Regional ecosystem details for 7.3.6
| Regional ecosystem | 7.3.6 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Endangered |
| Wetlands | Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | Endangered |
| Subregion | 1, (3.2), (2), (9), (3), (5) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 2000 ha; Remnant 2021 700 ha |
| Short description | Melaleuca dealbata +/- Melaleuca leucadendra open forest on poorly drained alluvial plains |
| Structure code | Open Forest |
| Description | Melaleuca dealbata (cloudy tea tree) +/- Melaleuca leucadendra (weeping tea tree) open forest. Poorly drained alluvial plains. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 22b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 7.3.6a: Melaleuca dealbata +/- M. leucadendra open forest to woodland. Includes two areas on the north eastern edge of Wharps Holding that are young dense recruiting stands of Melaleuca dealbata which have taken over naturally open areas. The reason for this recruitment is unclear. Alluvial plains and creek levees. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 22b). 7.3.6b: Melaleuca dealbata open forest. Swampy backdune situations on Orpheus Island. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 22b). |
| Supplementary description | Stanton and Stanton (2005), A105, A237; Kemp and Morgan (1999), 48; Kemp et al. (1999), 19; Tracey and Webb (1975), 18 (in part) |
| Protected areas | Halifax Bay Wetlands NP, Gulngay NP, Girramay NP, Orpheus Island NP, Girringun NP |
| Special values | 7.3.6: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Cyperus cephalotes. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Early to mid-dry season. INTENSITY: Low with occasional moderate. INTERVAL: 3-10 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 3. INTERVAL_MAX: 10. STRATEGY: Burn with anticipated rain as it will increase patchiness. Create burn mosaics using progressive burning. Do not deliberately burn submerged swamps but allow fire to carry into their edge. ISSUES: Avoid peat fires and maintain awareness of high biomass grasses which can increase fire intensity and spread. Avoid burning ant plants. |
| Comments | 7.3.6: Alteration to drainage, ponded pasture development, weed invasions and pigs are the major threatening processes. 7.3.6a: Scattered across the full extent of the coastal lowlands of the Wet Tropics. 7.3.6b: Orpheus Island. |
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.
