Regional ecosystem details for 8.3.6
| Regional ecosystem | 8.3.6 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 4, 2, 3, (11.14), (1), (6), (5), (11.12) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 66000 ha; Remnant 2021 15000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus tereticornis and/or Corymbia intermedia (or C. clarksoniana) and/or C. tessellaris +/- Lophostemon suaveolens open forest on alluvial levees and lower terraces |
| Structure code | Open Forest |
| Description | Eucalyptus tereticornis, Corymbia intermedia (or C. clarksoniana) and Lophostemon suaveolens open forest to woodland, or C. tessellaris open forest to woodland. Sometimes C. tessellaris or C. intermedia may be dominant. Other, less common species in the canopy may include E. platyphylla, Melaleuca dealbata and M. leucadendra. A very sparse to sparse secondary tree layer is often present and may include Lophostemon suaveolens, Albizia procera, Planchonia careya and Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora. Rainforest species are often present, and sometimes form a mid-dense secondary tree layer. There is sometimes a very sparse to sparse shrub layer, typically including Planchonia careya, Glochidion lobocarpum, Acacia leiocalyx subsp. leiocalyx and Acacia leptocarpa. The ground layer is commonly composed of species such as Imperata cylindrica, Themeda triandra, Sorghum nitidum forma aristatum, Heteropogon triticeus, H. contortus and Eremochloa bimaculata. Occurs on plains, terrace flats, slopes, levees and drainage depressions on level alluvial plains of lowlands. Geologies include Qa, Qf, Qr and Qha (Quaternary sand, gravel, clay, rubble, silt and soil, semi-consolidated in places: mainly alluvium, some colluvium and residual soil, flood-out sheets, small fans, active stream channels and low terraces). Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9e). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 8.3.6a: Eucalyptus tereticornis, Corymbia intermedia (or C. clarksoniana) and Lophostemon suaveolens open forest to woodland, or C. tessellaris open forest to woodland. Eucalyptus tereticornis may sometimes codominate where C. tessellaris is prominent. Other, less common species in the canopy may include E. platyphylla, Melaleuca dealbata, M. leucadendra and Livistona decora. A sparse secondary tree layer is often present and may include Lophostemon suaveolens, Albizia procera, Planchonia careya and sometimes Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora, M. nervosa and Livistona decora. Rainforest species are often present, and sometimes form a mid-dense secondary tree layer. Species include Millettia pinnata, Tabernaemontana orientalis, Larsenaikia jardinei, Cupaniopsis anacardioides, Jagera pseudorhus, Acronychia laevis, Litsea glutinosa, Diospyros geminata and Mallotus philippensis. There is a sparse shrub layer, typically including Planchonia careya, Glochidion lobocarpum, Acacia leptocarpa, Ficus opposita and Timonius timon var. timon. The ground layer is commonly composed of Imperata cylindrica, Sorghum nitidum forma aristatum, Heteropogon triticeus, H. contortus and Lomandra longifolia. Occurs on terrace flats and fans on level alluvial plains of lowlands. Geologies include Qa, Qf and Qha (Quaternary clay, silt, sand, gravel, rubble and soil; mainly alluvium, some colluvium, flood-out sheets, small fans, active stream channels and low terraces). Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9e). 8.3.6c: Eucalyptus tereticornis open woodland to closed forest. Common associated species include Corymbia intermedia and Lophostemon suaveolens. (Occasionally Corymbia intermedia or Lophostemon suaveolens are dominant, and E. tereticornis may occur as an emergent). Other occasional associated species may include E. platyphylla, C. tessellaris and E. crebra. There is often a very sparse to sparse secondary tree layer consisting of species such as Lophostemon suaveolens, Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora, Allocasuarina torulosa and Banksia integrifolia subsp. compar. There is sometimes a very sparse to sparse shrub layer of species such as Acacia leiocalyx subsp. leiocalyx, Planchonia careya, melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora and Acacia crassa subsp. longicoma. The ground layer is mid-dense to very sparse and includes species such as Themeda triandra, Heteropogon triticeus, H. contortus, Imperata cylindrica, Pteridium esculentum, Xanthorrhoea latifolia subsp. latifolia, Arundinella nepalensis and Eremochloa bimaculata. Occurs on plains, terrace flats, slopes, levees and drainage depressions on level alluvial plains of lowlands. Geologies include Qr and Qa (Quaternary clay, silt, sand, gravel and soil; colluvial, residual deposits and floodplain alluvium). Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9e). |
