Friends of Trigg Bushland Inc.

Tuart Project – preliminary report

September 2009

Trigg Bushland is comprised of three main areas, bisected by major roads, with very different soil and vegetation in each area.

Trigg Bushland is comprised of three main areas, bisected by major roads, with very different soil and vegetation in each area.

The ‘Tuart Atlas’ recognised very few trees in Trigg Bushland – but we knew this was not correct.

There were huge, stately tuart trees….There were huge, stately tuart trees….

…as well as many-trunked tuarts – almost mallees….…as well as many-trunked tuarts – almost mallees….

…and there many, many dead trees, usually fire damaged……and there many, many dead trees, usually fire damaged…

But to our surprise, there were hundreds of young tuart seedlings and juveniles !But to our surprise, there were hundreds of young tuart seedlings and juveniles !

Our tuart project– Signboard in Trigg Bushland– Website – Tuart mapping

Signboard in Trigg Bushland

Website

…find us at www.triggbushland.org.au…find us at www.triggbushland.org.au

Tuart mapping– 9 people at various times, surveying in pairs– All amateurs – Have received some assistance from secondary

school students – particularly Hale School Duke of Edinburgh programme participants

– Used own equipment

GPSDigital cameraMapData collection sheet

Walk through the bush at 10 metre intervals, with GPS and camera…Walk through the bush at 10 metre intervals, with GPS and camera…

Photos of tuarts are converted to GPS waypoints through the use of special software…

Photos of tuarts are converted to GPS waypoints through the use of special software…

Details of each tree are taken by hand…Details of each tree are taken by hand…

Friends of Trigg Bushland (Inc) Trigg Bushland Tuart (Eucalyptus gomphocephala) Monitoring survey

Location Tree features Ground features Other records

Site number

metres east

metres north Height Diameter

Number of trunks Stage Health Canopy

Understory Disturbance Weed Soil

Soil colour Ref Site Photo Comment

Health Status:

(Healthy, stressed,

dead)

Dominant weed species: Choose from separate chart or other

or none

Soil colour : Light or dark

Choose as a reference site: Yes or no

Photo record. Yes or no

Note presence of fungi, insects, nesting sites and other interesting features relating to Tuart.

e.g.Sector 21, site

number 5 shown as

4 digit number

2105

Hand held GPS

reading of Easting (metres)

Geocentric Datum of Australia Zone 50

Hand held GPS

reading of Northing (metres)

Geocentric Datum of Australia Zone 50

Tree Height (metres

estimated by

multiples of

persons height?) )

Largest trunk diameter (except

seedlings) at 1.5m from

ground level including

bark (centimetres

).

Count trunks if

more than 1

sprouting from

ground level

Growth Stage

(seedling <0.5m/

juvenile >0.5, juvenile leaves/ mature/

regrowth)

Canopy Density

(estimate increments

of 10%)

High = >50%disturbed , Moderate = 10 to 50 %

disturbed, Low = <10%

disturbed, None= none discernable

weed 1 weed2 weed3

Soil type: Karrakatta

Loam, Cottesloe

sandy loam,

Quindalup Dunes

P Alcock & P St Clair_Baker 401 382657 6472882 12 70 3 ma h 60 l pel gc ss cs d n y 25 seedlings and juveniles under canopy 402 382657 6472882 16 70 2 ma h 60 m fu pel gc cs d n n 402 382657 6472882 16 80 1 ma h 30 h pel cs d n y 402 382657 6472882 16 40 3 re s 25 h pel cs d n n Regrowth from burnt stump 403 382696 6472885 8 30 1 re s 60 m pel gc cs d n n bridal creeper 403 382696 6472885 8 30 1 ma h 50 m pel gc cs d n n 403 382696 6472885 18 50 2 ma h 40 h pel gc cs d n n 403 382696 6472885 17 35 2 ma s 10 m pel cs d n n tremite activity 403 382696 6472885 17 30 1 ma h 20 m pel cs d n n Pink fairy orchids. 3 juveniles under canopy 403 382696 6472885 17 40 3 ma h 20 h pel cs d n n Pink fairy orchids 403 382696 6472885 15 25 1 ma h 20 h gc cs d n n Pink fairy orchids 404 382699 6472890 18 45 2 ma h 30 h gc cs d n n Pink fairy orchids 404 382699 6472890 15 20 2 re s 5 m pel cs d n n fallen tree 404 382699 6472890 10 40 2 re s 40 m pel cs d n n fallen tree 404 382699 6472890 18 30 2 ma h 25 m pel cs d n n 404 382699 6472890 20 40 3 ma h 30 m pel cs d n n 405 382699 6472890 2.5 3 1 ju h 5 m pel cs d n n 405 382699 6472890 18 40 2 ma h 60 m pel cs d n y 405 382699 6472890 15 30 2 ma h 50 l pel cs d n n 405 382699 6472890 3.5 10 2 ju h 30 l none cs d n n 405 382699 6472890 18 40 1 ma h 30 m pel cs d n y 405 382699 6472890 18 40 1 ma h 30 m pel cs d n y 405 382699 6472890 18 40 1 ma h 30 m pel cs d n n 405 382699 6472890 18 40 1 ma h 30 m pel cs d n n 405 382699 6472890 18 40 1 ma h 30 m pel cs d n n 405 382699 6472890 18 40 1 ma h 30 m pel cs d n n 405 382699 6472890 5 10 1 ju h 30 m pel cs d n n 405 382699 6472890 5 10 1 ju h 30 m pel cs d n n

Group of 6 mature, 2 juvenile

The waypoints are combined with the manual details into a database.The waypoints are combined with the manual details into a database.

