The vegetation of Schouten Island, Tasmania

Abstract

Thirty-seven communities defined by structure and dominance are mapped for Schouten Island which lies within the Freycinet National Park on the east coast of Tasmania. The communities dominated by herbs are mainly coastal in occurrence, those dominated by shrubs are mostly confined to the granitic east of the island, and those dominated by trees are most widespread on the dolerite and sandstone of the west. Thirteen floristic communities are recognized as a result of a monothetic divisive classification of species lists from 160 quadrats. The distribution of these communities, like that of the structure-dominance communities, is most closely related to surface geology and exposure to salt-laden winds. However, their structural expression, and to some extent their distribution, is moulded by other influences such as fire incidence and intensity, topography, and disturbances by man and other animals. Over 450 native higher plant species are recorded for the Freycinet National Park.