Regional ecosystem details for 3.5.5
| Regional ecosystem | 3.5.5 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 4, 3 |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 12000 ha; Remnant 2021 12000 ha |
| Short description | Corymbia novoguinensis +/- C. tessellaris woodland on sand plains on northern Cape York Peninsula |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Woodland to open forest of Corymbia novoguinensis often with Acacia crassicarpa (spoon tree), Lophostemon suaveolens (swamp mahogany) and Parinari nonda (nonda plum). C. nesophila (Melville Island bloodwood), C. tessellaris (Moreton Bay ash) and C. clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) can also occur as dominants. The sparse to open subcanopy can include Melaleuca viridiflora (broad-leaved teatree), Syzygium suborbiculare (white apple) and Livistona muelleri (cabbage palm) as well as canopy species. The sparse shrublayer can include a range of species but usually includes A. crassicarpa, Alyxia spicata (chain fruit) and canopy species. In some areas Cycas media is prominent in the shrub layer. The mid-dense groundlayer is usually dominated by Heteropogon spp. (spear grass), Aristida spp. or Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum). Occurs on sandplains and remnant Tertiary surfaces. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9c). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 3.5.5a: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.5.5. Corymbia novoguinensis dominates the sparse canopy (13-23m tall), with C. tessellaris (Moreton Bay ash) usually present and sometimes codominant. Scattered C. nesophila (Melville Island bloodwood) and Lophostemon suaveolens (swamp mahogany) frequently occur in the canopy. A sparse sub-canopy tree layer (8-15m tall) is usually present and dominated by the Eucalyptus spp., Acacia spp. or Melaleuca viridiflora (broad-leaved paperbark). These species also are frequent in the sparse shrub layer (0.3-1.5m tall). The mid-dense, tall ground layer is usually dominated by Heteropogon triticeus, Aristida spp., Glycine tomentella, Cymbopogon bombycinus and Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum). Occurs on low hills and sandplains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9e). 3.5.5b: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is not mapped. Corymbia nesophila (Melville Island bloodwood) dominates the sparse to mid-dense canopy (9-16m tall). C. novoguinensis (bloodwood) frequently is present as a subdominant canopy tree. Scattered Neofabricia myrtifolia (yellow teatree) are frequently present. The very sparse sub-canopy tree layer (6-10m tall) is composed mainly of C. nesophila trees. The shrub layer (0.5-3m tall) is sparse. Common species in this layer are Dalbergia densa, Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood), C. nesophila, Lomandra banksii (matrush) and Neofabricia myrtifolia (yellow teatree). The ground layer is sparse. Alloteropsis semialata (Cockatoo grass), Mnesithea rottboellioides (northern cane grass), Lomandra spp. and Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum) are the principal species in this layer. Corymbia nesophila +/- C. novoguinensis +/- Eucalyptus spp. woodland sandplains near coast. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9e). |
| Protected areas | Apudthama NP (CYPAL), Jardine River NP |
| Special values | 3.5.5: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Cycas semota, Dendrobium bigibbum. |
| 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: 1-5 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 1. 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 | 3.5.5: Occurs on northern Cape York Peninsula and Torres Strait islands. 3.5.5a: Tip of Cape York Peninsula and Torres Strait Islands. 3.5.5b: North-east coast. |
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.
