Recovery Action Plan for Grey Box community

5.4.Appendix D Grey Box Woodland State and Transition Model

States 0-5b have been reproduced from Bond (2011) and states 5c to 10 have been adapted from Prescott and Turner (2010).

State 0 – Pre-European intact Grey Box woodland

Please note there are no surviving examples of Grey Box Grassy Woodland in this Pre-European intact state.

Species richness	Greater than 100 species (no defined area)
Indicator species
Structural diversity	In addition to E microcarpa overstorey: scattered small trees and / or large shrubs less than 10% cover. mid-storey of small shrubs, scattered in groves, or small patches. Ground layer diverse range of largely perennial herbaceous plants and geophytes (including lilies, daisies and orchids)
Regeneration	All tree age classes present
Weeds	No weeds present
Tree health & habitat	Healthy canopy, large trees with hollows In heavier more fertile soils > 60 cm DBH, 25 m tall, single trunk (Boomsma 1981), in skeletal soils, stunted mallee form
Tree density	Lower than current
Grazing pressure	Intermittent grazing by native animals
Fire history	Semi-regular natural bushfire possible deliberate burning by Aboriginal People
Nutrients	No nutrient inputs
Tree cutting	No

5.4.1.State 1 - Remnant intact woodland

Species richness	Greater than 80 species (no defined area)
Indicator species	Presence of rare herbaceous species e.g. Dianella longifolia, Eryngium rostratum, Glycine tabacina, Presence of grazing sensitive species (e.g. Themeda triandra, Pultenaea largiflorens)
Structural diversity	In addition to open E microcarpa overstorey: Very open mid-layer of shrubs, scattered or small patches. Ground layer diverse range of species dominated by native grasses with geophytes / wildflowers between the grasses.
Ground cover	No or little disturbance to soil crust
Regeneration	Mix of original and regrowth trees
Weeds	Minor grass weeds such as Briza sp. present (Hurren et al. 2007 cited in Prescott and Turner 2010). less than 10% cover of weeds in the understorey mainly annual grasses but perhaps with a trace of bulbous weeds
Tree health & habitat	Healthy canopy, many younger shorter trees, sometimes coppiced, fewer trees with hollows
Tree density	Trees 20-30 m apart
Grazing pressure	Loss of native herbivores some grazing pressure from feral herbivores
Fire history	Possible reduced frequency of natural bushfire
Nutrients	No nutrient inputs
Tree cutting	Historic timber cutting and ring-barking

5.4.2.State 2 – Woodland impacted by inappropriate fire events

Species richness
Indicator species	Presence of senescent small trees such as Acacia pycnantha Loss of fire sensitive species such as some orchids
Structural diversity	Dense mid-storey layer with senescent growth of mid-storey shrubs Increase in thatch (dead grass material) within the tussock grasses – more than 70% of the biomass of most native tussocks is thatch Reduced density of native perennial grasses Reduced inter-tussock spaces Loss of vigour or abundance in inter-tussock species.
Ground cover	Large amounts of woody debris, twigs and leaves.
Tree health & habitat	Lack of fire scars
Fire history	Reduced frequency of fire

5.4.3.State 3a – Woodland with grazing impacts, but no / little added fertiliser & State 3b – Woodland with grazing impacts and with nutrient inputs

	State 3a	State 3b
Species richness	Reasonable Approximately 30-40+ native species (no defined area)	Reduced
Indicator species	Loss of grazing sensitive species Increase in grazing resistant species	Loss of all palatable species High loss of native forbs
Structural diversity	(Generally density and abundance is lower than state 1) Mature over-storey intact and open Very open mid-layer of shrubs (possible loss of shrub layer) Ground layer has the highest cover of the 3 layers but is less than 30% cover	Further thinning of mid and ground strata No shrub layer Loss of inter-tussock spaces
Ground cover	Loss of lichens and mosses, minor soil compaction and or disturbance and increase in bare ground	Soil disturbance / compacted resulting in the loss of water filtration
Regeneration	Limited regeneration of trees, shrubs	Very little regeneration of trees and shrubs
Weeds	Increase in herbaceous (including bulbs) and grassy weeds. Up to 50% cover of annual exotic grass. Some woody weeds may be present Perennial exotic grasses	Around 80%+ exotic cover, particularly clovers and medics from pasture improvement phase, potentially high bulbous weed cover to around 90%+.
Grazing pressure	Stock grazing Grazing by feral herbivores Excessive grazing by native herbivores Evidence of grazing and trampling	Stock grazing regular and in high densities Grazing by feral herbivores Excessive grazing by native herbivores Evidence of grazing and trampling
Nutrients	Minor nutrient increase from manure	Addition of fertilizer

