Recovery Action Plan for Grey Box community


Appendix D Grey Box Woodland State and Transition Model



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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.



  • These areas are being managed for conservation

  • 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


  • Evidence of conservation management

  • Woody weed control, perennial exotic grass control

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