Southern Sydney sheltered forest

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Southern Sydney sheltered forest
Swaines Creek Cave & Angophora.JPG
Ecology
Realm Australasia
Biome Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests
Borders Shale Sandstone Transition Forest and Blue Gum High Forest
Geography
CountryAustralia
Elevation30–90 metres (98–295 ft)
Coordinates Coordinates: 33°44.306′S151°5.434′E / 33.738433°S 151.090567°E / -33.738433; 151.090567
Geology Sandstone, shale
Climate type Humid subtropical climate (Cfa)
Soil types Clay, sand (podsol), loam

The Southern Sydney sheltered forest is a vegetation community found in Sydney, Australia. An open forest composition grading into woodland or scrub, the community is normally associated with sheltered heads and upper inclines of gullies on transitional zones where sandstone outcropping may be present. [1]

Contents

Geography

The sheltered forest on transitional sandstone soils is an open forest or woodland dominated by eucalyptus trees with disjointed subcanopy trees, various shrub layer and a groundcover of ferns, forbs, grasses and graminoids, primarily on soft terrain, with slopes rarely surpassing 10°, and sandstone outcrops occur at parts, compared to areas within well-developed, precipitous gullies. The forest occurs in sheltered gullies and hillsides, on soils based on Hawkesbury Sandstone with some clay influences, principally centred on Allenby Park [2] in Allambie Heights. It occupies areas that receive more than 1000mm of average annual rainfall. This is a fairly flat terrain with occasional slopes up to 10°.

The sheltered forest been recorded in the local government areas of Campbelltown, Hurstville, Kogarah, Sutherland, Wollondilly and Wollongong in the Sydney Basin Bioregion with an extent of less than 45 000 ha, where it is bounded by Hurstville, Carss Park, Bundeena, Otford, Stanwell Tops, Darkes Forest, Punchbowl Creek and Menai. [3]

Ecology

Common tree species include the Blackbutt, Sydney Red Gum, Turpentine and Watergum. Other species include Corymbia gummifera, Eucalyptus piperita, Eucalyptus sieberi, Banksia serrata, Ceratopetalum gummiferum, Smilax glyciphylla, Acacia suaveolens, Acacia terminalis and Banksia ericifolia. [4]

See also

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References

  1. "Coastal Sandstone Gully Forest". City of Ryde. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  2. northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au
  3. "Southern Sydney sheltered forest on transitional sandstone soils in the Sydney Basin Bioregion - endangered ecological community". NSW Environment, Energy and Science. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  4. "Sydney Sandstone Gully Forest". Green Corridors - Ecological Communities. NSW Government. Retrieved 19 November 2012.