Regional ecosystem details for 9.8.1
| Regional ecosystem | 9.8.1 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 5, (4), (2), (2.9), (10.2), (10.3), (10.1), (4.6), (6), (1) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 1107000 ha; Remnant 2021 1096000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus crebra +/- Corymbia dallachiana +/- E. leptophleba open woodland on plains and rocky rises of basalt geologies |
| Structure code | Open Woodland |
| Description | Open woodland to woodland of Eucalyptus crebra (narrow-leaved ironbark) +/- Corymbia dallachiana (Dallachy's gum) +/- C. erythrophloia (red bloodwood). E. leptophleba (Molloy red box) sometimes occurs as a dominant. The mid-layer is generally absent but an open sub-canopy or shrub layer sometimes occurs. Occurs on basalt plains and rocky basalt plains and hills with varying depths of soil. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 11b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 9.8.1a: Open woodland to woodland of Eucalyptus crebra (narrow-leaved ironbark) +/- Corymbia erythrophloia (red bloodwood) +/- C. dallachiana (Dallachy's gum) +/- Corymbia spp. +/- Eucalyptus spp. A sub-canopy can occur and include canopy species, Bursaria incana (prickly pine) and Erythrina vespertilio (batswing coral tree). The shrub layer ranges from absent to patches of shrubs including Denhamia cunninghamii (yellowberry bush), B. incana, Carissa lanceolata (currantbush), and Grevillea parallela (silver oak). The ground layer is dense and generally dominated by Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass), Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) and H. triticeus (giant speargrass). Occurs on basalt plains and rocky basalt plains and hills with varying depths of soil. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 11b). 9.8.1b: Open woodland to woodland of Eucalyptus leptophleba (Molloy red box) +/- C. erythrophloia (red bloodwood) +/- Corymbia dallachiana (Dallachy's gum). An open sub-canopy layer containing canopy species can occur. The shrub layer is usually absent but scattered species including Planchonia careya (cocky apple), Denhamia cunninghamii (yellowberry bush) and Carissa lanceolata (currantbush) can occur. The ground layer is dense and grassy and dominated by Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass) and Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass). Occurs on basalt plains and rocky basalt plains and hills with varying depths of soil. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 11c). 9.8.1c: Woodland to open woodland of Eucalyptus cullenii (Cullen's ironbark) +/- Corymbia erythrophloia (red bloodwood) +/- Terminalia platyptera (yellow-wood). Occurs as small patches on basalt soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 11c). 9.8.1d: Open woodland of Corymbia terminalis (western bloodwood) +/- C. dallachiana (Dallachy's gum). There can also be an open sub-canopy layer which can include Atalaya hemiglauca (whitewood), Terminalia aridicola (arid peach) and/or Santalum lanceolatum (sandalwood). Shrubs present may include Eremophila spp., Acacia spp. and Carissa lanceolata (currantbush). There is a sparse grassy cover. This community may contain small patches where the canopy layer disappears. Occurs on basalt plains on plateaus. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 11c). |
| Protected areas | Undara Volcanic NP, Blackbraes NP, Mount Rosey RR, Great Basalt Wall NP, Porcupine Gorge NP, Kinrara NP, White Mountains NP, Moonstone Hill RR, Kennedy Road Gravel RR, Dalrymple NP, Forty Mile Scrub NP, Girringun NP |
| Special values | 9.8.1: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Cycas cairnsiana, Cycas desolata. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Early dry season and storm time. Timing of early dry season burns will vary depending on seasonal conditions; it may sometimes commence as early as March. INTENSITY: Low, with occasional moderate. INTERVAL: 2-5 year intervals with longer unburnt patches. Fuel loads tend to reach a maximum after 2-3 years. Ensure burn programs occur after big wet season as fuel loads will be higher than average. INTERVAL_MIN: 2. INTERVAL_MAX: 5. STRATEGY: Burn less than 40% across the landscape in any year. Burning through the early dry season will produce a network of burns that will contain later fires. Fires will only gain in intensity as the dry season progresses. Grass composition can be affected by timing and intensity of fire. Occasional moderate fire will help to reduce overabundant trees that could potentially suppress ground layer vegetation. ISSUES: Leave areas of long unburnt vegetation to maintain a diversity of habitat for wildlife. |
| Comments | 9.8.1: Very widespread in the bioregion. In some areas other ironbark species may be dominant. This regional ecosystem is the ironbark woodland of lower rainfall areas on basalt and is distinguished from RE 9.8.4 (ironbark woodland of wetter areas of basalt) by different subdominant species. Occurs extensively in the central and southern bioregion. Vulnerable to invasive weeds species Cryptostegia grandiflora (rubber vine), Lantana camara, Melinis repens (Red Natal grass) and Vachellia farnesiana (mimosa). Logging of Corymbia citriodora on Chudleigh Plateau. 9.8.1a: In some areas other ironbark species may be dominant. On rockier rises Corymbia erythrophloia and/or C. dallachiana may be the dominant species. Occurs extensively in the central and southern bioregion. 9.8.1b: The regional ecosystem 9.8.2a differs from this community by being confined to the basalts around Mareeba and Lakeland Downs. Occurs across the McBride basalt in the central bioregion. 9.8.1c: Confined to small basalt flows on Amber Station in the central bioregion. 9.8.1d: Occurs extensively in the south western 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.
