Regional ecosystem details for 3.11.11
| Regional ecosystem | 3.11.11 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 1, 2, (5), (6), (4), (7), (8), (2.6), (2.4), (9.3) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 378000 ha; Remnant 2021 378000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus tetrodonta +/- Corymbia stockeri woodland on hills and erosional surfaces |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Eucalyptus tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark) woodland to open forest usually with Corymbia stockeri (gum-topped bloodwood). Eucalyptus cullenii (Cullen's ironbark) can also be codominant, particularly on the upper slopes of rises. Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown iron wood) and Corymbia nesophila (Melville Island bloodwood) also commonly occur. A range of other Eucalyptus spp. and Corymbia spp. can also be present in the canopy. The very sparse to sparse sub-canopy layer usually contains canopy species with Melaleuca stenostachya (fibre-barked teatree) and M. viridiflora (broad-leaved teatree) occasionally present. A sparse shrub layer usually contains E. tetrodonta, Erythrophleum chlorostachys and Petalostigma banksii (smooth-leaved quinine). The ground layer is sparse to mid-dense and dominated by Schizachyrium spp. (fire grass), Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum) and Heteropogon triticeus (giant speargrass). Occurs on hills and erosional surfaces. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14d). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 3.11.11x1a: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.11.11. Eucalyptus tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark) predominates forming a sparse to mid-dense canopy (14-26m tall). Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) is often present and sometimes codominant in the canopy. C. tessellaris (Moreton Bay ash) and Lophostemon suaveolens (swamp mahogany) are also frequently present in the canopy. The very sparse to sparse sub-canopy tree layer (3-15m tall) is dominated by Acacia flavescens (powderpuff wattle), Parinari nonda (nonda plum), Grevillea parallela (silver oak), Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) and Melaleuca viridiflora (broad-leaved teatree). Livistona muelleri (dwarf fan palm) is common in the sub-canopy tree layer and dominated this layer at one site. The very sparse shrub layer (0.5-2m tall) is composed of a variety of young trees and shrubby regrowth. The ground layer is usually sparse to mid-dense and frequently dominated by Heteropogon triticeus (giant speargrass), Mnesithea rottboellioides (northern cane grass), Dianella spp., Imperata cylindrica (blady grass) and Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum). Occurs on metamorphic ranges. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14d). 3.11.11x1b: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.11.11. Eucalyptus megasepala predominates forming a sparse canopy (12-28m tall). Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) is often present and sometimes codominant in the canopy. Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) is also frequently present in both the canopy and the very sparse to sparse sub-canopy tree layer (3-14m tall). Grevillea glauca (bushman's clothes peg), Erythroxylum ellipticum (matchwood), Alphitonia pomaderroides (soapwood), Eucalyptus megasepala and Melaleuca nervosa (woodland paperbark) are other common sub-canopy trees. A very sparse to sparse shrub layer (0.3-2.5m tall) is composed of a variety of young trees and shrubby regrowth. The ground layer is usually very sparse to mid-dense and dominated by grasses, usually Schizachyrium spp. (firegrass), Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum), Panicum spp. (native panic), Aristida spp. (three-awn speargrass), Alloteropsis semialata (cockatoo grass) and Thaumastochloa spp. Occurs on metamorphic hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14d). 3.11.11x1c: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.11.11. Eucalyptus tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark) and Corymbia nesophila (Melville Island bloodwood) dominate the very sparse to mid-dense canopy (10-28m tall). In most situations both species are present and codominant, however, C. nesophila may be dominant or occasionally absent. Corymbia stockeri subsp. peninsularis (gum-topped bloodwood) is sometimes present in the canopy. A very sparse to sparse sub-canopy tree layer (8-20m tall) is present with Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood), just below the canopy, Grevillea glauca (bushman's clothes peg), Parinari nonda (nonda plum) and Acacia rothii (Roth's wattle) the most frequent species. A very sparse low tree layer (2-8m tall) is sometimes present. The shrub layer (0.3-2.5m tall) is dominated mainly by species that also occur in the tree layers and is sparse to mid-dense. The shrub layer of recently burnt areas is usually mid-dense. The ground layer is sparse to mid-dense and dominated Heteropogon triticeus (giant speargrass), Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum), Thaumastochloa spp. and Eriachne spp. (wanderrie grass). Occurs on metamorphic undulating rises and low hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14d). 