Regional ecosystem details for 3.8.3
| Regional ecosystem | 3.8.3 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Endangered |
| Subregion | 2, 5, 6 |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 6000 ha; Remnant 2021 4000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus leptophleba or Corymbia clarksoniana +/- C. tessellaris woodland on basalt flows |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Eucalyptus leptophleba (Molloy red box) woodland often with Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) and/or C. tessellaris (Moreton Bay ash). Occurs on basalt flows. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 11c). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 3.8.3a: Eucalyptus leptophleba (Molloy red box) woodland with Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) and C. tessellaris (Moreton Bay ash) frequently present. C. clarksoniana can sometimes being dominant. Other Eucalyptus spp. may also be occasionally present. The sub-canopy and shrub layers are very sparse and usually often contain Acacia crassicarpa (spoon tree) and A. flavescens along with canopy species. The ground layer is mid-dense and dominated by the grasses, Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass), Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass). Frequent native forbs are Crotalaria montana, C. calycina and Glycine spp. Occurs on basalt flows. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 11c). 3.8.3b: Corymbia tessellaris and C. clarksoniana woodland to open forest, often with Eucalyptus leptophleba present. Acacia flavescens is usually present with other Acacia spp. common. The very sparse to mid-dense subcanopy is usually dominated by Acacia spp. But also can include canopy species and Ficus spp. The sparse to mid-dense shrublayer contains canopy species with Cycas media often present. The very sparse to dense ground layer is often dominated by Imperata cylindrica (blady grass). Occurs on coastal ranges and lowlands. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9c). |
| Protected areas | Biniirr NP (CYPAL), Daarrba NP (CYPAL) |
| Special values | 3.8.3: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Cucumis costatus, Dendrobium johannis. |
| 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 | 3.8.3: Occurs between Cooktown and Hopevale and on Lava Hill near Port Stewart. Occurs in the Einasleigh Uplands as RE 9.8.2. Mostly cleared for cropping and intensive grazing in the 1960s. Remnants continue to be degraded by weed expansion. 3.8.3a: Naturalised weeds Themeda quadrivalvis (grader grass)*. Crotalaria goreensis* and Mesosphaerum suaveolens* are abundant exotic forbs. 3.8.3b: Mt. Webb area. |
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.
