Ground Cover - Shrubs

AUS-TDG-LVG-GCS General High confidence

Benchmark Value

50 %

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: MaximumOnly

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 total projective canopy cover of woody shrubs over 0.5 m tall can be up to 50% in this ecological community but is typically much less."

Metric Definition:

Total projective canopy cover of woody shrubs over 0.5 m tall

Benchmark Definition:

Degradation threshold marking the structural limit of a critically endangered grassland community, beyond which woody shrub encroachment alters the ecosystem.

Justification:

Defines the structural limit for natural grasslands on basalt and fine-textured alluvial plains in northern NSW and southern Queensland, above which the system shifts to shrubland or open woodland.

Sources (1)

Preview of Natural grasslands on basalt and fine-textured alluvial plains of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland

Natural grasslands on basalt and fine-textured alluvial plains of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland Government

Natural grasslands on basalt and fine-textured alluvial plains of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland

Supporting Sources (9)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of BioCondition Benchmarks for Regional Ecosystem ... - WordPress.com, accessed August 3, 2025,

BioCondition Benchmarks for Regional Ecosystem ... - WordPress.com, accessed August 3, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

BioCondition benchmarks for Regional Ecosystems

Preview of Box - Gum Grassy Woodlands and Derived Grasslands

Box - Gum Grassy Woodlands and Derived Grasslands

Direct Evidence Journal

Box - Gum Grassy Woodlands and Derived Grasslands

Preview of EVC 175: Grassy Woodland - Gippsland Plain bioregion

EVC 175: Grassy Woodland - Gippsland Plain bioregion

Direct Evidence Journal

EVC 175: Grassy Woodland - Gippsland Plain bioregion

Preview of EVC 3: Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland - Otway Plain bioregion

EVC 3: Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland - Otway Plain bioregion

Direct Evidence Journal

EVC 3: Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland - Otway Plain bioregion

Preview of EVC 55: Plains Grassy Woodland - Goldfields bioregion benchmark document

EVC 55: Plains Grassy Woodland - Goldfields bioregion benchmark document

Direct Evidence Journal

EVC 55: Plains Grassy Woodland - Goldfields bioregion

Preview of EVC/Bioregion Benchmark for Vegetation Quality Assessment: Dundas Tablelands bioregion

EVC/Bioregion Benchmark for Vegetation Quality Assessment: Dundas Tablelands bioregion

Direct Evidence Journal

EVC 3: Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland - Dundas Tablelands bioregion

Preview of Highlands – Southern Fall bioregion - Environment, accessed April 6, 2026

Highlands – Southern Fall bioregion - Environment, accessed April 6, 2026

Direct Evidence Journal

EVC 3: Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland - Highlands - Southern Fall bioregion

Preview of Victorian Volcanic Plain bioregion - Environment, accessed August 12, 2025

Victorian Volcanic Plain bioregion - Environment, accessed August 12, 2025

Direct Evidence Journal

EVC 3: Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland - Victorian Volcanic Plain bioregion

Preview of Wimmera Bioregion EVC Benchmarks - Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland (EVC 3)

Wimmera Bioregion EVC Benchmarks - Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland (EVC 3)

Direct Evidence Journal

EVC 3: Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland - Wimmera bioregion