Regional ecosystem details for 12.3.20
| Regional ecosystem | 12.3.20 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Endangered |
| Wetlands | Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | Endangered |
| Subregion | 4, 8, (3), (9), (2) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 16000 ha; Remnant 2021 3000 ha |
| Short description | Melaleuca quinquenervia, Casuarina glauca +/- Eucalyptus tereticornis, E. siderophloia, M. styphelioides open forest on low coastal alluvial plains |
| Structure code | Open Forest |
| Description | Melaleuca quinquenervia, Casuarina glauca +/- Eucalyptus tereticornis, E. siderophloia open forest. Melaleuca styphelioides is often an associated species in the Wide Bay area. Occurs on lowest terraces of Quaternary alluvial plains in coastal areas. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 22a). |
| Supplementary description | Ryan, T.S. (ed.) (2012); Bean et al. (1998), C1 |
| Protected areas | Coolum Creek CP, Southern Moreton Bay Islands NP, Poona NP, Great Sandy CP, Eudlo Creek CP, Coombabah Lake CP, Bribie Island NP, Pimpama CP, Naree Budjong Djara NP, Beachmere CP, Bullock Creek CP, Pumicestone NP, Maroochy Wetlands CP, Tallebudgera Creek C |
| Special values | 12.3.20: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Acacia attenuata, Allocasuarina emuina, Lenwebbia sp. (Blackall Range P.R.Sharpe 5387), Maundia triglochinoides, Persicaria elatior, Phaius australis, Phaius bernaysii, Symplocos harroldii, Tecomanthe hillii. This ecosystem is known to provide suitable habitat for koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Late summer to mid-winter (after rain). INTENSITY: Planned and occasional unplanned burns (typically of higher intensity) influence the ecology of melaleuca ecosystems. INTERVAL: Heath 8-12 years, Sedge 12-20 years, Mixed grass/shrub 6-20 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 6. INTERVAL_MAX: 20. STRATEGY: Aim for a 25-70% burn mosaic (in association with surrounding ecosystems, as melaleuca ecosystems often just occur in patches or along natural drainage lines). Fires may, depending on the conditions and type of vegetation, burn areas larger than just the melaleuca ecosystem. Ensure secure boundaries from non fire-regime adapted ecosystems. Consider the needs of melaleuca ecosystems based on understorey (i.e., heath dominated, sedge dominated or mixed grass/shrub) when planning burns. High soil moisture (or presence of water on the ground) is required, as avoidance of peat-type fires must be maintained. ISSUES: Fire regimes for melaleuca ecosystems require further fire research. Melaleuca forests are fire-adapted, but too high an intensity or frequent fire will slow or prevent regeneration and lead to lower species richness (since these communities contain numerous obligate seed regenerating species that require sufficient fire intervals to produce seed). High intensity fires may kill trees and lead to whipstick regeneration. Too frequent fire may result in a net loss of nutrients over time from an already nutrient poor system. Fire associations are significantly influenced by understorey composition. Melaleuca communities with a heath understorey should burn in a similar way to coastal heath (8-12 years). Sedge understorey communities will burn in association with the surrounding ecosystems (so will often burn with them but sometimes not, such that these communities have a slightly less fire frequency). Mixed understorey communities burn in a similar way to dry sclerophyll, in association with the surrounding dry sclerophyll, though somewhat less frequently due to the additional moisture present in melaleuca communities. |
| Comments | 12.3.20: Previously mapped as 12.3.5a. May be subject to storm surge inundation. Extensively cleared for sugar cane and urban development in south of bioregion. Subject to weed invasion, especially groundsel Baccharis halimifolia. |
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.
