Vegetation surveys of Granite Harbour region including Cape Geology, Botany Bay, Kar Plateau, Lion Island, Couloir Cliffs and Flat Iron

A preliminary survey of the plant life was conducted at Botany Bay and Cape Geology (Granite Harbour) to prepare an initial species list and to assess the general richness of the area (1989-1990). Abundant plant life was found and the vegetation of the area was further described and recorded in the 1991-1992 season. The whole area was surveyed with detailed recordings, using quantitative methods for species (8 mosses, 1 liverwort and over 30 lichen spp found) and surveyed so that a fully contoured map could be produced. A brief visit was made to the Kar Plateau (opposite, northern side of Granite Harbour) to collect and record plants (5 mosses, 21 lichens). In the 1994-1995 season, sampling/survey trips were carried out at Lion Island and Couloir Cliffs (Granite Harbour area). In the 1999-2000 season a special effort was made to confirm the accuracy of the species list and to provide quantitative data for the botanical description of the area. A total of 150 relevees were surveyed. Each relevee was a 50 x 50cm quadrat and vegetation within it was recorded as percentage cover for each species. The location, altitude and habitat characteristics were recorded. The topography was also surveyed in more detail and the outline map from previous seasons checked. Two visits were made to Flat Iron and collections made were added to the list of important botanical sites in Granite Harbour.