5.4.4.State 4 – Woodland impacted by pasture species understorey

Species richness	Low
Indicator species	Pasture species – Yorkshire Fog, Rye Grass, Barley Grass, Sweet Vernal Grass
Structural diversity	Specimen trees may remain Loss of shrub layer Serious degradation of the ground layer
Ground cover	Bare soil leads to soil erosion and loss of stored seed bank
Regeneration	No regeneration of shrubs and trees
Weeds	Pasture present – Yorkshire Fog, Rye Grass, Barley Grass, Sweet Vernal Grass Woody weeds as for State 5 may be present but suppressed by grazing Ground stratum dominated by pasture grasses and herbs
Tree health & habitat	Tree dieback
Tree density	Specimen trees
Grazing pressure	Stock grazing regular and in high densities Grazing by feral herbivores Excessive grazing by native herbivores Evidence of grazing and trampling
Nutrients	Addition of fertilizer

5.4.5.State 5a – Woodland impacted by neglect – recoverable & State 5b – Woodland impacted by neglect after disturbance –recoverable?

	State 5a	State 5b
Species richness	Native species still present eg Austrostipa and Austrodanthonia	Low Very low native forb diversity
Indicator species	Woody weeds Olive Olea europaea, Hawthorn Crataegus spp. and Buckthorn Rhamnus alaternus feature as over-storey Mid-storey and understorey weed species include Olea europaeus, Boneseed Chrysanthemoides monilifera, Dog Rose Rosa canina, Cotton-Bush Gomphocarpus rotundifolia, Bridal Creeper Asparagus asparagoides, South African Daisy Senecio pterophorus, Gorse Ulex europaeus, and Blackberry Rubus spp
Structural diversity	Mature trees may still exist closed mid-storey of weeds Almost no native shrub layer very low native forb diversity, loss of native shrub layer, loss of inter-tussock spaces	Mid and ground layers are dominated by exotic species Loss of native shrub layer Loss of inter-tussock spaces, Excessive dead thatch biomass ( up to 150 mm of thatch)
Ground cover		No microphytic crust
Regeneration	Very little recruitment of trees, shrubs and grasses	Very little recruitment of trees, shrubs and grasses
Weeds	Mature woody weeds Possible presence of exotic pasture species such as clover, medics.	Woody weeds, herbaceous weeds including annuals and bulbs, annual and perennial grass weeds
Tree health & habitat		Grey Box trees still present but senescing
Grazing pressure		May have a history of heavy grazing
Nutrients	No added nutrients	Fertilizer added or heavy grazing

5.4.6.State 5c – Woodland impacted by neglect / tree death and State 5d – Woodland impacted by neglect / tree death after disturbance with nutrients

	State 5c and 5d	State 5d
Species richness	Low Very low native forb diversity
Indicator species	Woody weeds Olive Olea europaea, Hawthorn Crataegus spp. and Buckthorn Rhamnus alaternus feature as over-storey Mid-storey and understorey weed species include Olea europaeus, Boneseed Chrysanthemoides monilifera, Dog Rose Rosa canina, Cotton-Bush Gomphocarpus rotundifolia, Bridal Creeper Asparagus asparagoides, South African Daisy Senecio pterophorus, Gorse Ulex europaeus, and Blackberry Rubus spp
Structural diversity	Tree strata has disappeared Mid and ground layers are dominated by exotic species Loss of native shrub layer Loss of inter-tussock spaces,
Ground cover
Regeneration	Very little recruitment of trees, shrubs and grasses
Weeds	Woody weeds, herbaceous weeds including annuals and bulbs, annual and perennial grass weeds
Tree health & habitat	Trees absent
Tree density
Grazing pressure	May have a history of heavy grazing
Fire history
Nutrients	Fertilizer added or heavy grazing
Tree cutting

5.4.7.State 6 – Woodland impacted by Phytophthora root fungus

This State is impacted by presence of Phytophthora root fungus and may come from any other state within the model as a result of Phytophthora infection. As such the overall appearance of a Phytophthora infected community will differ depending on the previous State.

From State 1 Remnant intact woodland

The overall characteristics of this state are unknown. It is however likely that species sensitive to the Phytophthora root fungus would die out or at least diminish in abundance or distribution. Species not sensitive to the affect of Phytophthora would be expected to remain and / or new species may encroach into the system.

