Appendix 2 - Vegetation Communities and Regional Ecosystems

comprise Planchonia careya, Melaleuca viridiflora, Acacia leptocarpa and Cycas sp. The Cycas
is thought to be the endemic C. badensis.
5.2.36 Regional Ecosystem 3.3.22
Photograph 78. Typical structure of
VC5b which represents the dominant
woodland and open forest
community on Moa Island (Site
MO94).
Description: Corymbia clarksoniana or C. novoguinensis woodland on alluvial plains.
Status: Not of Concern
Vegetation Communities: 5i, 5c
Reference Sites: 1 Quaternary (Zuna ZQ6)
Vegetation Community 5i: The major occurrences of this RE are on degraded sand dunes where
they have been mapped as RE3.2.7. Small areas of VC5i occupy sandy alluvial wash on the
margins of a drainage depression on Zuna Island, which represent the only mapped areas of this
RE in the study area. This occurrence forms an open forest with relatively even canopy heights
in the 18 to 23m range. Corymbia clarksoniana dominates the canopy, with Lophostemon
suaveolens, Livistona muelleri and Parinari nonda associated. Livistona muelleri has a tendency
to form dense groves in some areas which have been incorporated into the broader VC. The subcanopy
is relatively dense (up to 40% PFC) and composed of Melaleuca viridiflora, Lophostemon
suaveolens, Livistona muelleri, and Pandanus sp. The shrub layer features Livistona muelleri,
Acacia leptocarpa, Acacia brassii, Acacia simsii, Acacia crassicarpa, Ficus opposita, Dodonaea
polyandra and Pandanus sp. Tall graminoids form the dominant ground cover comprising
Ischaemum australe, Heteropogon triticeus, Mnesithea rottboellioides and Imperata cylindrica.
The community merges with Melaleuca saligna open forest (RE3.3.17) where the ground
becomes increasingly swampy.
Vegetation Community 5c: This classification also includes VC5c where Corymbia
clarksoniana forms a low woodland community with co-dominant canopy species including
Parinari nonda, Melaleuca viridiflora, Welchiodendron longivalve and Pandanus sp. The subcanopy
layers (typically an S1 layer) are typically dominated by Melaleuca viridiflora and
Pandanus sp. This community is restricted to Moa Island where it occupies alluvial fans,
although its occurrence is more extensive on the sandy alluvial plains of Land Zone 5.
3d Environmental – Torres Strait Regional Ecosystem Mapping Project – August 2008
94