Regional ecosystem details for 7.3.7
| Regional ecosystem | 7.3.7 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Endangered |
| Wetlands | Contains Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | Endangered |
| Subregion | 3, 2, 9, (8), (7) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 9000 ha; Remnant 2021 1000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus pellita and Corymbia intermedia open forest to woodland (or vine forest with emergent E. pellita and C. intermedia) on poorly drained alluvial plains |
| Structure code | Open Forest |
| Description | Eucalyptus pellita (red stringybark) and Corymbia intermedia (pink bloodwood) open forest to woodland (or vine forest with emergent E. pellita and C. intermedia). Poorly drained alluvial plains. Contains Palustrine. (BVG1M: 9e). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 7.3.7a: Eucalyptus pellita and Corymbia intermedia open forest and woodland. Poorly drained alluvium, including seasonal swamps. Contains Palustrine. (BVG1M: 9e). 7.3.7b: Eucalyptus pellita and Corymbia intermedia open forest and woodland, with a very well-developed vine forest understorey. Poorly drained alluvium, including seasonal swamps. Contains Palustrine. (BVG1M: 9e). 7.3.7c: Corymbia intermedia, Eucalyptus pellita, Lophostemon suaveolens and Melaleuca dealbata open forest and woodland. Poorly drained alluvium. Contains Palustrine. (BVG1M: 9e). |
| Supplementary description | Stanton and Stanton (2005), A80, A80v, A119; Kemp and Morgan (1999), 25; Tracey and Webb (1975), 19 |
| Protected areas | Maria Creek NP, Mount Mackay NP, Hull River NP, Djiru NP, Daintree NP (CYPAL), Gulngay NP, Girramay NP, Kuranda NP, Daintree NP |
| Special values | 7.3.7: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Hedyotis novoguineensis. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: 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, 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 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: 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 | 7.3.7: This regional ecosystem has been narrowed in definition to represent the Eucalyptus pellita dominated component of the formerly described ecosystem. Very little remains of this regional ecosystem, with only approximately half of the remaining in protected tenures. 7.3.7a: Coastal areas from Cardwell to Cape Tribulation. 7.3.7b: Coastal areas from Cardwell to Cape Tribulation. Well-developed vine forest understorey is probably a condition state caused by infrequent burning. 7.3.7c: Eastern parts of the Tully-Murray floodplain. |
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.
