Banksia Woodlands of the Swan Coastal Plain

Banksia Woodlands of the Swan Coastal Plain
Ecology
Realm	Australasia
Biome	Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub
Borders	Swan Coastal Plain Shrublands and Woodlands Jarrah Forest
Geography
Area	0.016 km2 (0.0062 sq mi)
Country	Australia
Elevation	10–50 metres (33–164 ft)
Coordinates	31.51°S 115.61°E / -31.51; 115.61
Climate type	Mediterranean climate (Csa)
Soil types	Sand

The Banksia Woodlands of the Swan Coastal Plain is a protected sclerophyll community situated in the Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia that predominantly consists of banksias. Listed as endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, it was once a near-incessant band of large shrub patches around Perth and other nearby coastal areas.

Geography

The woodland is associated with the Swan Coastal Plain (and a few neighboring areas) of southwest Western Australia on well drained, poor nutrient soils in dune landforms, especially deep Bassendean and Spearwood sands, or at times on Quindalup sand. It is also common on sandy colluvium and aeolian sand. Before the 19th century, they had a size estimated at 146 hectare, but since then the area has been significantly cleared for farming, housing and related infrastructure, and now 60% of the banksia woodland is lost with small patches remaining.

Today, the woodlands assist with cooling down temperatures in the encompassing region; collect carbon; filter and keep aquifers (such as drinking water for Perth), in addition to extenuating local flooding, damaging winds, soil loss, and pollution. They also provide amenity and recreation, as they feature scenic areas for bushwalking.

Ecology

Banksia species dominate the vegetation community; Banksia attenuata, Banksia littoralis, Banksia menziesii, Banksia prionotes an Banksia ilicifolia. Secondary tree species can be present, such as, Eucalyptus todtiana, Nuytsia floribunda, Allocasuarina fraseriana, Callitris arenaria, Callitris pyramidalis, Corymbia calophylla, Eucalyptus gomphocephala, Eucalyptus marginata and Xylomelum occidentale.

Shrubs include Adenanthos cygnorum, Allocasuarina humilis, Bossiaea eriocarpa, Conostephium pendulum, Eremaea pauciflora, Gompholobium tomentosum, Hibbertia hypericoides, Kunzea glabrescens, Petrophile linearis, Phlebocarya ciliata, Philotheca spicata, Stirlingia latifolia and Xanthorrhoea preissii.

Fauna

This ecological community provides habitats for many nationally threatened native animals including; Dasyurus geoffroii, Calyptorhynchus latirostris, Calyptorhynchus banksii, and several species of native bees.