Current understanding predicts that a range of species, particularly members of the Proteaceae and Pea Families would be affected by Phytophthora and die out of the community.

From other States

This community would have similar characteristics to its former State plus the additional impact reducing the abundance of Phytophthora sensitive species.

Species richness	Depends on previous state
Indicator species	Loss of Phytophthora susceptible species particularly members of the Proteaceae and Pea Families
Structural diversity	Depends on previous state
Ground cover	Depends on previous state
Regeneration	Depends on previous state
Weeds	Depends on previous state
Tree health & habitat	Depends on previous state
Tree density	Depends on previous state
Grazing pressure	Depends on previous state
Fire history	Depends on previous state
Nutrients	Depends on previous state
Tree cutting	Depends on previous state

5.4.8.State 7 – Woodland replaced by pasture, without trees

Species richness	Very Low
Indicator species	Pasture species – Yorkshire Fog, Rye Grass, Barley Grass, Sweet Vernal Grass
Structural diversity	No tree layer Loss of native shrub layer Serious degradation of the ground layer
Ground cover	Around 90%+ exotic cover, potentially high bulbous weed cover
Regeneration	No regeneration of shrubs and trees
Weeds	Pasture present – Yorkshire Fog, Rye Grass, Barley Grass, Sweet Vernal Grass Woody weeds as for State 5 may be present but suppressed by grazing Ground stratum dominated by pasture grasses and herbs
Tree health & habitat
Tree density
Grazing pressure	Stock grazing regular and in high densities Grazing by feral herbivores Excessive grazing by native herbivores Evidence of grazing and trampling
Fire history
Nutrients	Addition of fertilizer, soil biota fundamentally changed
Tree cutting

5.4.9.State 8 – Woodland lost through alienation

In this State, all plant strata have been removed in order to replace the land with a range of other systems, particularly semi-urban or peri-urban housing, lifestyle blocks, hobby farms, and horse paddocks, but also including orchards (olives), and viticulture.

Species richness	Nil
Tree health & habitat	Stumps may be present

5.4.10.State 9 – Woodland reconstructed

This is an area which used to be E. microcarpa woodland with a grassy and herbaceous understorey, but realistically nearly all vestiges of the original vegetation have been removed through a variety of management actions. As such it is likely to have an altered higher nutrient content and a changed microbial and fungal mix in the soil.

Species richness	Generally low (<20 species)
Indicator species	dominated by species for which seed or other propagules are easy to collect in volume and seedlings are easy to grow
Structural diversity	Dominated by trees and shrubs, often at higher densities than naturally occurs
Ground cover	Depends on previous State, but usually grassy and herbaceous weeds are prevalent
Regeneration	Often only one age class present
Weeds	Generally ground stratum dominated by introduced grasses and herbs
Tree density	Generally high
Grazing pressure	Generally no grazing pressure
Nutrients	Addition of fertilizer, soil biota fundamentally changed

5.4.11.State 10 – Woodland impacted by climate change

All States can transition to a state affected by climate change. The characteristics of this state cannot be known, but will reflect a combination of the previous land management impacts as well as those connected with climate chance, only some of which can be described here.

A suite of native species are expected to remain. A range of species are also expected to be affected by climate change and may reduce in number or disappear from the system. Species with an ability to grow and reproduce under hotter temperatures, with less winter rain and more summer rain are more likely to persist. Native tussock grasses may increase. Some weeds may die out but these are likely to be replaced by other weed species. Some native species may encroach into the system from other habitats.

Other impacts associated with changes to biological processes, de-synchronisation of events, food-web interactions etc, are likely to occur but the resultant changes to the system are unknown.

5.4.12.State 11 – Woodland best-option conservation surrogate

This State represents land managed for conservation and / or other impacted systems that have been more recently the focus for conservation management. These communities cannot return to the State 1 condition because a change has occurred (e.g. climate change, salinity, Phytophthora) for which there is no known remediation, hence can be currently considered permanent.

Such effects cannot be ameliorated by any known actions on site. These states can, and should however, be managed for conservation but the resulting suite of species will be different or reduced from those in State 1, and will depend on site history.

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  These areas are being managed for conservation
  
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  The community has the basic structure and a range of native species remain. Most importantly, they have had no / little active input of fertilisers or alien pasture species. It is acknowledged that it would be very difficult to restore to State 1, within time scale used. They can arise from a number of states including State 1 through State 2 or State 3a, and State 6 and State 10.
  

State indicators

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  Evidence of conservation management
  
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  Woody weed control, perennial exotic grass control