Appendix 2 - Vegetation Communities and Regional Ecosystems

Data at rainforest sites were collected using a variable area 32 nearest neighbour method as
consistent with data collected for the Cape York Bioregion (Stanton and Fell 2005). Tertiary
sites were completed in a similar fashion to secondary procedure, except non-woody species were
not recorded. Sites recorded at tertiary level consisted of full species lists in a search area
established via a radial sweep of the Bitterlich device.
Quaternary sites comprised a description of floristic structure, composition, and associated
landform. Vegetation communities were also recorded on walking traverses. Botanical voucher
specimens were collected throughout the field survey to verify site floristics and enable
identification of those species that were problematic. All material was pressed in the field before
being packaged in ethanol as required under AQIS Quarantine Permit. A total of 740 vouchers
were collected.
3.5 Classification of Land and Vegetation
Photograph 3. Helicopter landing
site Saibai Island.
A vegetation type is defined as a unit of structurally and floristically similar vegetation, whilst a
land type is defined as a unit of structurally and floristically similar vegetation on a similar
geology (Stanton and Morgan 1977, Sattler and Williams 1998). Vegetation types are referred to
as ‘vegetation communities’ (VC) and are consistently referred to as such throughout this
document, whilst land types are incorporated into the broader RE classification. Vegetation
communities have been amalgamated to form ‘Broad Vegetation Groups’ (BVG’s) and are used
to describe structurally similar vegetation groups, or in specific cases, vegetation groups
controlled by similar ecological conditions. Broad Vegetation Groups are useful both as a means
to spatially represent detailed floristic information, and to define associated ecological parameters
including faunal habitat. The BVG is used as a primary subdivision to define a floristic/structural
type. This is followed by an alpha suffix to define a specific VC. A VC code may be
complemented by an appended code indicating particular structural attributes (e.g. a vine forest
sub-canopy), or as an indicator of vegetation condition. Explanatory notes for vegetation coding
are described in Section 4.1.
Vegetation communities are assigned to RE’s on the basis of a three-part code of which the
primary subdivision is bio-regional zone, followed by geology or land zone, with specific floristic
attributes providing the tertiary subdivision. Vegetation communities are often amalgamated to
form RE’s, and these communities may retain autonomy through classification as a RE sub-unit.
RE’s are assessed on a state wide basis for conservation significance, as regulated by
3d Environmental – Torres Strait Regional Ecosystem Mapping Project – August 2008
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