Vegetation of the Warra silvicultural systems trial

Vegetation types were classified within a trial testing alternative silvicultural systems to clearfell, burn and sow at the Warra Long-Term Ecological Research Site. Three vegetation types were recognised within the silvicultural systems trial: Eucalyptus obliqua wet forest with a wet sclerophyll understorey dominated by tea-tree, cutting grass and bauera (G-type), E. obliqua mixed forest with an understorey of rainforest species typical of thamnic rainforest, particularly horizontal scrub (T-type) and E. obliqua mixed forest with an understorey of rainforest species typical of callidendrous rainforest (C-type). The three types were floristically distinct and were readily recognisable in the field. The ordination of internal and remote (external) control plots established recently agrees with the ordination of the vegetation prior to the establishment of the silvicultural systems trial. Therefore, these plots will be useful for future monitoring. Fire history was shown to have a major influence on the vegetation.