large number of eucalypts and their associated species occur on a wide range of

environmental gradients. These relationships have been further complicated by the impact of

land use following European settlement.

Geography

In south eastern Australia temperate Eucalypt Woodlands form a relatively continuous belt on

the inland side of the Great Dividing Range from approximately 27oS in southern Queensland to

the lower southeast of South Australia with a narrow strip running north and south of Adelaide

(Moore 1970). Within this zone the woodlands occur in a mosaic with areas of grasslands

(Moore 1970).

In Tasmania eucalypt woodlands are interspersed with grasslands and forests throughout the

northeast and in the Midlands as far as 42oS (Moore 1970).

Eucalypt woodlands are widespread in south Western Australia and often form a mosaic with

heathlands, mallee and salt lakes (Beard 1990).

Largest distribution of woodland type in Australia and occurs in all states and territories.

Largest distribution is found in Western Australia (219 846 km2).

Makes up the largest MVG in New South Wales and Queensland.

Change

Approximately 470 000 km2 cleared since European settlement: approximately 34% of the

estimated pre-1750 extent cleared accounting for 46% of total clearing in Australia.

Temperate woodlands are some of the most extensively cleared, heavily modified and highly

degraded vegetation types in Australia (Lindemayer et al. 2014) e.g. less than 3% of the original

cover of woodland dominated by White Box/Yellow Box woodlands remains (Gibbons and

Boak 2002).

An important part of cereal cropping and pastoral zones. The cleared areas are extensive so that

the broad fabric of the landscape from a vegetation perspective has been lost.

Temperate woodlands are the scene of some of the most dramatic and spectacular examples of

ecosystem collapse with thousands of hectares that survived broad-scale clearing affected by

secondary tree dieback and salinisation processes (Hobbs 2002). Many are now listed as

endangered ecological communities under Australian legislation.

In Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria pasture improvement and tree thinning have been

extensively employed in the grassy woodlands, while the shrubby understorey of other Eucalypt

Woodlands has been removed to increase pasture growth.

The shrubby understorey of remnants has often been removed either mechanically, by use of

frequent fire or intense livestock grazing. These modified systems have been invaded by exotic

species or have their perennial components largely replaced by ephemerals when exposed to

overgrazing. In some cases, native vegetation originally mapped as Eucalypt Open Woodlands

(MVG 11) may be modified Eucalypt Woodlands.

Urban development has encroached on localised areas of woodlands.

Modified by pastoral activities and altered fire regimes in many places e.g. in some parts of

Western Australia fire frequency changed from once every 40 – 50 years to once every 6 – 8

years following European settlement (Lamont and Downes 1979).

Fire regimes in remnant woodlands have changed as a consequence of fragmentation and

managing fire hazard to intensive agricultural and urban areas and consequently many of the

woodlands have been invaded by aggressive introduced plant species. Examples of woodlands

subject to urban and rural pressures include the Cumberland Plain woodlands of western Sydney

and roadside remnants in the southwest Australian wheatbelt.

Foremost amongst threats to eucalypt woodlands are clearing of vegetation, weed invasion, the

fragmentation of woodland areas, inappropriate fire regimes and unsustainable grazing

management.

Less than 10% remains in secure protected areas with most areas under private or leasehold

management

Stewardship activities are often spurred on by dieback, the need to control dryland salinisation

and recognition that in many of the agricultural landscapes only senescent trees remain.

Tenure

Eucalypt Woodlands mainly occur on leasehold land, freehold land, in protected areas or in state

forests:

New South Wales: leasehold land, protected areas, freehold land and some state forests

Queensland: largely leasehold and freehold land, some protected areas and state forests

South Australia: leasehold land, freehold land, some protected areas and little in state forests

Tasmania: protected areas, state forests and freehold land

Victoria: protected areas, state forests and some freehold land

Western Australia: vacant crown land, leasehold land, protected areas, fragmented areas in freehold land and some state forests

Semi-arid floodplain and wadi woodlands (Eucalyptus coolabah) showing post flood regeneration, Culgoa, NSW (D. Keith)

Key values

Biodiversity including a variety of charismatic trees, understorey grasses and shrubs, and

dependent fauna of one of Australia’s major biomes.

Refuge for a wide range of vertebrate and invertebrate species, including threatened species.

Ecotourism, including bushwalking, walkways and landscape features.

Water balance—much of the area affected by groundwater rise coincides with area of eucalypt

woodlands.

List of key management issues

Control of clearing, edge effects and disease (e.g. dieback)

Grazing by livestock and feral animals.

Dryland salinity.

Restoring connectivity between remnants (e.g. wildlife corridors).

Remnant protection and expansion.

Fire regimes.

Weed control.

Long term monitoring to inform future management strategies.

References

Australian Surveying and Land Information Group (1990) Atlas of Australian Resources. Volume 6

Vegetation. AUSMAP, Department of Administrative Services, Canberra, 64pp. & 2 maps.

Beadle N.C.W. (1981) The Vegetation of Australia. Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, 690pp.

