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3.3 Biological conditions 3.3.1 Forest cover As described in other sections of this report, some important ethnobotanical work has been completed for the Oriners area (Stewart, Hamilton et al. 1996). In terms of wider regional studies, forest cover, community types, and dominant vegetation species distributions have been mapped for the area around Oriners and Sefton Stations by numerous government programs, including CSIRO Land Systems (Galloway, Gunn et al. 1970), CYPLUS (Cape York Peninsula Land Use Strategy) (Neldner and Clarkson 1995; Clarkson and Neldner 1995 in prep; Neldner and Clarkson 1995 in prep) , SLATS (Statewide Landcover and Trees Study), and more recent updated vegetation mapping by the Queensland Herbarium. Using DERM‟s Wildlife Online Database and geographic coordinates for Oriners and Sefton Stations, a plant species list was obtained for the area (Appendix, Section 8.4). This list includes both trees and grasses. It is based on field observations in the area by scientists, including those of CYPLUS surveys. This list should be seen as an absolute minimum for plants inhabiting the area historically, currently or in the future. A brief summary of the main forest conditions of Oriners and Sefton Stations is provided below, but this needs to be updated with the latest mapping and data from the Queensland Government. Neldner and Clarkson (1995) classified the forest vegetation communities around Oriners and Sefton Stations as predominantly low-open-woodlands. They mapped a diversity of vegetation and forest community types in the area as summarized below. BVG 6: Gallery closed-forests and Melaleuca spp. dominated open-forests on alluvium. BVG 8: Woodlands and open-woodlands dominated by Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson‟s Bloodwood), Corymbia novoguinensis (Bloodwood) or Corymbia polycarpa (Long-fruited Bloodwood). BVG 17: Woodlands dominated by Eucalyptus tetrodonta (Messmate or Darwin Stringybark) on erosional surfaces and residual sands BVG 18: Low open-woodlands and low woodlands dominated by Melaleuca viridiflora (Broad-leaved Ti tree) on depositional plains. BVG 19: Open-forests and low open-forests dominated by Melaleuca spp. in seasonally inundated swamps BVG 20. Low open-woodlands and tall shrublands dominated by Melaleuca stenostachya, Melaleuca citrolens, or other Melaleuca spp. BVG 23: Tussock grasslands on longitudinal drainage depressions BVG 27: Sedgelands, lakes and lagoons BVG 30. Miscellaneous vegetation group dominated by Acacia spp. such as Lancewood (Acacia shirleyi) on rocky rises (or ridgelines), or members of the Myrtaceae family occurring on a variety of landforms. Clarkson (Clarkson 2009) also identified several other species of Eucalyptus in the area of Oriners and Sefton including: Corymbia setosa subsp pedicellaris (Rough-leaved Bloodwood) in an isolated location near Sefton. Corymbia stockeri (Gum-topped bloodwood) on sand ridges and sand plain Eucalyptus camaldulensis var. obtuse (River red gum) on sandy river banks. Eucalyptus chlorophylla (Shiney-leaved Box) on undulating plains. Working Knowledge at Oriners Station, Cape York 171
Eucalyptus leptophleba (Mollow Red Box) on sandy undulating plains or river levees. Eucalyptus megasepala (Messmate) on sandstone ridges and outcrops and undulating sandy plains. SLATS data for Cape York in general from the 1980‟s to present (Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management (QDERM) 2009) indicate that forest clearing by man has been relatively low compared to the rest of the state. This is especially true for Oriners and Sefton Stations. However local tree clearing has been conducted around the homesteads and yards, and more recently by large scale clearing along roadways for major upgrade and development purposes (Figure 41; Figure 74). 3.3.2 Grass cover Grass cover, community types, and dominant grass species distributions have been mapped for the area around Oriners and Sefton Stations by government programs such as CYPLUS (Neldner and Clarkson 1995; Clarkson and Neldner 1995 in prep; Neldner and Clarkson 1995 in prep; Neldner, Stanton et al. 1997; Clarkson 2009) and more recent vegetation mapping by the Queensland Herbarium. A grass species list was also obtained for the area (Appendix, Section 8.4) using DERM‟s Wildlife Online Database. A brief summary of the main grassland conditions of Oriners and Sefton Stations is provided below, but this needs to be updated with the latest mapping and data from the Queensland Government. Around Oriners and Sefton Stations, Neldner and Clarkson (1995) mapped the grassland of Oriners and Sefton Stations as tussock grasslands on longitudinal drainage depressions (BVG 23). Neldner et al (1997) refined the maps of the grassland communities across the Holroyd Plain (map unit 180) and described the grasslands as either dominant or subdominant in comparison to other vegetation communities like woodland trees. Both exist in the area. The subdominant grasslands coexist beneath woodland tree canopies. The dominant pure grasslands at Oriners are located the Aerodrome Plain extending downstream along Eight-Mile Creek and Crosby Creek to the Alice River. The dominant grassland communities are tussock to closed-tussock grasslands (0.2 to 0.6 m tall) with the following plant genera: Eriachne spp. (wanderrie grass) Aristida spp. (three-awned speargrass) Eragrostis spp. (lovegrass) Fimbristylis spp. (sedge) Typically Eriachne burkittii and Eriachne obtusa (Wanderrie) dominate the pure grasslands, while scattered trees of Melaleuca viridiflora (broad leaved ti tree) are also common. Eriachne spp. (Wanderrie) can be short-lived annuals or perennials, whereas Aristida spp., Eragrostis spp, and Fimbristylis spp. are typically perennial. Neldner et al (1997) described the ecology of these grasslands across the Holroyd Plain (unit 180) as occurring “extensively in the longitudinal drainage depressions [dambos],… [where] sites are waterlogged for much of the wet season, and receive water seepage from the adjacent sand ridges in the early dry season. They dry out very rapidly after seepage ceases and the predominantly ephemeral herbs complete their life cycle and die. The soils are predominantly Sodosolic or Dermosolic Redoxic Hydrosols”. 