Appendix 2 - Vegetation Communities and Regional Ecosystems

Photograph 142. Vine Thicket
Community 2b at Site DA01 (Dauan
Island).
Vegetation Community 2f: Small areas of low deciduous vine thicket, typically with canopy
heights ranging from 3m to 6m, are found on the steep exposed rocky headlands of Horn and
Adolphus Island. The communities form a patchwork with sclerophyll shrubland communities,
and are attenuated attenuated upslope along gully lines where some shelter from the elements is
afforded. The dominant canopy is occupied by a range of species which include, in order of
decreasing dominance; Buchanania arborescens, Millettia pinnata, Sterculia sp. (Annan River),
Terminalia subacroptera, Cochlospermum gilivraei and Pouteria sericea. Sub-canopy and
ground covers are poorly developed on account of the low stature and rocky substrate.
Additional site survey would benefit the characterisation of this community.
Photograph 143. Low semideciduous
notophyll vine thicket
(VC2f) on exposed slopes of Horn
Island (Site HI26).
Vegetation Community 2n: Vegetation Community 2n is the dominant structural variation on
Iama Island where it occupies wind-exposed footslopes on granite. The community is typically
lower than VC2b and has a much more even and wind sheared canopy structure. The community
was sampled at Sites YA014, YA017, YA019, YA20, YA23 and YA25 where typical canopy
species included in order of decreasing dominance Canarium australianum, Antiaris toxicaria
var. macrophylla, Gyrocarpus americanus, Terminalia subacroptera, Manilkara kauki, Acacia
auriculiformis, Diospyros reticulata, Sterculia sp. (Annan River) and Premna dallachyana.
3d Environmental – Torres Strait Regional Ecosystem Mapping Project – August 2008
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