Conclusions from Short-Term Monitoring

From the short-term monitoring conducted on 10th March 2021, it can be concluded that the ecosystem processes overall are compromised to a small degree, and there is some variation in EHI. The highly positive scores on all sites show only some overall potential for improvement through future management approaches. All sites scored in the very high range.

EHIs varied from +70 to +100, with a weighted average of +82.4. This score reveals very good ecological health. Results are mostly only limited by 2011 Riesling, Cabernet 98, Sth House & Cherries which still scored well at 70 to 75.

Ecosystem Function Analysis

● Water cycle was only limited by the level of litter abundance in 2011 Riesling, Riesling 83, and Cherries. Dung decomposition and ground cover was excellent in all paddocks, and there was no sign of erosion or capping.

● Mineral cycle was also boosted by the lack of bare soil on all sites, but limited mostly by the lack of litter incorporation, along with reduced of signs of living organisms on five sites.

● Energy flow was reduced due to some reduction of vegetation cover and photosynthetic tissue (live canopy abundance) at four sites, but balanced by the lack of bare soil at all of the sites.

● Community dynamics were enhanced by a good mixture of the functional groups and their key species, although the pasture paddocks were generally not as good as the vined paddocks.

Actual Indicator scores for the STM paddocks, and in relation the ecosystem processes.