Regional ecosystem details for 8.8.1
| Regional ecosystem | 8.8.1 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 3 |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 3000 ha; Remnant 2021 2000 ha |
| Short description | Evergreen notophyll to complex notophyll vine forest of uplands and highlands, on basalt |
| Structure code | Closed Forest |
| Description | Evergreen notophyll to complex notophyll vine forest. High rainfall examples are complex, and dominated by species such as Acmena resa, Argyrodendron actinophyllum subsp. diversifolium, Syzygium wesa, Archontophoenix cunninghamiana, Cryptocarya corrugata, Litsea leefeana and Cinnamomum oliveri, whilst lower rainfall examples tend to be less complex and dominated by Argyrodendron actinophyllum subsp. diversifolium, A. polyandrum, Cryptocarya hypospodia, Dendrocnide photiniphylla, Cryptocarya bidwillii, Diospyros pentamera and Podocarpus elatus. Epiphytes are very common, especially in the high rainfall areas, and include Asplenium australasicum, Dendrobium speciosum and Platycerium bifurcatum. Vines often include Elaeagnus triflora, Jasminum dallachii, Melodinus australis, Cissus antarctica and Pandorea jasminoides. A sparse shrub layer may be present, with species including Cordyline murchisoniae, Psychotria loniceroides, Steganthera laxiflora, Tapeinosperma pseudojambosa, Wilkiea macrophylla, Alyxia ruscifolia and Tasmannia insipida. The ground layer is usually sparse, with species including Adiantum formosum, Oplismenus imbecillis, Blechnum cartilagineum, Lastreopsis tenera, Adiantum aethiopicum, Alpinia caerulea and Arachniodes aristata. Occurs on upper slopes, ridges, crests, scarps and plateaus on steep mountains of uplands and highlands of the cloudy moist to the very dry rainfall zones (<1300-2000mm per annum). Geology mapped as Tb (Mostly Tertiary olivine basalt; some areas of nephelinite, basanite etc) and Tv (Early Tertiary trachyte, rhyolite, dacite and andesite flows and volcaniclastic rocks; some plugs and dykes). Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 5b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 8.8.1a: Evergreen complex notophyll feather palm vine forest. Emergents include Acmena resa, Argyrodendron actinophyllum subsp. diversifolium and Syzygium wesa. The canopy commonly consists of Archontophoenix cunninghamiana, Argyrodendron actinophyllum subsp. diversifolium, Cryptocarya corrugata and Litsea leefeana. Other associated canopy species, which sometimes dominate, include Cinnamomum oliveri, Elaeocarpus foveolatus, Cryptocarya angulata, Cryptocarya macdonaldii, Sloanea macbrydei, Elaeocarpus ruminatus, Endiandra muelleri subsp. bracteata, Acronychia acidula, Acmena resa, Syzygium wesa and Elaeocarpus largiflorens. Epiphytes are very common and include Asplenium australasicum, Dendrobium speciosum and Platycerium bifurcatum. Typical vines are Elaeagnus triflora, Jasminum dallachii, Melodinus australis, Parsonsia ventricosa, Cissus antarctica and Cissus penninervis. Lower tree layers may include Archontophoenix cunninghamiana, Acronychia acidula, Syzygium cryptophlebium, Cryptocarya densiflora, Dendrocnide photiniphylla, Elaeocarpus foveolatus and Litsea leefeana. The shrub or lowest tree layer often includes Cordyline murchisoniae, Psychotria loniceroides, Steganthera laxiflora, Tapeinosperma pseudojambosa, Wilkiea macrophylla, Alpinia caerulea and Tasmannia insipida. Common ground layer species are Arachniodes aristata, Blechnum cartilagineum, Lastreopsis tenera and Nephrolepis cordifolia. Occurs on upper slopes, ridges, crests and plateaus on steep mountains of uplands and highlands of the cloudy moist rainfall zone (1600-2000mm per annum, plus cloud). Geology mapped as Tb (Mostly Tertiary olivine basalt; some areas of nephelinite, basanite etc) and Tv (Early Tertiary trachyte, rhyolite, dacite and andesite flows and volcaniclastic rocks; some plugs and dykes). Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 5b). 