3.3.3 Weeds Over the last 60 years of European settlement in the Oriners and Sefton area, low levels of human presence and through traffic have kept Oriners mostly weed-free compared to other sections of Cape York. However, introduced plants are present in the area, and have been increasing over the last decade according to local observation. Some species like Mintweed (Hyptis suaveolens) and Noogoora burr (Xanthium occidentale), have been slowly invading over decades. Others destructive invaders such as Rubber vine (Cyptostegia grandiflora) are widespread along the Mitchell River mainstem, but not currently present on Oriners and Sefton Stations. Other relatively new and very aggressive weed species have been identified Working Knowledge at Oriners Station, Cape York 172
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T Working Knowledge: local ecologic
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CONTENTS Acknowledgments ..........
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5 Working knowledge: Conclusions an
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Figure 29. Mitchell catchment in fl
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Figure 68. 2004 Aerial Photograph o
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The project is the
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This is a report
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space for a complementary study emp
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cattlemen and the Hughes family, th
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As a contrast and complement, it is
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of people residing there during the
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the area for one or two seasons, bu
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Fire Frequency: for the Oriners are
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Strang then describes the story of
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emembered linguistic associations.
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Mystical/spiritual Scientific Perso
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ut your children will probably get
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20 years, Cecil Hughes, the son of
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Robert Burns: I was walking around
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Corporation. 12 Viv Sinnamon provid
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The purchase process was a factor i
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Viv Sinnamon: Yeah, and when we had
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communities, Lockhardt [River] and
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1.7 Oriners and the contemporary re
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management of country are not new.
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The above points demonstrate the va
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about forest and think of something
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Marcus Barber: Is that where Kowany
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-----------------------------------
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comes along with that, and where th
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Ivan Jimmy‟s brother Wilfred made
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Indigenous Australians are renowned
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Colin Hughes followed up his though
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Ezra Michael: I never heard it. No.
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Marcus Barber: So every time you we
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Figure 20. Oriners Lagoon in flood
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Figure 23. Large Woody Debris (LWD)
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Figure 24. Jeff Shellberg talks wit
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Figure 27. Mitchell catchment in fl
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2.2.4 Permanent water and groundwat
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Marcus Barber: So do you know how d
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Marcus Barber: Does that happen at
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Marcus Barber: What animals do you
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people are using the lagoon. Becaus
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that old black headed python. You g
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Marcus Barber: I was trying to find
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Major introduced animals at Oriners
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Colin Hughes: Oh there‟s just a l
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There was never too many [wild hors
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Cecil Hughes: Yes, you never saw th
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And they had special fish traps her
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Philip Yam: 3 or 4 times. A few tim
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Conversations with Philip Yam about
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Marcus Barber: so you have to get f
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2.5.4 Cattlemen: working connection
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Edwin David Most of the older build
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spirits being reborn in new generat
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Marcus Barber: Phillip‟s son Max?
