Regional ecosystem details for 12.8.9
| Regional ecosystem | 12.8.9 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 1, 2, (11.31), (7), (4), (3), (9) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 14000 ha; Remnant 2021 13000 ha |
| Short description | Lophostemon confertus open forest on Cainozoic igneous rocks |
| Structure code | Open Forest |
| Description | Lophostemon confertus open forest often with vine forest understorey ('wet sclerophyll'). Occurs on Cainozoic igneous rocks. Tends to occur mostly in gullies and on exposed ridges on basalt. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 8a). |
| Supplementary description | Bean et al. (1998), G27 |
| Protected areas | Main Range NP, Lamington NP, Mount Barney NP, Springbrook NP, Main Range CP, Mount Beau Brummell CP, Tamborine NP, Flinders Peak CP, Mount Cooroy CP, Kondalilla NP, Tewantin NP |
| Special values | 12.8.9: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Eucalyptus dunnii, Mallotus megadontus. This ecosystem is known to provide suitable habitat for koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Late summer to autumn. INTENSITY: Moderate to high. INTERVAL: Minimum 20 years, maximum unknown, requiring further research. INTERVAL_MIN: 20. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: 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: 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 | 12.8.9: Tends to occur on exposed ridges among vine forest on basalt and in gullies on lower fertility substrates such as rhyolite. Patches are often too small to map at 1:100 000. |
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.