8.8.1b: Evergreen notophyll vine forest. Emergents may include Argyrodendron actinophyllum subsp. diversifolium, A. polyandrum and Cryptocarya hypospodia. The canopy commonly consists of A. actinophyllum subsp. diversifolium, A. polyandrum, Cryptocarya hypospodia, Dendrocnide photiniphylla, Cryptocarya bidwillii, Diospyros pentamera and Podocarpus elatus. Common epiphytes are Dendrobium speciosum, Pyrrosia confluens and Asplenium australasicum. Lower tree layers may include Podocarpus elatus, Cryptocarya bidwillii, C. macdonaldii, Arytera divaricata, Baloghia inophylla, Diospyros pentamera, Hodgkinsonia ovatiflora and Dendrocnide photiniphylla. Vines are common, such as Cissus antarctica, Pandorea jasminoides and Tetrastigma nitens. A very sparse shrub layer includes species such as Cleistanthus cunninghamii, Arytera divaricata, Alyxia ruscifolia, Myrsine variabilis, Wilkiea macrophylla and Tapeinosperma pseudojambosa. The ground layer is usually sparse, typically including Adiantum formosum, Oplismenus imbecillis, Adiantum aethiopicum, Alpinia caerulea, Arachniodes aristata and Cordyline murchisoniae. Occurs on upper slopes, ridges and scarps on steep mountains of uplands and highlands of the very dry rainfall zone (<1300mm per annum). Geology mapped as Tb (Mostly Tertiary olivine basalt; some areas of nephelinite, basanite etc) and Tv (Early Tertiary trachyte, rhyolite, dacite and andesite flows and volcaniclastic rocks; some plugs and dykes). Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 2a). |
| Supplementary description | McDonald (1995), Group 9 (in part), 11 |
| Protected areas | Crediton FR, Homevale NP |
| Special values | 8.8.1a: A naturally restricted regional ecosystem on highly fertile soils. Has a high species richness of orchids (>30 species). Habitat for the Eungella Honeyeater (listed as "Near Threatened" in the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992) and Taudactylus spp (listed as "Endangered" or "Near Threatened" in the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992). Habitat for the near threatened species Sarcotoechia heterophylla. Southern limit of the range of Acmena resa and Syzygium wesa. Habitat for plant species restricted to high altitudes and otherwise rare in the Central Queensland Coast such as Syzygium wesa, Archontophoenix cunninghamiana, Elaeocarpus foveolatus, Cryptocarya corrugata, Acronychia acidula, Cryptocarya angulata, Gmelina leichhardtii, Ackama paniculosa, Citronella moorei, Jasminum dallachii, Parsonsia ventricosa, Pothos brownii, Sarcotoechia heterophylla and many more. 8.8.1b: A naturally highly restricted regional ecosystem, on very fertile soils. Marginal habitat for species restricted to high altitudes and otherwise rare in the Central Queensland Coast such as Archontophoenix cunninghamiana and Jasminum dallachii. |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. ISSUES: Fire sensitive. |
| Comments | 8.8.1a: Related to 8.8.1b which is also on basalt, but distinguished by occurring in a higher rainfall area (approximately 1800mm as opposed to 1100mm) and also by the common presence of species such as Syzygium wesa, Acmena resa, Cryptocarya corrugata and Archontophoenix cunninghamiana, which are uncommon or absent in 8.12.1b. Occurs in subregion 3. Mapped in the Credition area of the Clarke Range, south-east of Eungella. Most examples which haven't been cleared, have been logged in the past. Threatened by climate change. Fire is a threat in dry years or where the vegetation is already disturbed. 8.8.1b: Related to 8.8.1a which is also on basalt, but distinguished by occurring in a lower rainfall area (approximately 1100mm as opposed to 1800mm) and also by the absence or rarity of species such as Syzygium wesa, Acmena resa, Cryptocarya corrugata and Archontophoenix cunninghamiana, which are common in 8.12.1a. Occurs in Subregion 3, in the Denham Range approximately 15km south of Credition. Has been logged, and some areas are invaded by Lantana camara. Fire is a threat in dry years or where the vegetation is already disturbed (especially when invaded by Lantana camara). |
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.
