Regional ecosystem details for 7.3.21
| Regional ecosystem | 7.3.21 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 2, 1, (5), (6), (8), (11.1), (7), (3), (9.4) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 6000 ha; Remnant 2021 4000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus portuensis +/- Corymbia intermedia open forest to woodland on alluvium on alluvial fans at the base of ranges |
| Structure code | Open Forest |
| Description | Eucalyptus portuensis (white mahogany) +/- Corymbia intermedia (pink bloodwood) open forest to woodland on alluvium. Alluvium on gently to moderately sloping lowland alluvial fans of well-drained soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9d). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 7.3.21a: Eucalyptus portuensis, Corymbia intermedia +/- E. drepanophylla +/- E. platyphylla +/- E. tereticornis +/- C. tessellaris +/- Lophostemon suaveolens +/- Syncarpia glomulifera open forest to woodland. May include small areas of Acacia leptostachya dominated communities. Alluvial fans of lowlands, of the wet and moist rainfall zones. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9d). 7.3.21b: Eucalyptus portuensis +/- E. drepanophylla +/- Corymbia intermedia +/- Lophostemon suaveolens low to medium woodland, with Melaleuca viridiflora, Acacia flavescens and Allocasuarina littoralis. Alluvial fans of lowlands, of the wet and moist rainfall zones. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9d). 7.3.21c: Corymbia intermedia, Eucalyptus portuensis, E. drepanophylla +/- E. platyphylla +/- C. tessellaris +/- E. tereticornis +/- Syncarpia glomulifera +/- Lophostemon suaveolens +/- L. confertus woodland to low woodland, with Xanthorrhoea johnsonii and Cycas media. Alluvial fans of lowlands, of the wet and moist rainfall zones. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9d). |
| Supplementary description | Stanton and Stanton (2005), A15b, A131, A16d, A16m in part (and Qld Herbarium and WTMA (2005) A16mb); Kemp and Morgan (1999), 39; Tracey and Webb (1975), 15b, 16d |
| Protected areas | Girringun NP, Hinchinbrook Island NP, Paluma Range NP, Grey Peaks NP, Girramay NP |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Cool, dry season (June-Sep). b: April-Sep. c: Begin burning after the wet season (April-May), but avoid hot, dry season unless a high intensity fire is required to manage thickening, then undertake storm burn. INTENSITY: Low to moderate. c: Low, with occasional moderate or high intensity to manage thickening and/or stimulate germination. INTERVAL: 2-5 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 2. INTERVAL_MAX: 5. STRATEGY: Mosaic burn < 30%. Begin burning early in the fire season, with progressive patch fires burnt through the year. Stop burning when the network of fires and other breaks is sufficient to impede fire spread later in the year. Storm-burning may be used to add further diversity to the fire mosaic. c: Mosaic burn 25-60%. Begin burning early in the fire season, with progressive patch fires burnt through the year. Stop burning when the network of fires and other breaks is sufficient to impede fire spread later in the year. Storm-burning may be used to add further diversity to fire mosaic, promote perennial grasses and arrest woody thickening. ISSUES: Ignition is most likely during hot, dry season (Oct - Jan). These fires are typically high intensity fires that can be difficult to control. Maintaining a fire mosaic will ensure protection of animal habitats and mitigate against wildfires. b: An occasional moderate severity fire may be used to manage overabundant recruitment of trees. c: In the absence of fire an abundance of rainforest pioneers (e.g., Melastoma spp., Chionanthus ramiflora, Mallotus philippensis, Alyxia spicata and Glochidion spp.) and bracken fern can establish. This development can be rapid (within about 15 years) after which system change is difficult to reverse. Thickening with rainforest species can be detrimental to habitat trees and endangered species. Where fire is more common the understorey is usually dominated by tall grasses (e.g., Themeda triandra and Eriachne pallescens), herbaceous plants, lilies and sedges (e.g., Tricoryne anceps, Gonocarpus acanthocarpus, Lomandra longifolia, Dianella caerulea). |
| Comments | 7.3.21: In this RE the E. portuensis tends to be of taller stature and the ecosystem is less monospecific than 7.3.48 (and occurs in eastern rather than western areas). Bases of ranges from Bluewater to Port Douglas. |
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.
