Buckaringa Sanctuary - Ecosystems

Buckaringa sanctuary

Although small, Buckaringa supports eight vegetation communities, each of which is associated with particular substrates.

• Outcrop complex. Outcropping sandstone where the broken nature of the rock provides for the development of small pockets of vegetation on shallow soils in areas with increased moisture. Some vertical zonation is evident in the plant species found to comprise this community. On the lower slopes rock sida is common, being replaced by cough bush at higher elevations. There are also numerous species found only in this community, including woolly cloak fern.
  
  
• Hummock grassland. These grasslands consist of dense interlocking clumps of spinifex on shallow rocky soils beneath rock outcrops. Associated with this community on open ridge tops is a low (60 - 80 cm) Acacia shrubland. Increased use of fire as a result of pastoral activity has resulted in the spread of this community.
  
  
• Low woodlands. This habitat is dominated by northern cypress pine which often forms dense stands, suppressing the growth of most understorey plants. In the late nineteenth century this community was extensively cut for fence posts, leaving only trees unsuitable for posts or those that occurred in inaccessible locations. Significant regeneration of this community is evident in some areas.
  
  
• Low shrublands to 2 m, consisting primarily of cough bush, hop-bush and grasstrees. This community was once extensive on south and east facing slopes, however the over use of fire has resulted in its replacement by hummock grassland.
  
  
• Low open shrubland of smoke bush to 30 cm.
  
  
• Ephemeral herbland. This community has been highly modified by pastoral and agricultural use, and is now dominated by scattered stands of prickly wattle and introduced herbaceous species.
• Woodland. Along the creeks is a narrow band of river red gum woodland.
  
  
• Mallee scrub. This community occurs as small patches associated with limestone outcrops and skeletal soils, and is dominated by red box and Quorn mallee.
  

A detailed map of the distribution of these habitats is currently being prepared.