Appendix 2 - Vegetation Communities and Regional Ecosystems

tanarius, Hibiscus tiliaceus, Mangifera indica, Barringtonia calyptrata, Myristica insipida,
Pouteria obovata, Alstonia spectabilis, Premna dallachyana with vines such as Mucuna gigantea
and Entada phaseoloides. Bombax ceiba var. leiocarpum may be present as a sparse emergent in
the more advanced successional stages. The development of these communities is controlled by
both fire and edaphic conditions. It should also be noted that whilst the climax stage of this VC is
possibly VC2j, the extreme drainage conditions imposed by the porous cinder substrate is likely
to limit successional forest development and it is expected that even advanced successional stages
are likely to be extremely depauperate both in stature and floristics. Cessation of regular burning
will possibly facilitate the expansion of depauperate thickets at the expense of grasslands. The
contemporary fire regimes of the island were not discussed in detail with the local community.
Evidence from historical photographs (1988) indicates that these communities are in a state of
relative stability. The timing and intensity of fires is an important land management issue
requiring additional investigation in relevance to the management of invase weeds particularly
Lantana. This community is represented as RE sub-type 3.8.5d.
5.2.59 Regional Ecosystem 3.12.4
Photograph 124. Early stage
successional forest on Mer Island
forming a low closed thicket with
dominant Macaranga tanarius.
Description: Notophyll vine forest of Welchiodendron longivalve on Torres Strait Islands.
Status: Of Concern
Vegetation Communities: 4a, 4b, 4c, 1d, 17h (co)
Reference Sites: 3 Secondary (MO003, MA030, MA043)
Regional Ecosystem 3.12.4 is an endemic yet extensive community in the study area occurring on
granite and rhyolite hillslopes and footslopes, reaching its northern limits on Gebar Island in the
Central Island Group.
Vegetation Community 4a: Regional Ecosystem 3.12.4 is formed dominantly by VC4a, which
is represented in the coverage as sub-type RE3.12.4a. This VC is an amalgam of two forest types
that, due to frequency of variation and similarity in photographic signature, could not be
differentiated with confidence on either aerial photography or satellite imagery. The canopy
height of VC4a is highly variable, although generally ranging from 8 to 20m. The dominant
floristic component is Welchiodendron longivalve although this species mixes to varying degrees
with a range of vine forest species. On Moa and Muralug Islands, Welchiodendron longivalve
closed forest and semi-deciduous vine forest communities form mosaics that separate into
3d Environmental – Torres Strait Regional Ecosystem Mapping Project – August 2008
128