Some basic training is given to distinguish the eucalypt species…Some basic training is given to distinguish the eucalypt species…

Progress to February 2009

What have we learned?• Surprising number of tuarts• Surprising number of young trees• Generally healthy condition of tuarts• Most damage appears fire related• ‘Middle aged and older’ tuarts missing – there are few

large and old trees, and few trees ‘middle aged’ trees staged to take their place

All tuarts in Duart Arnott –

shownin green –

1099

Mature & Regrowth tuarts in Duart Arnott –

shown ingreen –

647

Plus juvenile tuarts in Duart

Arnott – shown in

blue– 304

Plus seedling tuarts in Duart

Arnott – shown in red –

128

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

Series1

Series1 69 174 106 46 35 51 61 47 41 48 83 44 84 36 39 33 47 4 24 1 18

< 1 metre

1 to 1.9

2 to 2.9

3 to 3.9

4 to 4.9

5 to 5.9

6 to 6.9

7 to 7.9

8 to 8.9

9 to 9.9

10 to 10.9

11 to 11.9

12 to 12.9

13 to 13.9

14 to 2.9

15 to 2.9

16 to 2.9

17 to 2.9

18 to 2.9

19 to 2.9

> 20 metre

s

Tuarts in Duart Arnott by metre of height

Most of the tuarts in this part of Trigg Bushland are very small – under 3 metres. There are very few large tuarts.

Most of the tuarts in this part of Trigg Bushland are very small – under 3 metres. There are very few large tuarts.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

Series1

Series1 69 174 106 46 35 51 61 47 41 48 83 44 84 36 39 33 47 4 24 1 18

< 1 metre

1 to 1.9

2 to 2.9

3 to 3.9

4 to 4.9

5 to 5.9

6 to 6.9

7 to 7.9

8 to 8.9

9 to 9.9

10 to 10.9

11 to 11.9

12 to 12.9

13 to 13.9

14 to 2.9

15 to 2.9

16 to 2.9

17 to 2.9

18 to 2.9

19 to 2.9

> 20 metre

s

Tuarts in Duart Arnott by metre of height

It is likely that the majority of tuarts in Duart Arnott have grown since the last major fire.It is likely that the majority of tuarts in Duart Arnott have grown since the last major fire.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

Series1

Series1 69 174 106 46 35 51 61 47 41 48 83 44 84 36 39 33 47 4 24 1 18

< 1 metre

1 to 1.9

2 to 2.9

3 to 3.9

4 to 4.9

5 to 5.9

6 to 6.9

7 to 7.9

8 to 8.9

9 to 9.9

10 to 10.9

11 to 11.9

12 to 12.9

13 to 13.9

14 to 2.9

15 to 2.9

16 to 2.9

17 to 2.9

18 to 2.9

19 to 2.9

> 20 metre

s

Tuarts in Duart Arnott by metre of height

If another major fire were to occur, it is likely that only a few large, old tuarts would survive.If another major fire were to occur, it is likely that only a few large, old tuarts would survive.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

Series1

Series1 69 174 106 46 35 51 61 47 41 48 83 44 84 36 39 33 47 4 24 1 18

< 1 metre

1 to 1.9

2 to 2.9

3 to 3.9

4 to 4.9

5 to 5.9

6 to 6.9

7 to 7.9

8 to 8.9

9 to 9.9

10 to 10.9

11 to 11.9

12 to 12.9

13 to 13.9

14 to 2.9

15 to 2.9

16 to 2.9

17 to 2.9

18 to 2.9

19 to 2.9

> 20 metre

s

Tuarts in Duart Arnott by metre of height

Reducing the frequency of fire is critical to maintaining a viable tuart population, as tuarts do not have a persistent seedbank in the soil.

Reducing the frequency of fire is critical to maintaining a viable tuart population, as tuarts do not have a persistent seedbank in the soil.

How have our recommendations on management strategy changed?

• No need to plant trees – Trigg Bushland can regenerate by itself in most areas at present

• Protection of existing population – juvenile trees as well as mature trees - is first priority

• Fire control probably most important threat to address• Secondary threats may be fungal (Phytophthera,

Armillaria)

Issues coming out of discussions with DEC and THRG/Centre for Excellence for Forest Health:

• Completion of survey and analysis of data is required to draw final conclusions

• Fire history mapping• Fire plan and liaison with CoS / FESA / local residents• Seed collection and secure storage• Inoculation of remaining mature trees to promote their

seed-bearing life while next generation becomes fire-hardy

Come join us!