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Regional ecosystem details for 7.3.23

Regional ecosystem 7.3.23
Vegetation Management Act class Endangered
Wetlands Contains Riverine
Biodiversity status Endangered
Subregion 1, 3, 8, 9, (2), (7), (5), (6), (3.2)
Estimated extent1 Pre-clearing 15000 ha; Remnant 2021 4000 ha
Short description Simple-complex semi-deciduous notophyll to mesophyll vine forest on lowland alluvium, predominantly riverine levees
Structure code Closed Forest
Description Simple-complex semi-deciduous notophyll to mesophyll vine forest on lowland alluvium. Lowland alluvium, predominantly creek and river levees. Contains Riverine. (BVG1M: 4b).

Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include:
7.3.23a: Simple-complex semi-deciduous notophyll to mesophyll vine forest. Lowlands on alluvium, predominantly riverine levees, of the moist and dry rainfall zones. Riverine. (BVG1M: 4b).
7.3.23b: Semi-deciduous vine forest with Nauclea orientalis, Cryptocarya hypospodia and Castanospermum australe. Outwash plains of lowlands, of the wet rainfall zone. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 4b).
7.3.23c: Complex Notophyll vine forest with emergent Argyrodendron polyandrum, Corymbia torelliana, Acacia celsa and A. mangium. Canopy species include Elaeocarpus grandis, Antidesma bunius, Grevillea baileyana, Flindersia pimenteliana and Alstonia muelleriana. Upland alluvium - creek levee of Rifle Creek in the Rumula area. Riverine. (BVG1M: 4b).
7.3.23d: Glochidion harveyanum, Melicope elleryana open woodland to closed forest, with a ground-stratum dominated by Imperata cylindrica (former grassland which has been encroached by woody species). Moderately to well-drained alluvial plains. Riverine. (BVG1M: 32a).
Supplementary description Stanton and Stanton (2005), A124, A1c, A211; Kemp et al. (1999) 48; Tracey and Webb (1975), 1c
Protected areas Girringun NP, Kuranda NP, Wooroonooran NP, Kamerunga CP, Hinchinbrook Island NP, Little Mulgrave NP, Kuranda West FR, Paluma Range NP, Daintree NP (CYPAL), Malbon Thompson FR
Special values 7.3.23: Associated with watercourses, and provides important rainforest wildlife corridors and linkages within a matrix of open forest and woodland communities or in cleared landscapes. The regional ecosystem has important water quality, fire break and erosion prevention benefits.
Fire management guidelines INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Do not burn deliberately. Limit fire encroachment from adjacent ecosystems by burning when conditions are favourable. Burn away from edges. ISSUES: Typically unlikely to burn owing to lack of flammable grasses. Occasional high intensity fires along fringes, particularly on hillslopes, may lead to loss of rainforest at edges. Low intensity burns away from rainforest edge can be used to protect margins, when humidity and soil moisture are high. Where appropriate, use revegetation of rainforest species to provide buffer to cleared areas. Occasional high intensity fires in adjoining communities may be required to prevent expansion of rainforest elements.
Comments 7.3.23: This rainforest type occurs on deeper and/or more fertile soils than 7.3.10 (Stanton and Stanton (2005) A2a). It generally receives lower rainfall (or less seasonally-even rainfall) than 7.3.17 (Stanton and Stanton (2005) A1a). Predominantly the drier northern and southern extremes of the bioregion. In many areas this RE has been reduced to discontinuous strips along stream banks, and the RE is usually severely altered in structure and species composition. Fire damage is sometimes a problem along edges. 7.3.23d: Invasive species such as Spathodea campanulata, Psidium guajava and Psidium cattleianum are often present. This is a transitional vegetation community from 7.3.32a which has developed recently, possibly due to cessation of burning.

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.

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Licence
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Last updated
16 November 2023