Regional ecosystem details for 3.3.10
| Regional ecosystem | 3.3.10 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Riverine |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 1, 8, 6, 7, (5), (2), (4), (3), (9), (2.4), (9.3), (7.9) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 159000 ha; Remnant 2021 159000 ha |
| Short description | Melaleuca fluviatilis and/or Melaleuca argentea woodland or M. saligna or M. dealbata woodland fringing watercourses |
| Structure code | Open Forest |
| Description | Melaleuca fluviatilis (silver-crowned paperbark) or M. argentea (silver-crowned paperbark) woodland to closed forest, usually with a variety of other species. Along minor streamlines M. saligna or M. dealbata can be dominant. Fringes watercourses. Riverine. (BVG1M: 22c). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 3.3.10a: Melaleuca fluviatilis (silver-crowned paperbark) and/or Melaleuca argentea (silver-crowned paperbark) and less frequently M. leucadendra (weeping paperbark) woodland to open forest +/- Eucalyptus tereticornis (blue gum) or E. camaldulensis (river red gum) +/- Syzygium forte (flaky-barked satinash) +/- Acacia auriculiformis (ear pod wattle). The sub canopy often contains Lophostemon grandiflorus, Ficus racemosa (cluster fig) +/- rainforest species. The sparse shrub layer can include Acacia spp. (wattles) and rainforest species. The ground layer is generally very sparse and regularly swept clear by floods. Fringes major streams and creeks. Riverine. (BVG1M: 22c). 3.3.10b: Melaleuca saligna (paperbark) open forest to woodland +/- Dillenia alata (red beech) +/- Leptospermum madidum +/- M. viridiflora (broad-leaved teatree) +/- Syzygium forte (white apple). A mid-dense sub-canopy is usually present and can include Buchanania arborescens (native mango), Livistona spp. and a range of rainforest species. A very sparse shrub layer can contain a range of species including Alyxia spicata (chain fruit) and Mallotus polyadenos (kamala). The ground layer is generally very sparse and regularly swept clear by floods. Fringes minor streams and creeks. Riverine. (BVG1M: 22c). 3.3.10c: Melaleuca saligna, Corymbia stockeri (gum-topped bloodwood), Acacia crassicarpa (spoon tree), Eucalyptus platyphylla (poplar gum) open forest +/- E. brassiana (Cape York redgum). The sub-canopy is dominated by M. saligna +/- Dillenia alata (red beech) and Deplanchea tetraphylla. Occurs along swampy drainage lines. Riverine. (BVG1M: 22c). 3.3.10d: Melaleuca dealbata (silver-leaved paperbark), Acacia crassicarpa (spoon tree), Acmena hemilampra, Lophostemon suaveolens (swamp mahogany), Deplanchea tetraphylla and Syzygium spp. open forest. Prominent sub-canopy species are Carallia brachiata (corky bark), Dillenia alata (red beech) and Gmelina dalrympleana (white beech). The shrub layer is composed of a large mix of vine forest species. Occurs on drainage lines. Riverine. (BVG1M: 22c). |
| Protected areas | Rinyirru (Lakefield) NP (CYPAL), Oyala Thumotang NP (CYPAL), Olkola NP (CYPAL), Muundhi (Jack River) NP (CYPAL), Cape Melville NP (CYPAL), Lama Lama NP (CYPAL), Alwal NP (CYPAL), KULLA (McIlwraith Range) NP (CYPAL), Biniirr NP (CYPAL), Melsonby (Gaarraay) |
| Special values | 3.3.10: Important corridors for wildlife. The near threatened grass species Lepturus xerophilus has been recorded in this ecosystem. 3.3.10a: In the Torres Strait this community is habitat for a disjunct northern occurrence of the palm Corypha utan. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Early dry season or storm burns in surrounding country. INTENSITY: Low. INTERVAL: As per surrounding country, with 4+ years as a guide. INTERVAL_MIN: 4. INTERVAL_MAX: 50. STRATEGY: Burn surrounding country under conditions that limit fire encroachment. Allow fire to carry into the edge of these ecosystems. ISSUES: Allow fire to penetrate from surrounding areas when the ground is still moist. |
| Comments | 3.3.10: Vegetation community 3.3.10b is limited in area to minor streamlines. Common along most major rivers and streams. High usage by cattle and frequently weedy. Northward spread of Cryptostegia grandiflora a major threat. 3.3.10a: Common along most major rivers and streams. Weedy forbs such as Passiflora foetida* (stinking passion flower), Mesosphaerum suaveolens (hyptis)*, Achyranthes aspera* (chaff flower), Euphorbia hirta* (asthma plant), Urena lobata* (pink burr) and Crotalaria goreensis* (gambia pea) are often common in the ground layer. Cryptostegia grandiflora* (rubber vine) is commonly found. 3.3.10b: A less common variant of 3.3.10. Along some streams and creeks. 3.3.10c: C.stockeri is likely to be subsp. peninsularis. Restricted to Horn Is., Torres Strait. 3.3.10d: Restricted to Badu Island, Torres Strait. |
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.
