Ground Cover - Shrubs

AUS-ASC-CON-GCS General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

5 %

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: Point

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is Point, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Evidence & Context

Victoria Alpine Ash Forest (EVC 158) has a Prostrate Shrub cover benchmark of 5%.

Metric Definition:

Prostrate Shrub (PS) percentage cover in subalpine and montane communities

Benchmark Definition:

Percentage cover of prostrate shrubs as a structural benchmark in Alpine Ash Forest.

Justification:

Based on floristic data audits and reference site benchmarks for EVC 158.

Sources (1)

Biodiversity Certification Assessment Report (BCAR) - AWS Journal

Biodiversity Certification Assessment Report (BCAR) - AWS

View Source

Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Highlands – Northern Fall bioregion - Environment

Direct Evidence Journal

vegetation | Australian Alps National Parks

View Source

WDA Eucalyptus dalrympleana forest: subalpine heathland facies

Direct Evidence Journal

Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority. (2004). Assessment of Habitat Quality: Subalpine.

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 2
Effective From 10 Jun 2026

Notes

Represents a stable structural component of the subalpine forest understorey. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation.

Related Benchmarks

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