Regional ecosystem details for 8.5.3
| Regional ecosystem | 8.5.3 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 6, (2), (11.2) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 12000 ha; Remnant 2021 6000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus drepanophylla +/- Corymbia clarksoniana +/- E. platyphylla +/- C. dallachiana +/- Melaleuca viridiflora woodland on broad low rises and gently sloping Tertiary sand plains |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Eucalyptus drepanophylla open woodland to open forest or Eucalyptus drepanophylla, E. platyphylla, Corymbia clarksoniana woodland to open forest. Corymbia dallachiana is a common associated species. Other occasional associated canopy species may include Corymbia dallachiana, Grevillea parallela and Corymbia erythrophloia. There is sometimes a very sparse to mid-dense secondary tree layer of Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora with occasional associated species being Eucalyptus drepanophylla, Corymbia dallachiana, Allocasuarina littoralis, A. luehmannii, Grevillea striata, Melaleuca nervosa, Planchonia careya, Petalostigma banksii, Acacia julifera and Vachellia bidwillii. Shrub layers are very sparse and may include Acacia spp. and Xanthorrhoea johnsonii. The ground layer is very diverse, with many ephemeral species. Dominants may include Eremochloa bimaculata, Chrysopogon fallax, Aristida queenslandica var. queenslandica, Xanthorrhoea johnsonii, Aristida warburgii and Aristida queenslandica var. dissimilis. Occurs on low rises on gently sloping Tertiary plains, dissected and reworked by many minor drainage lines (white sandy surface). Geology is mapped variously as Kh (Hecate Granite) Lower Cretaceous granodiorite, diorite, rhyolite and porphyry, To (Tertiary coarse clayey sandstone, sandy claystone, coarse argillaceous sandstone and sandy siltstone) and Qa (Quaternary alluvium, some colluvium and residual soil). Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13c). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 8.5.3a: Eucalyptus drepanophylla open woodland to open forest. Corymbia dallachiana is sometimes codominant or dominant in the canopy, whilst C. clarksoniana is an occasional associated species. There is frequently a very sparse to mid-dense secondary tree layer of Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora with occasional associated species being Eucalyptus drepanophylla, Corymbia dallachiana, Allocasuarina littoralis, A. luehmannii, Grevillea striata, Melaleuca nervosa and Vachellia bidwillii. Lower tree and shrub layers are frequently present but very sparse, frequently consisting of Acacia leptocarpa, A. julifera, A. leptostachya, A. simsii, Planchonia careya and Coelospermum reticulatum. The ground layer is variable, with dominants one or several of Eremochloa bimaculata, Chrysopogon fallax, Aristida queenslandica var. queenslandica, Xanthorrhoea johnsonii (or this may be part of a lower shrub layer), Themeda triandra, Heteropogon triticeus and Mnesithea rottboellioides. During the wet season, ephemeral species such as Schizachyrium spp. may dominate. Occurs on Tertiary sand plains and fans on broad low rises, gently sloping or undulating plains, to undulating rises of lowlands. Geology is To (Tertiary coarse clayey sandstone, sandy claystone, coarse argillaceous sandstone and sandy siltstone), with underlying geology including Kh (Hecate Granite) Lower Cretaceous granodiorite, diorite, rhyolite and porphyry. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13c). 8.5.3b: Eucalyptus drepanophylla, E. platyphylla, Corymbia clarksoniana woodland to open forest. Occasional associated species may include Corymbia dallachiana, Grevillea parallela and Corymbia erythrophloia. There are often very sparse to sparse secondary tree layers, with typical species including Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora (sometimes dominated by this species), Melaleuca nervosa, Planchonia careya, Petalostigma banksii, Acacia julifera, Allocasuarina luehmannii, Persoonia falcata and Grevillea parallela. A very sparse shrub layer may occasionally present, including species such as Xanthorrhoea johnsonii and Acacia leptocarpa. The ground layer is diverse, and dominants may include Aristida warburgii, Aristida queenslandica var. dissimilis, Eremochloa bimaculata, Chrysopogon fallax, Heteropogon contortus, Mnesithea rottboellioides and Xanthorrhoea johnsonii. During the wet season, ephemeral species such as Schizachyrium spp. may dominate. Occurs on sloping, dissected Tertiary plains on gently sloping to undulating rises of lowlands. Often has alluvial influence. Geology is mapped as To (Tertiary coarse clayey sandstone, sandy claystone, coarse argillaceous sandstone and sandy siltstone), and the underlying geology may be mapped as Kh (Hecate Granite) Lower Cretaceous granodiorite, diorite and rhyolite or PKg (Lower Permian or Lower Cretaceous leucogranite and microgranite). Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13c). |
| Supplementary description | Batianoff, Dillewaard and Franks (1997), Vegetation unit 26 |
| Protected areas | Cape Palmerston NP, Dryander NP |
| Special values | 8.5.3a: The ground layer includes some species which are poorly known in the Central Queensland Coast, such as Eriachne glauca var. glauca, Phyllanthus simplex, Thaumastochloa major and Vigna sp. (Station Creek R.J.Lawn CQ3284). Potential habitat for the significant species Eulophia bicallosa and Habenaria xanthantha which are all listed as "Near Threatened" in the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992. Habitat for southern subspecies of the Squatter Pigeon which is listed as "Vulnerable" in the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992. 8.5.3b: This vegetation unit has a diverse ground layer. Potential habitat for the near threatened species Eulophia bicallosa and Habenaria xanthantha. Habitat for southern subspecies of the Squatter Pigeon which is listed as "Vulnerable" in the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992. |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. ISSUES: Generally, drier climate and low fertility precludes large fuel accumulations. Any fire applied should be considered experimental. |
| Comments | 8.5.3a: 8.5.3b is similar but occurs in areas with more alluvial influence and usually has Eucalyptus platyphylla as a dominant or co-dominant, and Planchonia careya is more common in the lower tree or shrub layers. Distinguished from other land zone 5 regional ecosystems by the dominance of E. drepanophylla. Mainly occurs in subregion 6 but also in subregion 2. Mapped in lowland areas from Dingo Creek (just south of Dingo Beach), to White Cliffs (20km south-east of Bowen), and south to Andromache River (west of Lethebrook). Also found near Cape Palmerston. A large proportion of this vegetation community is in poor condition, with fragmentation and various forms of mechanical disturbance and probably grazing assisting the spread of weeds. The worst weeds are *Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, *Bothriochloa pertusa and *Stylosanthes spp, with other serious weed species including *Sporobolus jacquemontii, *Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, *Sida rhombifolia and *Sida cordifolia. 8.5.3b: 8.5.3a is similar but occurs in slightly higher areas with no recent alluvial influence and Eucalyptus platyphylla is much rarer. Also Planchonia careya is very rare or absent in the lower tree or shrub layers in 8.5.3a. Distinguished from other land zone 5 regional ecosystems by the dominance, co-dominance or subdominance of E. drepanophylla and/or E. platyphylla and its occurrence in the far north of the bioregion. Occurs only in subregion 6, in lowlands, from White Cliffs (20km south-east of Bowen) east to Dingo Creek (south-east of Cape Gloucester) , and west to the Clarke Range lowlands surrounding Proserpine Dam. A large proportion of this vegetation community is in poor condition, with fragmentation and various forms of mechanical disturbance and probably grazing assisting the spread of weeds. The worst weeds are *Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, *Bothriochloa pertusa and *Stylosanthes spp, with other serious weed species including *Sporobolus jacquemontii, *Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, *Sida rhombifolia and *Sida cordifolia. |
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.