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necessary at some of the times they
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Marcus Barber: If it was a really w
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hobble the horse and camp out there
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Marcus Barber: So you were moving a
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Marcus Barber: Was the grass still
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Philip Yam: Drumduff. We got blamed
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purpose of fires needs to be very c
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Marcus Barber: But it‟s been ther
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Figure 38. Oriners station from the
Page 135 and 136: and it traverses some areas prone t
Page 137 and 138: 2.7.1 Applying „Working Knowledge
Page 139 and 140: ochen (uy -) ojen (uy -) mujun (uy
Page 141 and 142: Oykangand Olkol Og Water ok Water o
Page 143 and 144: Other signs mark a broader seasonal
Page 145 and 146: The two comments from the Jimmy bro
Page 147 and 148: Average Monthly Rainfall (mm)_ 450
Page 149 and 150: demonstrated that cyclone landing f
Page 151 and 152: Figure 48. Geology of the catchment
Page 153 and 154: 3.2.4 Soils The soils of the “for
Page 155 and 156: Figure 49. Soils of Oriners and Sef
Page 157 and 158: Figure 52. RAAF oblique photograph
Page 159 and 160: Annaly (A) Land System Lowlands on
Page 161 and 162: 3.2.6 Soil erosion Soil erosion can
Page 163 and 164: Figure 56. Land use map of the Mitc
Page 165 and 166: larger valleys of Hoodoo and Sellar
Page 167 and 168: solutes from subsurface sedimentary
Page 169 and 170: 3.2.10.2 Eight Mile valley near Ori
Page 171 and 172: Elevation (m) 180 160 140 120 100 8
Page 173 and 174: Figure 64. 1955 Aerial Photograph o
Page 175 and 176: pools like these are typically carv
Page 177 and 178: Figure 67. 1955 Aerial Photograph O
Page 179 and 180: Working Knowledge at Oriners Statio
Page 181 and 182: have also been defined as valley-bo
Page 185: Working Knowledge at Oriners Statio
Page 189 and 190: to manage vegetation and game, or f
Page 191 and 192: Figure 77. 1955 aerial photograph o
Page 193 and 194: Overall pig populations are poorly
Page 195 and 196: area can be obtained from the Queen
Page 197 and 198: degradation. Genuine restoration op
Page 199 and 200: Section 4.1 contains models of inte
Page 201 and 202: Figure 80. Model of Oriners landsca
Page 203 and 204: 4.1.3 Late dry season Two key diffe
Page 205 and 206: eshape the elements in the same way
Page 207 and 208: Evidence from Section 2.6.4 and 3.2
Page 211 and 212: Figure 92. Oblique air photos of Ho
Page 213 and 214: The primary contexts for learning k
Page 215 and 216: Despite data limitation, there is e
Page 217 and 218: Marcus Barber: If you were to think
Page 219 and 220: Regional scale Neighbouring Statio
Page 221 and 222: Cotter, G. (1995). A study of the p
Page 223 and 224: Kowanyama Aboriginal Council (2003)
Page 225 and 226: Smart, J., K. G. Grimes, et al. (19
Page 227 and 228: 7 GLOSSARY 38 Alkaline- having the
Page 229 and 230: Fluvial Megafan- a large (10 3 -10
Page 231 and 232: Potential Energy- the stored energy
Page 233 and 234: 8 APPENDICES 8.1 Informed Consent F
Page 235 and 236: 8.3 Wildlife Animal Species List fo
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Birds Coraciidae Eurystomus orienta
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Reptiles Crocodylidae Crocodylus jo
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Dicots Fabaceae Crotalaria montana
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Dicots Myrtaceae Neofabricia serici
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Monocots Poaceae Eriachne sp. C Mon
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Working Knowledge at Oriners Statio
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