Appendix 2 - Vegetation Communities and Regional Ecosystems

Vegetation Community 5e: Windswept south-east facing slopes of Thursday Island provide the
only representation of VC5e in the study area. The community forms a low open forest, typically
with a windswept even canopy structure with an average height of 15m. Corymbia clarksoniana
forms the dominant canopy species, with Corymbia nesophila and Eucalyptus leptophleba subdominant.
Welchiodendron longivalve occasionally reaches the canopy although it is more
common as a sub-canopy tree. Livistona muelleri, Acacia leptocarpa and Deplanchea tetraphylla
are associated canopy species although are they generally more common in the sub-canopy. The
shrub layer is typically sparse comprising Acacia simsii and Pogonolobus reticulatus with ground
cover dominated by sedges and tussock grasses
5.2.61 Regional Ecosystem 3.12.9
Photograph 130. Low open forest
community 5e at Site TI08,
Thursday Island.
Description: Corymbia tessellaris, C. clarksoniana open forest. Occurs on coastal ranges.
Status: Not of Concern
Vegetation Communities: 5g, 5o
Reference Sites: 13 Quaternary
Limited floristic or structural sampling was undertaken in this RE, which is represented by VC’s
5g and 5o. The communities occur most commonly on the inner group with mapped examples on
Hammond, Warral and Muralug Islands.
Vegetation Community 5g: Vegetation Community 5g (on granite lithologies) represents an
open forest community with dominant Corymbia tessellaris often associated with
Welchiodendron longivalve over a sparse sub-canopy of vine forest species. Vine forest species
are generally dominated by Acacia polystachya, Syzygium suborbiculare, Parinari nonda,
Carallia brachiata and deciduous vine forest species including Canarium australianum. Welldeveloped
examples were observed on Warral Island where they dominated the footslope
communities, merging upslope with Acacia polystachya and Welchiodendron longivalve
dominant shrublands. Some good examples also occur on sheltered gully lines in the central
portion of Muralug Island. Eucalyptus cullenii was associated with this community in a number
of Muralug localities.
3d Environmental – Torres Strait Regional Ecosystem Mapping Project – August 2008
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