Regional ecosystem details for 7.8.2
| Regional ecosystem | 7.8.2 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 4, 7, (3), (6) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 52000 ha; Remnant 2021 21000 ha |
| Short description | Complex mesophyll vine forest of high rainfall, cloudy uplands on basalt, including small areas of wind-sheared notophyll vine forest on ridgelines |
| Structure code | Closed Forest |
| Description | Complex mesophyll vine forest. Ridgelines and exposed areas may support stunted, wind-sheared notophyll vine forest. High rainfall, cloudy uplands on basaltic krasnozem and euchrozems. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 1b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 7.8.2a: Complex mesophyll vine forest. Uplands of the very wet and wet cloudy rainfall zones. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 1b). 7.8.2b: Complex mesophyll vine forest recovering from disturbance, with Acacia celsa canopy or emergents. Uplands of the very wet and wet cloudy rainfall zones. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 5d). 7.8.2c: Low notophyll vine forest with wind-shearing evident. A community of simple structure, with species composition determined by exposure, shallow soils, and severe drainage. Ridge crests, very steep slopes, and areas of shallow soil. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 5d). |
| Supplementary description | Stanton and Stanton (2005), B1b, B1b(a), B31; Tracey and Webb (1975), 1b |
| Protected areas | Wooroonooran NP, Tully Falls NP, Gadgarra NP, Crater Lakes NP, Tully Gorge NP, Danbulla NP, Danbulla South FR, Japoon NP, Topaz Road NP, Malanda Falls CP, Gadgarra FR, Tully Falls FR |
| Special values | 7.8.2: Habitat for threatened species including: Chingia australis, Asplenium unilaterale, Cupaniopsis cooperorum, Aceratium sericoleopsis, Argyrodendron sp. (Boonjie B.P.Hyland RFK2139), Austromuellera trinervia, Mammea touriga, Peripentadenia mearsii, Pseuduvaria hylandii. Restricted endemics include: Actephila vernicosa, Tetrardisia bifaria, Garcinia gibbsiae, Melodorum topazense and Syzygium erythrocalyx. Also habitat for uncommon/poorly known species including Beilschmiedia volckii. Some of the areas dominated by Blepharocarya involucrigera are of particular historic interest as it is a possibility they have been created by indigenous activities in pre-European times. Habitat for tree kangaroos. |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Do not burn deliberately. Mosaic burning in surrounding fire-adapted ecosystems will minimise spread and severity of wildfire during severe weather events. ISSUES: Occasional hot fires in adjoining communities may be required to prevent expansion of rainforest elements. Edges are generally self-protecting but back burning from rainforest edges may be desirable. The occurrence of high biomass grasses in or adjacent to rainforest may detrimentally affect rainforest during fire events associated with dry weather. |
| Comments | 7.8.2: The dominant soil regional ecosystems are krasnozems while euchrozem soil types are found in association with basaltic scoria and cinder cones. Trees may occasionally reach 55 m in height. Areas of Blepharocarya although apparently disturbed communities, appear to be natural disturbance or man-made during pre-European times. Floristically very species rich. Uplands from Tully Falls to Tinaroo Dam (central and western Atherton Tablelands). This RE was heavily and selectively cleared on the Atherton Tableland for agricultural purposes due both to its inherent fertility and the gentle terrain on which it is found. Many of the remaining remnant patches have very low levels of integrity due to invasion by exotic species or by long-term persistence of vines such as Calamus spp. (lawyer cane). Most areas within state forests have been heavily logged. Much of this regional ecosystem is in a highly fragmented state. |
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.
