Ground Cover - Shrubs

AUS-ASC-CON-GCS General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

20 %

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: Point

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

The high percentage of sub-canopy/large shrub cover (20%) in WDA forests suggests a robust intermediate layer.

Metric Definition:

Percentage cover of sub-canopy/large shrubs in Eucalyptus dalrympleana subalpine forest (WDA)

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the typical percentage cover of sub-canopy/large shrubs in Tasmanian subalpine forests within the Alpine and Subalpine Complex biome under pristine reference conditions.

Justification:

Based on TASVEG system benchmarks for subalpine heathland facies.

Sources (1)

WDA Eucalyptus dalrympleana forest: subalpine heathland facies Journal

WDA Eucalyptus dalrympleana forest: subalpine heathland facies

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Highlands – Northern Fall bioregion - Environment

Direct Evidence Journal

Highlands – Northern Fall bioregion - Environment

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Pristine Reference
Vegetation Forest
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 7 Apr 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. Indicates a robust intermediate shrub layer in subalpine forests.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-ASC-CON-GCS family.