L. Forró szerk.: Miscellanea Zoologica Hungarica 13. 2000 (Budapest, 2000)

Hangay, G., Fuisz, T. I.; Bankovics, A.: Notes on the Vertebrate fauna of Katandra Bushland Sanctuary, Sydney, Australia

Dark gray, loose loamy sand with single-grained structure seems to be the most characteristic topsoil (35cm to 60 cm deep) with occasional slight gradation to pale yellow loamy sand with sandstone fragments (Roberts 1999). The Sanctuary corresponds with the Lambert soil landscape model (Chapman & Murphy 1989). The soil is poorly aggregated, therefore it is erodible where plant cover is not adequate. However, vegetation cover is dense at most parts of the Sanctuary. In many sections a rich, compost-like soil has developed from leaf- litter and other decomposed vegetable matter. There are several small watercourses across the Sanctuary, but most of these dry out during extended periods of dry weather. Only Katandra Creek seems to be a permanent creek, however at the times of very poor rainfall it is reduced into a string of almost still, shallow rockpools. The climate of Katandra is typically N. S. W. coastal. The area is too small to have any climatic characteristics different from the surrounding north-eastern districts of Sydney. However, microclimatic conditions are varied: on the western plateau and on the top of the escarpment the environment is drier and cooler than in the lower lying sections of the Sanctuary, mainly due to wind and frequent exposure to sunlight. The hillside below the escarpment and the lowest, eastern part of the Sanctuary is warmer and more humid, especially through the warmer months (November-February). Humidity is highest along the lowest section of the watercourses. The Sanctuary is surrounded by a chainwire fence, which was originally designed to keep out Vulpes vulpes and Canis familiáris. This method does not seem to be adequate as feral animals frequent the Sanctuary and at present some (e.g. Vulpes vulpes, Felis catus and Oryctolagus cuniculus) may even breed within its boundaries. The fence does not seem to restrict the movements of native mammals, as Wallabia bicolor, Parameles nasuta, Rattus spp. and perhaps Tachyglossus aculeatus as individual animals can find or make suitable gaps under it to exit and enter the Sanctuary. The fence does not restrict the movements of arboreal species, bats and birds, reptiles and amphibians. The area is open to the public once a month from March to June, every Sunday from July to October and closed during the wannest months (November-February). Human interference with wildlife within the Sanctuary is minimal. Regular activities consist of track maintenance, weeding and walking (single individuals or small groups) on marked trails. Flora Approximately 350 native plant species have been identified in Katandra: 33 fem, 1 cycad, 1 conifer, 99 monocot (including 24 orchids) and 216 dicotyledon species (Brooker & Kleinig 1983, Fairley & Moore 1989, Coveny 1997). These plants form five main types of vegetation communities here: above the escarpment is woodland with Corymbia gummifera, Angophora costata, Xanthorrea arborea, Acacia oxycedrus, Ricinocarpos pinifolius, Dodonela triquetra, Pimelea linifolia and wet heathland with Banksia ericifolia, Viminaria juncea, Acacia suaveolens, Callicoma serratifolia and Gahnia sieberiana as the most prominent plants. On the hillside below, the drier areas are covered by open forest with Eucalyptus umbra, E. piperita, Angophora costata and Corymbia gummifera. In sheltered areas of the hillside there are moist, tall open forest stands with Syncarpia glomulifera, Allocasuarina torulosa, Eucalyptus scias, Livistona australis as the most dominant trees. The most evident shrubs are Prostanthera denticulata, Bertya brownii, Boronia thujona, B. mollis, Ceratopetalum