| Supplementary description | Bailey et al. (2003), ETc-3; Brushe et al. (in prep), Map Unit c31, c32, c33; Ryan et al. (2003), Vegetation unit 8TF2 |
| Protected areas | Byfield NP, Dryander NP, West Hill NP, Kelvin FR, Kelvin NP, Keppel Bay Islands NP, Eungella NP, Andromache CP |
| Special values | 8.3.6: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Grevillea venusta. 8.3.6a: Any remnants which are in good condition with minimal weed invasion are considered to be extremely high value as most remnants are heavily invaded by weeds. Known habitat for endangered Red Goshawk and arboreal mammals. 8.3.6c: Habitat for species at the northern limit of their range including Petalostigma triloculare, and Podolepis longipedata, as well as species poorly known in the Central Queensland Coast bioregion such as Acacia leiocalyx subsp. leiocalyx, Acronychia imperforata, Hypoxis pratensis var. pratensis and Lomandra leucocephala subsp. leucocephala. The few areas which remain in good condition within the Shoalwater Bay Training Area are extremely valuable given the long history of clearing, and detrimental effects of grazing on this regional ecosystem overall. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Early winter. INTENSITY: Low to moderate. INTERVAL: 3 - 4 years at a minimum. INTERVAL_MIN: 3. INTERVAL_MAX: 50. STRATEGY: Aim to burn no more that 70 % of any given area preferably less. ISSUES: This ecosystem is poorly known and geographically restricted within the northern part of the bioregion. Control of weeds is a major focus of planned burning in most areas. Careful thought should be given to maintaining ground litter and fallen timber habitats by burning only with sufficient soil moisture. Burning should aim to produce fine scale mosaics of unburnt areas. |
| Comments | 8.3.6a: Very similar to 8.3.6c and most easily distinguished from it by its distribution (8.3.6a occurs in subregions 1,2,3 and 6 whilst 8.3.6c occurs in subregions 4 and 5). The regional ecosystems 8.3.13c and 8.3.13d may be similar but these occur on the interface between alluvial and estuarine (or sand dune) areas. All other E. tereticornis or C. tessellaris dominated regional ecosystems occur on different land zones. Occurs in the northern subregions (1, 2, 3 and 6). Scattered throughout the lowlands from east of Dingo Beach in the north to Mountain View station (20km west of Clairview). Very little remains of this regional ecosystem due to its occurrence on very fertile alluvial soils which have mainly been cleared for agriculture. Many remaining areas are heavily infested with herbaceous weeds, and the few remaining areas in reasonable condition are highly threatened by weed invasion due to the high fertility of the soils. Common weeds include *Hyparrhenia rufa, *Lantana camara, *Triumfetta rhomboidea, *Urena lobata, *Megathyrsus maximus, *Ageratum conyzoides subsp. conyzoides, *Passiflora suberosa, *P. pallida, *Passiflora foetida, *Stylosanthes spp., *Mimosa pudica, *Sporobolus jacquemontii, *Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, *Centrosema molle and *Chamaecrista rotundifolia. 8.3.6c: Very similar to 8.3.6a and most easily distinguished from it by its distribution (8.3.6a occurs in subregions 1,2,3 and 6 whilst 8.3.6c occurs in subregions 4 and 5). The regional ecosystems 8.3.13c and 8.3.13d may be similar but these occur on the interface between alluvial and estuarine (or sand dune) areas. All other Eucalyptus tereticornis or Corymbia tessellaris dominated regional ecosystems occur on different land zones. Occurs throughout subregions 4 and 5 from Pinetrees Point just north of the mouth of Island Head Creek to Yeppoon. Also mapped on the Keppel islands. It is most extensive in an area to the north of Corio Bay. Vulnerable to weed invasion, and some areas are severely impacted. This ecosystem when not cleared, is preferred grazing for cattle and has therefore been subject to past and present moderate to high disturbance from grazing animals. A few examples within the Shoalwater Bay Military Training area remain in excellent condition. Common weeds include *Lantana camara, *Urena lobata, *Passiflora suberosa, *P. pallida, *Triumfetta rhomboidea, *Melinis minutiflora, *Passiflora foetida, *Crotalaria goreensis, *Crotalaria pallida, *Megathyrsus maximus, *Sida cordifolia and *Themeda quadrivalvis. |
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.
