Karakamia Sanctuary - Ecosystems

Quenda (Southern Brown Bandicoot) Karakamia sanctuary

Karakamia sanctuary includes all the major habitat types found within the northern Jarrah forest within its 275 ha area, including:

• Jarrah forest
• Mixed woodlands of marri and wandoo
• Wandoo woodland
• Closed heath, shrublands and herblands
• Riparian (stream) habitats

The Jarrah forest vegetation occurs predominantly on the lateritic plateaus, with Marri woodland on the slopes, and Wandoo woodland on clays beneath exposed granite. Diverse heathlands and shrublands appear in the shallow soils surrounding exposed granite, and lower down the slopes Blackbutt woodland leads to a Flooded gum and sedge community along the riparian (river) zones.

Over 250 species of plants are known to occur at Karakamia sanctuary, including a number of priority species. A field herbarium has been established providing a valuable reference for visiting researchers and students.