Appendix 2 - Vegetation Communities and Regional Ecosystems

occurs on drainage swamps, it has been classified as RE3.3.14 (VC7b), which is discussed in the
following section.
5.2.33 Regional Ecosystem 3.3.14
Photograph 74. Livistona muelleri
forming a prominent sub-canopy
layer to Melaleuca saligna open
forest (VC7bs). Horn Island Site
HI5.
Description: Melaleuca saligna ± M. viridiflora, Lophostemon suaveolens woodland on
drainage swamps.
Status: Not of Concern
Vegetation Communities: 7b, 7e, 13g, 7fs
Reference Sites: 9 Quaternary
Regional Ecosystem 3.3.14 represents Melaleuca saligna dominant open forests occurring in
drainage swamps. There is some degree of overlap with RE3.3.13 which occupies outwash plains
adjacent to salt flats, most prominently on Horn Island.
Vegetation Community 7b: Although occurring on the same Land Zone, RE3.3.14 has been
classified where VC7b occurs in drainage depressions and represents a much more extensive
expression of Melaleuca saligna dominant open forest, occurring on the majority of islands in the
Inner Island Group, as well as Mabuiag and Moa Island. Whilst Melaleuca saligna is the
dominant canopy species, it mixes with Melaleuca leucadendra, Livistona muelleri and Alstonia
spectabilis on Friday Island. The sub-canopy is generally sparse, although Livistona muelleri and
Pandanus sp. are generally prominent.
Vegetation Community 13g & 7e: The RE classification also includes VC13g and VC7e,
occurring on Zuna and Moa Islands respectively. Vegetation Community 13g represents a low
closed shrubland of Melaleuca saligna which forms a narrow (although mappable) fringe to an
Eleocharis dominated swampland community on Zuna Island. Vegetation Community 7e
represents an open forest community with a canopy composed of Melaleuca dealbata, Melaleuca
saligna and Livistona muelleri. The community, which occupies a broad drainage depression on
the south coast of Moa Island, was identified during helicopter survey and was not subject to
detailed on-ground investigation.
Vegetation Community 7fs: Minor areas of Melaleuca leucadendra dominant swamp forest
was observed during helicopter traverse fringing saline flats on Badu Island. This community,
3d Environmental – Torres Strait Regional Ecosystem Mapping Project – August 2008
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