Regional ecosystem details for 3.10.6
| Regional ecosystem | 3.10.6 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 5, 4, 6, (9.3), (2), (1), (7), (2.4), (8), (9) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 396000 ha; Remnant 2021 396000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus tetrodonta +/- Corymbia stockeri subsp. stockeri woodland on sandstone plateaus |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Eucalyptus tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark) woodland to (rarely) low open forest usually with Corymbia stockeri (gum topped bloodwood). Small areas of Eucalyptus cullenii (Cullen's ironbark) or E. crebra (narrow-leaved ironbark) woodland often with E. tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark) can occur. Occurs on sandstone plateaus and hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14d). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 3.10.6a: Eucalyptus tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark) woodland to (rarely) low open forest usually with Corymbia stockeri (gum topped bloodwood) and occasionally, E. crebra (narrow leaved ironbark), E. cullenii (Cullen's ironbark) or Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood). C. nesophila (Melville Island bloodwood) can also occur as a subdominant. The sparse subcanopy contains canopy species occasionally with Grevillea glauca (bushman's clothes peg), G. parallela (silver oak) and Persoonia falcata present. The very sparse to mid-dense shrub layer contains juvenile canopy species and commonly Coelospermum reticulatum, Planchonia careya, Acacia rothii and Xanthorrhoea johnsonii. The sparse to mid- dense grassy ground layer dominants can include Heteropogon triticeus, Aristida spp., Triodia microstachya and Schizachyrium spp. Occurs on sandstone plateaus and hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14d). 3.10.6b: Eucalyptus cullenii (Cullen's ironbark) woodland often with E. tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark). E. crebra (narrow leaved ironbark) may dominate in some areas. The very sparse subcanopy contains scattered canopy species, Melaleuca stenostachya, M. citrolens and Acacia leptocarpa. The very sparse shrub layer also contains scattered canopy species as well as Jacksonia thesioides and Gastrolobium grandiflorum. The mid-dense grassy ground layer can include Heteropogon triticeus, Arundinella setosa, Themeda triandra along with Grevillea dryandri. Occurs on sandstone plateaus. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13a). 3.10.6c: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.10.6x2. Corymbia stockeri and Eucalyptus crebra form an even but discontinuous canopy. E. brassiana is usually present but generally occurs at low densities. Eucalyptus mediocris occurred in the canopy at Cape Bedford. There are two very sparse layers of shrubs and young trees; one 2-4m tall dominated by young Eucalyptus spp., and the other 0.5-1m tall dominated by Acacia calyculata, Dodonaea lanceolata var. subsessilifolia, Erythrophleum chlorostachys, Jacksonia thesioides and Xanthorrhoea johnsonii. The ground layer is very sparse and dominated by graminoids. Most of the soil surface is covered with leaf litter or exposed rock. Exposed sandstone headlands & caps. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 12b). 3.10.6d: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.10.6a. Corymbia stockeri subsp. stockeri (gum-topped bloodwood) and Eucalyptus megasepala usually dominate the sparse canopy (9-15m, occasionally 20m tall). Melaleuca stenostachya (fibre-barked teatree) usually dominates a very sparse sub-canopy tree layer (8-12m tall). M. viridiflora (broad-leaved teatree) is also frequently present. A sparse shrub layer (3-8m tall) is usually present. Petalostigma banksii (smooth-leaved quinine) and Corymbia stockeri frequently dominate this layer. The ground layer is sparse to mid-dense and dominated by the grasses, Schizachyrium fragile (fire grass), Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum) and Heteropogon triticeus (giant speargrass). Occurs on sandstone plateau tops. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14b). 3.10.6x1a: [RE not in use]²: Thisvegetation community is now mapped as 3.7.2. Acacia shirleyi (lancewood) dominates a sparse to mid-dense canopy (18-24m tall). Scattered Corymbia stockeri subsp. Peninsularis (gum-topped bloodwood) are usually present in the canopy. A sparse sub-canopy low tree layer (4-9m tall) is frequently present. A. shirleyi also dominates the very sparse to sparse shrub layer (0.5-2m tall). The ground layer is short and very sparse, with Schoenus sparteus and Eriachne spp. (wanderrie grass) consistently present. Occurs on sandstone. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 24a). 3.10.6x1b: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.7.6. Melaleuca stenostachya (fibre-barked teatree) dominates the sparse canopy (8-12m tall). Acacia leptostachya (slender wattle) is generally subdominant in both the canopy and sub-canopy layers. Scattered Corymbia stockeri subsp. Stockeri (gum-topped bloodwood) and Eucalyptus tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark) are occasionally present and may emerge above the canopy. A. leptostachya, Jacksonia thesioides, Lithomyrtus retusa, Petalostigma banksii (smooth-leaved quinine), M. stenostachya and Neofabricia sericisepala (yellow teatree) are the most abundant shrubs in the very sparse shrub layer (0.5-2m tall). The ground layer is very sparse. The graminoids, Eriachne spp. (wanderrie grass), Thaumastochloa spp., Schizachyrium fragile (fire grass) and Schoenus sparteus making up most of the biomass. Occurs on sandstone plateaus. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21b). 