Regional ecosystem details for 11.11.5
| Regional ecosystem | 11.11.5 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 18, 14, 17, 13, (2), (1), (12), (22), (21), (9.4), (19), (8.4), (11), (6), (12.10) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 81000 ha; Remnant 2021 32000 ha |
| Short description | Microphyll vine forest +/- Araucaria cunninghamii on old sedimentary rocks with varying degrees of metamorphism and folding |
| Structure code | Closed Forest |
| Description | Microphyll rainforest (with or without Araucaria cunninghamii emergents) and semi-evergreen vine thicket. Floristics and structure varies with site. There is usually a continuous tree canopy (9 - 15m high) with a wide range of species including Flindersia australis, Backhousia kingii, Excoecaria dallachyana, Melia azedarach, Ficus spp., Strychnos psilosperma, Macropteranthes leichhardtii and Alstonia constricta. An emergent tree layer (12- 20m high) commonly occurs with species including Brachychiton australis, B. rupestris, Flindersia australis, Ficus spp. Araucaria cunninghamii and sometimes Eucalyptus spp. There is a shrub layer (1-3m high) with density depending on canopy cover and frequent species including Croton spp., Abutilon spp., Capparis spp. Acalypha eremorum and Codonocarpus attenuatus. Ferns, mosses and vines are common. Occurs on hilly terrain. Formed from moderately to strongly deformed and metamorphosed sediments and interbedded volcanics. Associated soils are generally shallow loams and clays with minor areas of deeper cover. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 7a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 11.11.5a: Vine thicket, usually with no Araucaria cunninghamii emergents. Occurs on hilly terrain with steep slopes. Formed from moderately to strongly deformed and metamorphosed sediments and interbedded volcanics. Associated soils are generally shallow loams and clays with minor areas of deeper cover. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 7a). |
| Supplementary description | Forster and Barton (1995), Moore; Speck et al. (1968), Hillmore (2), Malakoff (1); Gunn and Nix (1977), 106 |
| Protected areas | Goodedulla NP, Bukkulla CP, Rundle Range NP, Bouldercombe Gorge RR, Mount Etna Caves NP, Dan Dan NP, Flat Top Range RR, Mount Hopeful CP, Kroombit Tops NP, Reinke Scrub CP, Bouldercombe Gorge CP, Keppel Bay Islands NP, Rundle Range RR, Charon Point CP |
| Special values | 11.11.5: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Atalaya collina, Corchorus hygrophilus, Dansiea elliptica, Decaspermum struckoilicum, Graptophyllum excelsum, Hernandia bivalvis, Macropteranthes leiocaulis, Macrozamia serpentina, Solanum sporadotrichum, Zieria verrucosa. |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: This vegetation requires protection from wildfire. Protection primarily relies on broad-scale management of surrounding country with numerous small fires throughout the year so that wildfires will be very limited in extent. Maintenance of fire breaks may be appropriate on flat country, but natural features will be useful as breaks in 'wild' country. ISSUES: Fuel reduction in the surrounding vegetation under low fire danger conditions and/or revegetation of cleared areas reduce the risk of damaging wildfires. Maintain or re-establish native vegetation communities adjacent to this ecosystem. Grazing may be useful in managing fuel loads created by introduced grasses such as buffel. |
| Comments | 11.11.5: In moist microhabitats such as sheltered gullies, rainforest tends to the notophyll type. The rainforest at higher altitude on topographic isolates such as Mount Aberdeen has close affinities with upland rainforest of Central Queensland Coast 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.
