Regional ecosystem details for 9.3.10
| Regional ecosystem | 9.3.10 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 5, (4), (2), (6) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 77000 ha; Remnant 2021 76000 ha |
| Short description | Melaleuca bracteata low closed forest +/- Eucalyptus spp. emergents or vine thicket species on swamps in basalt plains |
| Structure code | Low Closed Forest |
| Description | Low closed forest to woodland of Melaleuca bracteata. Occurs on swamps and occasionally along creek lines on basalt geologies. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 21b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 9.3.10a: Low woodland to low open forest of Melaleuca bracteata (black teatree) +/- Casuarina cunninghamiana (river sheoak) +/- Eucalyptus leptophleba (Molloy red box) +/- Eucalyptus spp. +/- Corymbia spp. emergents or vine scrub species. The shrub layer varies from absent, to a continuum with M. bracteata and dry rainforest species where these are present. The ground layer is dominated by tussock grasses such as Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass), Eragrostis spp. and Eulalia aurea (silky browntop) or Cyperaceae spp. (sedges). This community is very variable in structure and can also occur as small clumps of trees in association with the grassland regional ecosystem 9.3.27 or as a dense sub-canopy layer of M. bracteata under a dominant canopy of Casuarina cunninghamiana. Occurs on or fringing swamps and springs on basalt. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 21b). 9.3.10b: Low open forest to open forest of Melaleuca bracteata (black teatree) +/- Lysiphyllum carronii (Queensland ebony). The shrub layer varies from absent to scattered canopy species. The ground layer can contain a range of graminoid and sedge species. Occurs along creek lines in basalt. Riverine. (BVG1M: 21b). |
| Protected areas | Undara Volcanic NP, Mount Rosey RR, Blackbraes NP, Porcupine Gorge NP, Kinrara NP, Great Basalt Wall NP |
| Special values | 9.3.10: Springs associated with this ecosystem are significant for local fauna and may support endemic flora. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Do not burn deliberately. INTENSITY: Can occasionally tolerate low intensity fire. INTERVAL: Fire return interval flexible. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Manage surrounding country when soil moisture is high; allow fire to occasionally carry into melaleuca community. ISSUES: Fringing forest can be damaged by fire. |
| Comments | 9.3.10: Occurs in the central and southern bioregion. Subject to invasive weed species Cryptostegia grandiflora (rubber vine), Themeda quadrivalvis (grader grass), Vachellia farnesiana (mimosa), Melinis repens (Red Natal grass), Passiflora foetida (stinking passionflower) and Malvastrum americanum (spiked Malvastrum). These are groundwater discharge areas associated with salinity risk. Associated springs are subject to high total grazing pressure and can be considered endangered. 9.3.10a: Occurs in the central and southern bioregion. 9.3.10b: Occurs in the central and southern bioregion. |
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.
