Regional ecosystem details for 11.1.4
| Regional ecosystem | 11.1.4 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Intertidal |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 14, 1, (2), (18), (8.4), (8.3), (12.10), (7.1) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 84000 ha; Remnant 2021 84000 ha |
| Short description | Mangrove low open forest and/or woodland on marine clay plains |
| Structure code | Low Open Forest |
| Description | Mangrove low open forest on Quaternary estuarine deposits. Low open shrubland to closed forest of mangrove species forming a variety of associations, depending on position in relation to salt water inundation. Avicennia marina is the most common dominant but also other trees such as Aegiceras corniculatum, Rhizophora spp. and Ceriops australis dominate often in pure stands. There is often a shrub layer consisting of juvenile plants of the above species. Other species such as Excoecaria agallocha, Bruguiera spp., Lumnitzera racemosa and Alchornea ilicifolia may also occur. Occurs on intertidal flats which are often dissected by tidal streams. Soils are usually deep saline clays. Intertidal. (BVG1M: 35a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 11.1.4a: Rhizophora spp. open forest on Quaternary estuarine deposits. This may include Rhizophora stylosa or R. apiculata as dominants, with occasional Avicennia marina as emergents, and subdominant Bruguiera gymnorhiza and/or Ceriops australis. In northern areas, occasional Xylocarpus moluccensis may also occur. A shrub layer is usually not present. Occurs on fringing waterways low in intertidal zone, with roots submerged during high tides (Danaher 1995). Intertidal. (BVG1M: 35a). 11.1.4b: Avicennia marina low open shrubland to closed forest on Quaternary estuarine deposits. There may be occasional Ceriops australis, Rhizophora spp., Bruguiera spp., Excoecaria agallocha or Lumnitzera spp. An occasional presence of species such as Aegialitis annulata and/or Aegiceras corniculatum may occur. Open shrublands of Avicennia marina may have a sparse presence of samphires such as Suaeda spp., Tecticornia australasica and Salicornia spp. Occurs in all intertidal environments from the seaward edge (as a pioneer) to accreting banks (as a fringe), to the landward edge adjacent to claypans (Bruinsma 2000; Danaher 1995). Intertidal. (BVG1M: 35a). 11.1.4c: Ceriops australis, +/- Avicennia marina open forest on Quaternary estuarine deposits. Other mangrove species may be present as occasional individuals including Rhizophora spp., Bruguiera spp., Lumnitzera spp., and Sonneratia spp. A shrub layer is not usually present. Occurs on upstream creek edges, and toward the landward edge of the upper intertidal limit. Only inundated by spring tides (Bruinsma 2000). Intertidal. (BVG1M: 35a). 11.1.4d: Dominated by a range of species from genera such as from Avicennia sp., Ceriops sp., Rhizophora sp. and Bruguiera sp. which form a low closed forest. A low shrub layer composed of species such as Acanthus ilicifolius, Acrostichum speciosum, Crinum pedunculatum or juvenile canopy species is often present. Epiphytes on the canopy are common. Occurs on the landward edge of the tidal flats and in the upper tidal reaches of creeks and rivers where there is a high freshwater influence. Intertidal. (BVG1M: 35a). |
| Supplementary description | Christian et al. (1953), Littoral; Danaher (1995); Bruinsma (2000); Bruinsma (1999); Speck et al. (1968) Carpentaria (5,6); Byron and Hall (1998), Gunn and Nix (1977) LU 142 |
| Protected areas | Bowling Green Bay NP, Bowling Green Bay CP, Townsville Town Common CP, Cape Upstart NP, Wongaloo CP, Shoalwater Bay CP, Charon Point CP, Newport CP, Broad Sound Islands NP, Causeway Lake CP, Magnetic Island CP 1, MacKenzie Island CP, Abbot Bay CP, Magneti |
| Special values | 11.1.4: Provides estuarine wetland habitat. |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Do not burn. ISSUES: Scorching within the supra-littoral margin, particularly when this ecotone merges into flammable vegetation such as woodlands and forests of melaleuca may be a problem. Ensure minimal scorching and damage to mangroves from surrounding fires. |
| Comments | 11.1.4: This regional ecosystem often occurs in close proximity to Sporobolus virginicus grasslands (11.1.1) and salt flats (11.1.2) which occur in areas less subject to tidal inundation. Specifically protected under the Fisheries Act 1994. Some areas within the Burdekin Delta have recorded dense infestations of *Cryptostegia grandiflora (rubber vine) in upper areas of the intertidal zone (Danaher 1995). 11.1.4c: Occurs landward of, and in slightly more elevated situations than Rhizophora spp. communities (RE 11.1.4a). May also occur around saltpans (RE 11.1.2). |
1 Estimated extent is from version 13.1 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.
