Regional ecosystem details for 12.5.7
| Regional ecosystem | 12.5.7 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 8, 7, 10, 5, (6), (2), (4), (3) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 63000 ha; Remnant 2021 30000 ha |
| Short description | Corymbia citriodora subsp. variegata +/- Eucalyptus portuensis or E. acmenoides, E. fibrosa subsp. fibrosa open forest on remnant Tertiary surfaces. Usually deep red soils |
| Structure code | Open Forest |
| Description | Corymbia citriodora subsp. variegata +/- Eucalyptus portuensis or E. acmenoides, C. intermedia, E. fibrosa subsp. fibrosa, C. trachyphloia, E. moluccana (lower slopes), E. crebra (drier sub coastal areas) or E. siderophloia, E. exserta open forest. Occurs on complex of remnant Tertiary surfaces and Tertiary sedimentary rocks. Usually deep red soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 10b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 12.5.7a: Corymbia citriodora subsp. variegata +/- Eucalyptus portuensis +/- Lophostemon spp., C. intermedia, E. moluccana (lower slopes), E. crebra, E. exserta woodland. Occurs on coastal low relief Cainozoic and Mesozoic sediments. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 10b). 12.5.7b: Eucalyptus moluccana +/- Corymbia citriodora subsp. variegata open forest. Other species include Eucalyptus siderophloia or E. crebra, E. tereticornis. Understorey generally sparse but can become shrubby in absence of fire. Occurs on complex of remnant Tertiary surfaces and Tertiary sedimentary rocks often on lower slopes. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13d). 12.5.7c: Corymbia henryi and/or Eucalyptus fibrosa subsp. fibrosa woodland +/- C. citriodora subsp. variegata, E. major, E. carnea, E. tindaliae, E. siderophloia, Angophora leiocarpa, E. helidonica, E. portuensis, E. latisinensis, C. intermedia and E. moluccana. Occurs on complex of remnant Tertiary surfaces and Tertiary sedimentary rocks. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 10b). |
| Supplementary description | Ryan, T.S. (ed.) (2012); Bean et al. (1998), H19 (in part), H29 (in part) |
| Protected areas | Nour Nour NP, Littabella NP, Cordalba NP, Wongi NP, Bania NP, Burrum Coast NP, Tarong NP, Bottle Creek CP, Police Paddock CP, Bullyard CP |
| Special values | 12.5.7: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Eulophia bicallosa, Macrozamia pauli-guilielmi. This ecosystem is known to provide suitable habitat for koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). 12.5.7b: This ecosystem is known to provide suitable habitat for koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). 12.5.7c: This ecosystem is known to provide suitable habitat for koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Summer to winter. INTENSITY: Low to moderate. a: Plan for low to moderate. Unplanned occasional high intensity wildfire will occur. INTERVAL: 4-15 years a: 4-8 years maintains a healthy grassy system. 8-15 years for shrubby elements of understorey. INTERVAL_MIN: 4. INTERVAL_MAX: 15. STRATEGY: Aim for 40-60% mosaic burn. Burn with soil moisture and with a spot ignition strategy so that a patchwork of burnt/unburnt country is achieved. Variability in season and fire intensity is important. a: Aim for 40-60% mosaic burn. Needs disturbance to maintain RE structure (eucalypt overstorey with open understorey of predominantly non-rainforest species). Any moist sclerophyll that is relatively open with a mixture of grasses and shrubs should be a priority for fire management to retain RE structure. ISSUES: The fire regime should maintain a mosaic of grassy and shrubby understoreys. Control of weeds (e.g., Lantana camara) with fire might be required. a: Frequent fire is needed to maintain understorey integrity, keeping more mesic species low in the profile of the understorey so that other species can compete. It is essential that wildfires are not the sole source of fire in this ecosystem. High intensity fires occur periodically through time, however frequent low to moderate intensity fires will create the disturbance required to keep the understorey diverse. A follow-up burn soon after a high intensity wildfire can be considered to reduce germinating/resprouting mesic species. Frequent fire may promote weeds such as molasses grass Melinis minutiflora. |
| Comments | 12.5.7: Areas dominated by Eucalyptus moluccana are mapped as 12.5.7b. Areas dominated by Eucalyptus fibrosa subsp. fibrosa are mapped as 12.5.7c. Common in Gin Gin-Childers area with minor occurrences in the Brisbane region. 12.5.7b: Disjunct distribution often occurring in patches too small to map at 1:100,000 scale. 12.5.7c: Common in Gin Gin-Childers area with minor occurrences in the Brisbane region. |
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.
