TRAPS - Understanding the Dynamics of Queensland's Grazed Woodlands

Summary

Since 2004, seventy-two TRAPS sites (of 111) have been re-recorded and two new sites have been established. Analyses were conducted to demonstrate the functionality of the DRYAD database and provide an update on woodland trends. One analysis indicated that there are regional differences in woody vegetation response to the recent relatively dry period (1999-2005). The study area was split into south, central and north regions. In remnant ironbark sites, the Eucalypt population declined in the central region (-9%) while increasing in the south (7%) and north (7%) regions, meanwhile other woody species increased (10-43%) across all regions. 
Another analysis investigated differences in vegetation response between the latest relatively dry period (1999-2005) and the previous 1985-1999 period. In ironbark woodlands the basal area increased (10.8%) during the first period but declined (-7.9%) in the latest period resulting in a small basal area increase (2.1%) over the full monitoring period. This analysis has implications for the start and end dates for any future carbon monitoring scheme in grazed woodlands. 
A common observation across the regions and vegetation types analysed was the generally consistent increase in other woody species, indicating the woodlands are becoming more shrubby. Another factor highlighted in these analyses is the large variation between individual sites in woody vegetation change. This variation will hinder accurate prediction of change at any individual woodland site.