Beard J.S. (1990). Plant life in Western Australia. Kangaroo Press, Kenthurst NSW.

Beard J.S., Beetson, G.R, Harvey J.M. Hopkins A.J.M and Shepherd D.P. (2013) The Vegetation of

Western Australia at 1:3,000,000 Scale. Explanatory Memoir. Second Edition. Science Division,

Department of Parks and Wildlife, Western Australia

Brooker M.I.H. and Kleinig D.A. (1994) Field guide to Eucalypts, Volume 3. Inkata Press, Sydney,

383pp.

Brooker M.I.H. and Kleinig D.A. (1999) Field guide to Eucalypts, South-eastern Australia, Volume 1,

2nd

edition. Bloomings Books, Melbourne, 353pp.

Brooker M.I.H. and Kleinig D.A. (2001) Field guide to Eucalypts, South-western and Southern

Australia, Volume 2, 2nd

edition. Bloomings Books, Melbourne, 428pp.

Commonwealth Government 2015. Conservation advices - Eucalypt Woodlands of the Western

Australian Wheatbelt. Department of the Environment.

Fox I.D., Neldner V.J., Wilson G.W., et al. (2001) The Vegetation of the Australian Tropical Savannas.

Env. Prot. Agency, Qld and Tropical Savannas CRC, 2 map sheets and 1 legend; online at URL:

http://savanna.ntu.edu.au/information/.

Gibbons P., Boak M. (2002). The value of paddock trees for regional conservation in an agricultural

landscape. Ecological Management and Restoration 3, 205 – 210.

Gillison A.N. (1994) Woodlands. In: Australian Vegetation. (ed. R.H. Groves) pp. 227-255. Cambridge

Univ. Press, Cambridge.

Harris S. and Kitchener A. (2005) From Forest to Fjaeldmark. Descriptions of Tasmania’s vegetation.

Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment, Hobart.

Hobbs R.J. and Yates C.J., eds. (2000) Temperate Eucalypt Woodlands in Australia. Biology,

conservation management and restoration. Surrey Beatty & Sons, Sydney, 430pp.

Hobbs R.J. (2002). Fire regimes and their effects in Australian temperate woodlands In Flammable

Australia. The fire regimes and biodiversity of a continent. (ed Bradstock R.A., Williams J.E and

Gill A.M.) pp. 305 - 328. Cambridge University Pres, Cambridge.

Keith D. (2004) Ocean Shores to Desert Dunes. The native vegetation of New South Wales and the

ACT. Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW), Hurstville.

Lamont B.B., Downes S. (1997). The longevity, flowering and fire history of the grasstrees

Xanthorrhoea preissii and Kingia australis. Journal of Applied Ecology 16, 893 – 899.

Lindenmayer D, Prober S., Crane M., Michael D., Okada S., Kay G., Keith D., Montague-Drake R.,

Burns, E. (2014) Temperate eucalypt woodlands. In. Biodiversity and Environmental Change

Monitoring, Challenges and Direction (ed. Lindenmayer D, Burns E, Thurgate N and Lowe A.) pp.

283 - 334. CSIRO, Victoria.

Moore R.M. (1970) South-eastern temperate woodlands and grasslands. In Australian grasslands (ed.

Moore R.M.) pp. 169 – 190. Australian National University Press, Canberra.

National Land and Water Resources Audit (2001) Australian Native Vegetation Assessment 2001.

National Land and Water Resources Audit, Canberra, 332pp.

Neldner, V.J., Niehus, R.E., Wilson, B.A., McDonald, W.J.F. and Ford, A.J. (2014). The Vegetation of

Queensland. Descriptions of Broad Vegetation Groups. Version 1.1. Queensland Herbarium,

Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts.

Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment (2004). EVC Bioregion Benchmark for

Vegetation Quality Assessment. http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/environment-and-

wildlife/biodiversity/evc-benchmarks [Accessed June 2015]

Yates C.J., Hobbs R.J. (2000) Introduction. In Temperate Eucalypt Woodlands in Australia (ed. Hobbs

R.J. and Yates C.J.) pp. 1 - 5. Surrey Beatty & Sons, Sydney.

Yates C.J., Hobbs R.J. and True D.T. (2000) The distribution and status of eucalypt woodlands in

Western Australia. In Temperate Eucalypt Woodlands in Australia (ed. Hobbs R.J. and Yates C.J.)

pp. 86 - 106. Surrey Beatty & Sons, Sydney.

Data sources

Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA), Version 6.1.

Land Tenure in Australia's Rangelands (1955 to 2000), National Land and Water Resources Audit.

National Vegetation Information System, Version 4.1.

1996/97 Land Use of Australia, Version 2.

Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database – CAPAD 2004 – Terrestrial.

Species Profile and Threats (SPRAT) database Australian Government Department of the Environment

and Heritage; online at URL: http://www.deh.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/sprat.pl .

Notes

See the Introduction to the MVG fact sheets for further background on this series

Subalpine woodlands (Eucalyptus pauciflora) Kosciusko National Park, NSW (Photo: D. Keith)