Regional ecosystem details for 12.5.6
| Regional ecosystem | 12.5.6 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Endangered |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Endangered |
| Subregion | 6, 2, 4, 9, (5), (11.31), (8), (3), (11.22) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 36000 ha; Remnant 2021 8000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus siderophloia, E. propinqua, E. microcorys and/or E. pilularis open forest on remnant Tertiary surfaces. Usually deep red soils |
| Structure code | Open Forest |
| Description | Eucalyptus siderophloia, E. propinqua and/or E. pilularis open forest +/- Corymbia intermedia, E. microcorys, E. acmenoides, E. tereticornis, E. biturbinata, Lophostemon confertus with E. saligna, E. montivaga at higher altitudes. Occurs on remnant Tertiary surfaces. Usually deep red soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 12.5.6a: Eucalyptus saligna or E. grandis open forest, often with vine forest understorey. Occurs on remnant Tertiary surfaces. Usually deep red soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 8a). 12.5.6b: Eucalyptus siderophloia, Corymbia intermedia, E. propinqua or E. major or E. longirostrata open forest +/- E. microcorys, E. acmenoides, E. tereticornis, E. biturbinata, E. pilularis, Lophostemon confertus. Occurs on remnant Tertiary surfaces. Usually deep red soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9a). 12.5.6c: Eucalyptus pilularis open forest +/- E. siderophloia, E. propinqua, Corymbia intermedia, E. microcorys, E. acmenoides, E. tereticornis, E. biturbinata, Lophostemon confertus with E. saligna, E. montivaga at higher altitudes. Occurs on remnant Tertiary surfaces. Usually deep red soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 8b). 12.5.6d: Eucalyptus montivaga, Corymbia intermedia woodland +/- E. acmenoides, E. melliodora, Angophora subvelutina and E. eugenioides. Occurs on remnant Tertiary surfaces. Usually deep red soils at higher altitudes. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 8b). |
| Supplementary description | Bean et al. (1998), G23 (in part), G35 (in part), H12 (in part), G24 (in part) |
| Protected areas | Tewantin NP, Lockyer NP, Ravensbourne NP, Mount Binga NP, Harry Spring CP, Geham NP, Noosa NP, Cooroibah CP, Glass House Mountains NP, Hampton NP, Great Sandy NP, Mount Binga FR |
| Special values | 12.5.6: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Caustis blakei subsp. macrantha, Paspalidium grandispiculatum. This ecosystem is known to provide suitable habitat for koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). 12.5.6a: This ecosystem is known to provide suitable habitat for koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). 12.5.6b: This ecosystem is known to provide suitable habitat for koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). 12.5.6c: This ecosystem is known to provide suitable habitat for koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Late summer to winter. a. Late summer to autumn. INTENSITY: Low to moderate. a. Moderate to high. INTERVAL: 7-25 years. a. Minimum 20 years, maximum unknown, requiring further research. INTERVAL_MIN: 7. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Aim for a burn mosaic of 40-60% over the burn area. A diversity of season and fire intensity is important, as well as spot ignition in cooler or moister periods to encourage mosaics. Late summer burns assist with maintaining control of fire intensity. a. Needs disturbance to maintain RE structure (eucalypt overstorey, rainforest dominated but mixed species understorey). It is unlikely that mosaic burns will be achievable because fire would most likely be of higher intensity (i.e., likely to be a wildfire) and is only likely to occur at long intervals (at least 20+ years) during prolonged dry periods. In exceptional circumstances, different localities containing this ecosystem could be burnt to ensure a continuum of habitat availability across the broader landscape. Using this strategy maximises the probability of spatial mosaics in the landscape. ISSUES: Fires that are too frequent will eliminate obligate seeding species. Fire frequency should be such as to allow obligate to reach maturity and produce viable seed. a. Operationally there will be many areas of wet sclerophyll that cannot be safely burnt, and will only burn in wildfire. There is evidence that suggests that infrequent high intensity fires sustain the eucalypt overstorey. Wet sclerophyll has been shown to be a moving ecotone between vine forest and moist/dry sclerophyll. |
| Comments | 12.5.6: Remnants largely contained within state forest. 12.5.6a: Crows Nest Shire and minor areas within Cooloola Shire. 12.5.6b: Remnants largely contained within state forest. 12.5.6d: Restricted to higher altitudes. |
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.
