In Victoria, the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) classifies vegetation according to Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs). Each EVC includes a collection of plant communities that occur across a biogeographic range. Although they contain different species, they have similar habitat requirements and ecological processes operating. Sample locations for ten EVCs are indicated on the map. Click on any EVC to reveal a virtual quadrat. Each virtual quadrat represents the average characteristics of a mature and long-undisturbed state for the vegetation type.
Click on a map marker pin for more information about the grassland.
This EVC consists of variable open eucalypt woodland to 15 m tall, or occasionally Sheoak/Acacia woodland to 10 m tall. The ground layer consists of grasses and herbs. The shrub component is usually sparse. Recruitment is continuous. The cover of organic litter within this EVC is ~20%.
Interesting Fact
This EVC occurs on sites with moderate fertility on gentle slopes or undulating hills on a range of geologies.
This EVC consists of treeless vegetation, which is mostly less than 1 m tall. It is dominated by largely graminoid and herb life forms. Recruitment is driven by periodic events such as fire or grazing. The cover of organic litter within this EVC is ~10%.
Interesting Fact
This EVC occupies cracking basalt soils, which are prone to seasonal waterlogging in areas receiving less than 500 mm annual rainfall.
This EVC consists of treeless vegetation, which is generally less than 1 m tall. It is dominated by largely graminoid and herb life forms, but may have originally contained scattered woody plants. Recruitment is driven by periodic events such as fire or grazing. The cover of organic litter within this EVC is ~10%.
Interesting Fact
This EVC occupies more freely draining red loamy basalt-derived soils and occasionally lighter sedimentary soils in areas receiving at least 500 mm annual rainfall.
This EVC consists of treeless vegetation, which is mostly less than 1 m tall. It is dominated by largely graminoid and herb life forms. Recruitment is driven by periodic events such as fire or grazing. The cover of organic litter within this EVC is ~10%.
Interesting Fact
This EVC occupies fertile cracking basalt soils, which are prone to seasonal waterlogging in areas receiving at least 500 mm annual rainfall.
This EVC consists of open, eucalypt woodland to 15 m tall. The understorey consists of a few sparse shrubs over a species-rich grassy and herbaceous ground layer. Recruitment is continuous. The cover of organic litter within this EVC is ~10%.
Interesting Fact
This EVC occupies poorly drained, fertile soils on flat or gently undulating plains at low elevations. This variant occupies areas receiving ~500-700 mm annual rainfall.
This EVC consists of an open, eucalypt woodland to 15 m tall, or an Acacia/Sheoak woodland to 10 m tall. The understorey consists of a few sparse shrubs over a species-rich grassy and herbaceous ground layer. Recruitment is continuous. The cover of organic litter within this EVC is ~10%.
This EVC occupies poorly drained, fertile soils on flat or gently undulating plains at low elevations. This variant occupies areas receiving greater than 700 mm annual rainfall.
This EVC consists of shrubland to 3m tall or low non-eucalypt woodland to 8m tall with a grassy understorey. Recruitment is continuous. The cover of organic litter within this EVC is ~20%.
This EVC occurs on low stony rises on basalt flows. Soils are fertile and well drained but shallow with outcropping rock, causing severe summer dryness.
This EVC is usually treeless however may include sparse River Red Gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis or Swamp Gum Eucalyptus ovata. The shrub component is usually sparse. The characteristic ground cover is dominated by grasses, small shrubs and herbs. Recruitment is driven by periodic events such as flooding. The cover of organic litter within this EVC is ~20%.
Interesting Fact
The vegetation is typically species-rich on the outer verges but is usually species-poor in the wetter central areas.
This EVC is a eucalypt-dominated woodland to 15 m tall, with occasional scattered shrubs over a grassy/sedgy to herbaceous ground layer. This may include a range of graminoid and herbaceous species tolerant of waterlogged soils. Recruitment is continuous. The cover of organic litter within this EVC is ~40%.
Interesting Fact
This EVC occurs on low gradient ephemeral to intermittent drainage lines. Soils are typically fertile colluvial/alluvial soils.
This EVC consists of grassy or sedgy woodland to 15 m tall. Large inter-tussock spaces may support a range of annual herbs, some with underground storage organs, which are adapted to low summer rainfall. Recruitment is continuous. The cover of organic litter within this EVC is ~10%.
This EVC occupies low relief terrain in areas receiving less than 600 mm annual rainfall. Soils are fertile, sometimes seasonally waterlogged, mostly silty, loamy or clay topsoils, with heavy subsoils, derived largely from former Quaternary swamp deposits.
Test your skills estimating the percentage cover of each life form in a virtual quadrat for each EVC.
Choose an EVC from the map, click on the marker then click ‘Survey this quadrat’.
Have you surveyed your own quadrat in the field?
Others have submitted quadrats to Ecolinc.
