Regional ecosystem details for 3.10.16
| Regional ecosystem | 3.10.16 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 5, 6, (1), (2), (4), (9.3), (8), (2.4), (9) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 81000 ha; Remnant 2021 81000 ha |
| Short description | Melaleuca stenostachya +/- M. citrolens low open woodland on sandstone ranges |
| Structure code | Low Open Woodland |
| Description | Low open woodland to woodland of Melaleuca stenostachya (fibre-barked teatree). A tall shrubland of M. citrolens (scrub teatree) may occur in some areas. Occurs on sandstone ranges & footslopes. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 3.10.16a: Melaleuca stenostachya (fibre-barked teatree) low woodland to low open woodland +/- Grevillea glauca (clothes-peg Grevillea). A very sparse subcanopy can contain Petalostigma banksii (smooth-leaved quinine). Scattered Eucalyptus tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark) and Corymbia spp. often occur as emergents. The sparse to very sparse shrublayer often includes Jacksonia thesioides (broombush), P. banksii, Hovea parvicalyx and Acacia spp. The mid-dense to sparse ground layer often contains Schoenus sparteus, Panicum spp., Schizachyrium spp. On some exposed windswept ridges the community is reduced to an open shrubland of M. stenostachya with scattered Xanthorrhoea johnsonii. Occurs on sandstone ranges. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21b). 3.10.16b: Melaleuca citrolens (scrub teatree) low woodland commonly with M. foliolosa (scale-leaved teatree). A sparse low shrub layer is usually present and can contain canopy species, Calytrix leptophylla, Acacia umbellata and Petalostigma banksii (smooth leaved quinine). The ground layer is short and very sparse, with Aristida spp. (three-awned speargrass), Eriachne spp. (wanderrie grass) and Fimbristylis spp. being the most commonly encountered species. Occurs on sandstone plateaus. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21b). 3.10.16c: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.10.16b. Tall shrubs of Melaleuca citrolens (scrub teatree) usually with M. foliolosa (scale-leaved teatree) dominate the very sparse to sparse canopy. A sparse low shrub layer is usually present. The ground layer is short and very sparse, with Aristida spp. (three-awned speargrass), Eriachne spp. (wanderrie grass) and Fimbristylis spp. being the most commonly encountered species. Bare areas are common. Occurs on sandstone footslopes. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21b). 3.10.16x1: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped as 3.10.16. Melaleuca viridiflora (broad-leaved teatree) together with Neofabricia myrtifolia (yellow teatree), Allocasuarina littoralis (black sheoak), Asteromyrtus brassii and sometimes Acacia brassii (Brass's wattle) dominate the sparse canopy (4-12m tall). Corymbia nesophila (Melville Island bloodwood) and less frequently Eucalyptus tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark) are present as emergent trees (9-16m tall). The same species dominate the sparse low tree layer (2-5m tall). A sparse shrub layer (0.5-3m tall) is present, with Acacia calyculata, Persoonia falcata (geebung), Hibbertia banksii forma banksii, Melaleuca viridiflora, Asteromyrtus lysicephala (back to front bush) and Choriceras tricorne (Cape Choriceras) occurring at the highest densities. The ground layer is sparse, and frequently dominated by Xanthorrhoea johnsonii (grass tree). Commonly encountered graminoids include Eriachne spp. (wanderrie grasses), Schoenus sparteus and Cleistochloa spp. Occurs on sandstone ranges & footslopes. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 28c). 3.10.16x2: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped as 3.3.49. Melaleuca viridiflora (broad-leaved teatree) dominates the very sparse canopy (5-12m tall). Scattered emergent trees of Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) (7-14m tall) are frequently present. Other Corymbia spp. and Eucalyptus spp. occur occasionally as emergent trees, with C. polycarpa replacing C. clarksoniana on the Mitchell fan. A sparse to very sparse low tree layer (2-8m tall) dominated by Petalostigma banksii (smooth-leaved quinine) is usually present. A very sparse shrub layer (usually <0.5m) dominated by M. viridiflora and P. banksii juveniles is present at most sites. The ground layer is sparse to mid-dense and dominated by grasses. Schizachyrium fragile (firegrass), Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum), Eriachne spp. (wanderrie grasses) and Eremochloa bimaculata (poverty grass) are the common dominants in this layer. Occurs on sandstone plateaus. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21a). 3.10.16x3: Melaleuca foliolosa +/- M. viridiflora low woodland to shrubland. Melaleuca foliolosa (scale-leaved teatree) dominates the canopy with M. viridiflora (broad-leaved paperbark) commonly occurring. M. viridiflora may occasionally be dominant. On hillslopes and plateaus of sandstone islands. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21b). |
| Protected areas | Muundhi (Jack River) NP (CYPAL), Cape Melville NP (CYPAL), Olkola NP (CYPAL), Biniirr NP (CYPAL), Rinyirru (Lakefield) NP (CYPAL), Bromley (Ampulin) NP (CYPAL), Alwal NP (CYPAL), Juunju Daarrba Nhirrpan NP (CYPAL), Melsonby (Gaarraay) NP (CYPAL), Flinders |
| Special values | 3.10.16: The near threatened plant species Homoranthus tropicus occurs in this regional ecosystem. It is potential habitat for the vulnerable plant species Hardenbergia sp. (Mt Mulligan J.R.Clarkson 5775). |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Early to mid-dry season, with occasional storm burn or late dry season burn of limited area. INTENSITY: High, but low to moderate are more likely during the early to mid-dry season. INTERVAL: 1-5 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 1. INTERVAL_MAX: 5. STRATEGY: A mosaic of early dry season fires will prevent extensive wildfires in the late dry season and preserve areas for later storm-burning. Storm time and late dry season burns are used to maintain suitable vegetation structure. Burn less than 30% in any year. ISSUES: Lack of fire or low intensity burns can lead to overabundant broad-leaved ti-tree. High intensity fires may be difficult to achieve because of low fuel availability and accumulation rates and typically moister conditions. High intensity fires around storm time will promote a better developed ground layer. Active burning early in the dry season creates a mosaic to minimise the spread of wildfire late in the dry season. Early burns will usually burn with low intensity and will not control broad-leaved ti-tree. |
| Comments | 3.10.16: The. Southern and south-east of the bioregion. 3.10.16a: Occurs on sandstone ranges around the Laura Basin in the south-east of the bioregion. 3.10.16b: Previously mapped as 3.10.16c. Bare areas are common. Laura sandstones in the south of the bioregion. 3.10.16c: Laura sandstone in the south of the bioregion. 3.10.16x1: Lockhart River. 3.10.16x2: Central and northern Peninsula. 3.10.16x3: Generally occurs as narrow bands running down small gullies on steeper slopes in a mosaic with 3.10.19x3 on Stanley island. Areas of this community may occur below mappable scales. This community occurs as a Melaleuca viridiflora dominated shrubland on Ronganhu Island. Restricted to the sandstone islands in Princess Charlotte Bay (Stanley Island and Ronganhu Island). |
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.
2 Superseded: Revision of the regional ecosystem classification removed this regional ecosystem code from use. It is included in the regional ecosystem description database because the RE code may appear in older versions of RE mapping and the Vegetation Management regulation.
