A note on the effects of browsing by feral goats on a Belah (Casuarina Cristata) - Rosewood (Heterodendrum Oleifolium) woodland.

Abstract

In a Belah - Rosewood woodland in western New South Wales, stocking with feral goats over a four year period effected changes in the composition of the tree and shrub component. The most readily browsed tree was Rosewood and mature trees of this species were stripped of foliage to a height of 2 m. At an early stage Desert broombush (Templetonia egena) and young Warrior bush (Apophyllum anomalum) were severely damaged and young Yarran (Acacia homalophylla) and Belah defoliated. Most defoliated Yarran died within the observation period. Two shrubs regarded as weed species, Punty bush (Cassia eremophila var. platypoda) and Desert cassia (C. eremophila var. coriacea) were heavily browsed in the third year and subsequently eliminated. The weed shrub Turpentine (Eremophila sturtizl was not browsed at any time.