Regional ecosystem details for 12.2.17
| Regional ecosystem | 12.2.17 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 12 |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 20 ha; Remnant 2021 10 ha |
| Short description | Mixed closed tussock grassland to closed herbland on coral, shingle and sand cays |
| Structure code | Closed Tussock Grassland |
| Description | Mixed closed tussock grassland to closed herbland. Restricted to coral, shingle and sand cays. Littoral open to-sparse grassland/herbland (0.3 m, 5-35% FPC) comprised of seasonally variable short-lived and/or ephemeral species. Lepturus repens (0.3 m, up to 15% FPC) and Thuarea involuta are frequently dominant. Other species include the short-lived grass Stenotaphrum micranthum (0.15-0.5 m, 10% FPC) and the annual herb *Lepidium englerianum (0.03-0.07 m, 3-5% FPC). On landward margins, Boerhavia albiflora var. albiflora (0.02 m, 1-5% FPC) and *Portulaca oleracea (0.03-0.05 m, 1-2% FPC) may also be present. Argusia argentea seedlings (0.05 m, up to 5% FPC) seasonally establish during beach accreting periods. Restricted to coral, shingle and sand cays. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 28d). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 12.2.17a: Mixed tussock grassland to herbland. Restricted to coral, shingle and sand cays. Littoral open to-sparse grassland/herbland (0.3 m, 5-35% FPC) comprised of seasonally variable short-lived and/or ephemeral species. Lepturus repens (0.3 m, up to 15% FPC) and Thuarea involuta are frequently dominant. Other species include the short-lived grass Stenotaphrum micranthum (0.15-0.5 m, 10% FPC) and the annual herb *Lepidium englerianum (0.03-0.07 m, 3-5% FPC). On landward margins, Boerhavia albiflora var. albiflora (0.02 m, 1-5% FPC) and *Portulaca oleracea (0.03-0.05 m, 1-2% FPC) may also be present. Argusia argentea seedlings (0.05 m, up to 5% FPC) seasonally establish during beach accreting periods. Coral, shingle and sand cays. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 28d). 12.2.17b: Sesuvium portulacastrum herbland. Coral, shingle and sand cays. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 34f). 12.2.17c: Ephemeral wetlands. Coral, shingle and sand cays. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34f). |
| Supplementary description | Batianoff et. al (2009) 1;Batianoff et. al (2012) 3b,3c,4 |
| Protected areas | Capricornia Cays NP (S), Capricornia Cays NP |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. ISSUES: Do not burn deliberately. These islands are nesting habitat for seabirds; fire at inappropriate times could disrupt breeding cycles. |
| Comments | 12.2.17a: Restricted to coral, shingle and sand cays. 12.2.17b: Restricted to coral, shingle and sand cays. Occurs on One Tree, Lady Musgrave, Fairfax East Islands. 12.2.17c: Restricted to coral, shingle and sand cays. Occurs on One Tree, Lady Musgrave, Lady Elliot and Fairfax East Islands. |
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.
