Appendix 2 - Vegetation Communities and Regional Ecosystems

5.2.58 Regional Ecosystem 3.8.5 (New RE)
Description: Preliminary Description; Semi deciduous and Deciduous Notophyll Vine Forest.
Basaltic Islands of the Torres Strait.
Status: Of Concern
Vegetation Communities: 2i, 2j, 2k, 2w, 15a, 21a, 22a
Reference Sites: 10 Secondary (ER02, MU11, MU01, ER44, ER20, ER12, ER11, ER34, MU09,
ER45), 74 Quaternary.
RE 3.8.5 describes vine forests formed on basalt, typical of the Torres Strait Eastern Island Group
including Mer, Erub, and Ugar Islands. A new RE classification (RE3.8.5) is provided in
recognition of their unique structural and floristic characterics, distinct from basaltic vine forests
typical of mainland areas. This is a variable grouping and the degree of floristic and structural
variation warrants a range of RE sub-types to be described. Six sub-types are described under the
classifications of VC2i, VC2j, VC2k, VC2w and VC15a. The Endangered shrub and small tree
Alectryon repandodentatus is previously known from four Queensland Herbarium collections on
Mer and also from semi deciduous mesophyll vine forest at Lockerbie, Cape York (Landsberg
and Clarkson 2004). Survey records indicate that it is a very common species that is pervasive in
both canopy and sub-canopy layers throughout this regional ecosystem, on both Mer and Erub. It
also occurs in VC1a on Dauan Island. A highly disjunct population of Chrysophyllum roxburgii
previously noted on the island by Freebody (2002) was vouchered during the survey. The species
was not recorded elsewhere on the island. A disjunct population of Canarium vitiense was also
recorded on Erub from this RE.
Vegetation Community 2i: The initial sub-type is represented by VC2i, classified as RE3.8.5a
(based on Herbarium advice), which occurs on the steep basaltic escarpments on Erub Island.
This community is a thicket, with canopy heights ranging from 6 to 10m, and emergents to 15m.
The dominant canopy comprises (in order of decreasing dominance) Berrya javanica,
Cupaniopsis anacardioides, Diospyros hebecarpa, Aglaia elaeagnoidea, Melicope peninsularis,
Bombax ceiba var. leiocarpum, Drypetes deplanchei, Mimusops elengi and Manilkara kauki. The
sole emergent species is typically Bombax ceiba var. leiocarpum. This is a restricted community
limited to a number of steep sheltered gully lines and coastal escarpments where some protection
from fire is afforded.
Photograph 118. Notophyll vine
thicket type 2i on a steep basaltic
escarpment at Site ER013.
3d Environmental – Torres Strait Regional Ecosystem Mapping Project – August 2008
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