Differences in the stand structure of Eucalyptus tetrodonta forests between Elcho Island and Gunn Point, northern Australia

Eucalyptus tetrodonta dominated open forests occur across the northern coast of the Northern Territory. They typically have a well developed grass understorey, scattered saplings, numerous woody sprouts (ramets) and a conspicuous absence of seedlings (genets). We compared a typical E. tetrodonta stand on Gunn Point with an atypical stand on Elcho Island; the forest on Elcho Island had less grass cover, greater canopy and litter cover, a deeper organic layer and higher densities of seedlings, woody sprouts and saplings than on Gunn Point. Gunn Point had a greater number of large E. tetrodonta trees that were more widely spaced than trees on Elcho Island. The cause of these differences remains unclear.