3.10.6x2: Eucalyptus portuensis woodland to low open forest usually with E. crebra (narrow-leaved ironbark) or E. cullenii (Cullen's ironbark) and commonly Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood). A number of other Eucalyptus spp. and Corymbia spp. may also occur. A very sparse subcanopy sometimes occurs with scattered canopy species. The very sparse to sparse shrub-layer may contain canopy species, Acacia flavescens and Xanthorrhoea johnsonii. The sparse to mid-dense grassy ground layer can be dominated by Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass), Heteropogon triticeus (giant spear grass), Scleria spp. and also include a range of forbs. Occurs on remnant sandstone capping and ridges. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9d). 3.10.6x3: Eucalyptus cloeziana (Gympie messmate) open forest to woodland commonly with Corymbia stockeri subsp. stockeri (gum-topped bloodwood) as a subdominant. E. tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark) is also commonly present in the canopy. The very sparse sub-canopy usually includes canopy species with Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) usually present. The very sparse to sparse shrub layer usually contains canopy species, Acacia spp. and Persoonia falcata (geebung). Heath species such as Jacksonia thesioides (broombush) and Lamprolobium fruticosum can be prominent in the shrublayer. The mid-dense groundlayer often contains Gompholobium nitidum, Grevillea dryandri and Cassytha filiformis (dodder) while commonly found grasses are Heteropogon triticeus (giant speargrass) and Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass). Occurs on slopes below sandstone scarps. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9d). 3.10.6x4: Corymbia stockeri (gum topped bloodwood) +/- Eucalyptus cullenii (Cullen's ironbark) woodland occasionally with E. brassiana (Cape York redgum). A very sparse sub-canopy of canopy species, Acacia platycarpa, Erythrophleum chlorostachys, Melaleuca viridiflora or Planchonia careya is usually present. A very sparse shrub layer is dominated by Acacia spp., Jacksonia thesioides and Grevillea spp. The sparse to very sparse ground layer is dominated by Heteropogon triticeus (giant spear grass), Eriachne spp., Sara plumosum (Sorghum) and a mix of forbs. Occurs on sandstone ranges. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14d). |
| Protected areas | Muundhi (Jack River) NP (CYPAL), Biniirr NP (CYPAL), Oyala Thumotang NP (CYPAL), Cape Melville NP (CYPAL), Melsonby (Gaarraay) NP (CYPAL), Olkola NP (CYPAL), Alwal NP (CYPAL), Batavia NP (CYPAL), Flinders Group NP (CYPAL), Juunju Daarrba Nhirrpan NP (CYPA |
| Special values | 3.10.6: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Acacia guymeri, Cucumis costatus, Dianella incollata, Gardenia psidioides, Homoranthus tropicus, Stemona angusta, Stenanthemum argenteum, Syzygium rubrimolle. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Commence planned burns early in the dry season, after the wet season when dry enough to burn. Use occasional storm burns but generally avoid periods of extremely hot, dry conditions. INTENSITY: Low to moderate with occasional high during storm burns. INTERVAL: 2-5 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 2. INTERVAL_MAX: 5. STRATEGY: Apply a mosaic across the landscape at a range of intervals to create varying stages of post-fire response. Burn 30-60% at the property level. ISSUES: To mitigate against the impact of late dry season fires, commence burning early in the season and continue through the dry to break up continuity of fuels across the landscape. Planned fire applied repeatedly early in the dry season may lead to woody thickening because fires are not of sufficiently high intensity; this may be exacerbated by stock grazing. Manage extent, intensity and frequency of fires judiciously, to avoid habitat tree loss. |
| Comments | 3.10.6: RE's 3.10.10, 3.10.9(a), 3.10.21(a&c) were amalgamated into this RE. Vegetation community 3.10.6b is of restricted distribution and only has a small area. Widespread in the bioregion, particularly west of Cooktown. 3.10.6a: Vegetation communities 3.10.6d, 3.10.21(part) was amalgamated in to this vegetation community. Frequently large areas of the ground surface are covered by sandstone rocks. Widespread in the bioregion, west of Cooktown. 3.10.6b: West of Cooktown in the south-east of the bioregion. 3.10.6c: The height of the canopy is frequently determined by exposure to prevailing south-easterly winds. In very rocky areas, a dwarf open heath of Allocasuarina littoralis, Grevillea pteridifolia, Hibbertia oblongata and Jacksonia thesioides forms, while in deeper gullies, Eucalyptus brassiana and Acacia leptocarpa become prominent. In sheltered, more mesic positions, particularly gullies, Erythrophleum chlorostachys forms a prominent component of the canopy. Lophostemon suaveolens and Allocasuarina littoralis may also be present in the canopy, and Corymbia tessellaris is sometimes present as an emergent tree (10m tall). A denser shrub layer (2-4m tall, 20% PFC) is frequently present. Buchanania arborescens, Canarium australianum and Schefflera actinophylla occur in some gullies. Occurs on Melville Range and coastal headlands in south of bioregion. 3.10.6x1a: Restricted to south of bioregion. 3.10.6x2: The vegetation community 3.10.6c was amalagamated into this RE. West of Cooktown in the south-east of the bioregion. 3.10.6x3: West of Cooktown in the south-east of the bioregion. 3.10.6x4: Includes areas previously mapped as 3.10.6x4. Differentiated from 3.10.6 by the absence of Eucalyptus tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark). Largely restricted to the Flinders Island group with a small occurrence on Cape Bedford where Eucalyptus mediocris occurs in the canopy. |
1 Estimated extent is from version 13 pre-clearing and 2021 remnant regional ecosystem mapping. Figures are rounded for simplicity. For more precise estimates, including breakdowns by tenure and other themes see remnant vegetation in Queensland.
2 Superseded: Revision of the regional ecosystem classification removed this regional ecosystem code from use. It is included in the regional ecosystem description database because the RE code may appear in older versions of RE mapping and the Vegetation Management regulation.
