Regional ecosystem details for 3.2.10
| Regional ecosystem | 3.2.10 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 2, 7, 4, 6, 1, 9, (8), (3) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 36000 ha; Remnant 2021 36000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus tetrodonta and Corymbia clarksoniana +/- E. brassiana or Erythrophleum chlorostachys woodland on stabilised dunes |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Woodland to low woodland (and sometimes open forest) of Eucalyptus tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark) +/- Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood). There is usually a sparse sub-canopy tree layer and the shrub layer is sparse. A variant dominated by Acacia torulosa (northern lancewood) and Syzygium suborbiculare (lady apple) and a clumped denser shrub layer can occur. Occurs on stabilised dunes on the east and west coasts of Cape York Peninsula. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 3.2.10a: Eucalyptus tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark) predominates forming a sparse canopy (9-22m tall). Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) is frequently present, and sometimes codominant in the canopy. Scattered E. brassiana (Cape York redgum) are sometimes present in the canopy. The very sparse sub-canopy tree layer (3-8m tall) is dominated by Syzygium suborbiculare (lady apple). The sparse shrub layer (0.3-3m tall) is composed of a variety of species, including Acacia torulosa (northern lancewood), A. crassicarpa (spoon tree), A. flavescens (powder puff wattle), A. racospermoides (white-barked wattle), Alyxia spicata, Exocarpos latifolius, Styphelia ruscifolia, Persoonia falcata (geebung) and Petalostigma pubescens (quinine). The ground layer is usually very sparse to sparse and dominated by grasses, most frequently Panicum spp. And Aristida spp. Occurs on stabilised dunes on coastal plains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14b). 3.2.10b: Acacia torulosa (northern lancewood) and Syzygium suborbiculare (lady apple) dominate the canopy. Eucalyptus tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark) is a scattered sub dominant species. The clumped mid-dense shrub layer is dominated by Lithomyrtus obtusa and Neoroepera banksii, with Alyxia spicata and Alphitonia pomaderroides less frequent. The ground layer is sparse and dominated by Eriachne pallescens (wanderrie grass) and Schizachyrium spp. (fire grass). Occurs on stabilised dunes on east coast plains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 28b). 3.2.10c: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.2.10a. Eucalyptus tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark) predominates forming a sparse canopy. Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) is often present and sometimes codominant to dominant in the canopy. Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) is also frequently present in both the canopy and the very sparse to sparse sub-canopy tree layer. Grevillea glauca (bushman's clothes peg), Erythroxylum ellipticum (matchwood), Alphitonia pomaderroides (soapwood), Eucalyptus tetrodonta, Melaleuca nervosa (woodland paperbark) and a variety of other species are also common sub-canopy trees. A very sparse to sparse shrub layer is composed of a variety of young trees and shrubby regrowth. The ground layer is usually very sparse to mid-dense and dominated by grasses, among them Schizachyrium spp. (firegrass), Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum), Panicum spp. (native panic), Aristida spp. (three-awned speargrass), Alloteropsis semialata (cockatoo grass) and Thaumastochloa spp. Mainly occurring on old sand dunes on western Cape York Peninsula. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14b). |
| Protected areas | Cape Melville NP (CYPAL), Rinyirru (Lakefield) NP (CYPAL), Apudthama NP (CYPAL), Lama Lama NP (CYPAL), Bromley (Ampulin) NP (CYPAL), Annan River (Yuku Baja-Muliku) RR, Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) NP (CYPAL), Annan River (Yuku Baja-Muliku) NP, KULLA (McIlwr |
| 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. b: Low, with occasional moderate to high. INTERVAL: 2-5 years. b: 10+ years for lancewood communities. INTERVAL_MIN: 2. INTERVAL_MAX: 50. 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. b: Typically self protecting due to low fuel loads and position in the landscape. 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. b: Fires typically trickle through these vegetation communities because fuel is insufficiently available. |
| Comments | 3.2.10: Part of VC 3.2.8 was amalgamated into this RE. Coastal dune plains thorughout of Cape York Peninsula including the Torres Strait. 3.2.10a: Vegetation community 3.2.10c was amalgamated into this. On the Starke coastal plain a variant of E.tetrodonta with Corymbia stockeri subsp. peninsularis occurs. The sparse shrub layer contains Asteromyrtus symphyocarpa, Neoroepera banksii and Xanthorrhoea johnsonii. The very sparse ground layer was dominated by Digitaria sp. and Schoenus sparteus. Coastal dune plains thorughout of Cape York Peninsula including the Torres Strait. 3.2.10b: South east of the bioregion. 3.2.10c: Western coast of Cape York Peninsula. |
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.
