Survey of South Trigg Reserve conducted Sunday, 3rd July 2016

Considering its location in the city this piece of bushland is in very good condition and contains a range of species characteristic of the Quindalup dune system (Table 1).  It provides a very good example of the type of plants found on the beach and the primary and secondary dunes. Much of this community has been cleared along the Perth coastline and is a valuable addition to the Trigg Bushland in terms of forming a vegetation transect from the beach to inland plant communities.  The vegetation in this block, including the introduced species, is stabilising the dunes but any major disturbance would result in a much more mobile sand drift. Apart from the few introduced perennial species there are few annual and grassy weeds thus creating bare sand patches which form prime reptile habitat. There is some evidence of rabbits but these do not appear to be responsible for a lot of damage. Local cats may be keeping these under control.   Shrubs such as Agonis flexuosa and Acacia rostellifera provide shelter for birds such as the Singing Honeyeater (observed). No native pellitory (Parietaria debilis) was found as this would be subject to rabbit grazing. The cycle path along the east of the block provides a quiet walk or cycle and an opportunity to look for birds and wildflowers.

Table 1 Plant species recorded in South Trigg Reserve

Judith Harvey – BSc Environmental Science, Murdoch University,
Masters in Philosophy, Curtin University Department of Environment and Agriculture.

Member of the Wildflower Society for 35 years.

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