3.11.11x1d: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.11.11. Eucalyptus tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark) predominates, forming a distinct but discontinuous sparse canopy (17-26m tall). Corymbia nesophila (Melville Island bloodwood) and C. clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) may be subdominant in the canopy. Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) may occur just below the canopy, occasionally forming a mid-dense layer. sub-canopy trees (4-15m tall) are sometimes present. A sparse low shrub layer (0.5-2m tall) composed of young trees and shrubby regrowth is often present. The ground layer can be very sparse to mid-dense and is dominated by grasses. The primary species in this layer are Schizachyrium spp. (fire grass), Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum), Panicum spp. (native panics), Alloteropsis semialata (cockatoo grass) and Thaumastochloa spp. Occurs on metamorphic rises and low hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14d). 3.11.11x1e: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.11.11. Eucalyptus tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark) predominates forming a distinct but discontinuous sparse to mid-dense canopy (12-20m tall). Corymbia nesophila (Melville Island bloodwood) occurs as a subdominant canopy species. Melaleuca spp. (teatree), Acacia spp. (wattle) and Lophostemon suaveolens (swamp mahogany) form a sparse sub-canopy layer (6-12m tall). A sparse low shrub layer (0.5-3m tall) dominated by Canarium australianum (scrub turpentine), Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) and Eucalyptus spp. and Corymbia spp. are usually present. The ground layer is usually sparse and dominated by the grasses Imperata cylindrica (blady grass), Mnesithea rottboellioides (northern cane grass) and Alloteropsis semialata (cockatoo grass) and the mat rush, Lomandra spp. Occurs on metamorphic low hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14d). 3.11.11x2: Eucalyptus similis (yellow jacket) and Corymbia nesophila (Melville Island bloodwood) woodland. Scattered trees of E. tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark) and C. stockeri subsp. stockeri (gum-topped bloodwood) may be present in the canopy. The very sparse to sparse sub-canopy layer is dominated by Eucalyptus spp. and Corymbia spp. A sparse shrub layer is usually present where species also occurring in the canopy layers are dominant. The ground layer is sparse to mid-dense and dominated by grasses. Occurs on lower slopes and pediments of central metamorphic ranges. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14c). 3.11.11x3: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.11.11. Eucalyptus tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark) dominates the sparse canopy (12-22m tall). Corymbia stockeri subsp. peninsularis (gum-topped bloodwood) is always present and Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) is often present as subdominant canopy trees. Corymbia nesophila (Melville Island bloodwood) is occasionally present and may be dominant in places. Adenanthera abrosperma (bead tree), E. chlorostachys and Grevillea glauca (bushman's clothes peg) are the most frequently encountered trees in the very sparse sub-canopy layer (4-12m tall). A very sparse to sparse shrub layer (0.2-2m tall) is present. Xanthorrhoea johnsonii (grass tree), or less frequently, Bossiaea armitii dominates this layer. Corymbia stockeri subsp. peninsularis, Eucalyptus tetrodonta, Planchonia careya (cocky apple) and Acacia rothii (Roth's wattle) are other commonly encountered shrubs. The ground layer is sparse to mid-dense and dominated by grasses such as Thaumastochloa spp., Heteropogon triticeus (giant speargrass) and Schizachyrium fragile (fire grass) and the sedge Schoenus sparteus. Occurs on metamorphic hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14d). |
| Supplementary description | Neldner and Clarkson (in prep), 77-11, Fox & Wilson (2004); m79-11c, w60-11c. |
| Protected areas | Olkola NP (CYPAL), Cape Melville NP (CYPAL), Oyala Thumotang NP (CYPAL), Juunju Daarrba Nhirrpan NP (CYPAL), Alwal NP (CYPAL), Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) NP (CYPAL), Lama Lama NP (CYPAL), KULLA (McIlwraith Range) NP (CYPAL), Muundhi (Jack River) NP (CYPAL |
| Special values | 3.11.11: Habitat for the near threatened species Acacia ommatosperma and vulnerable species Stemona angusta. 3.11.11x2: Northern outlying populations of Eucalyptus similis, which is extensive in the Desert Uplands bioregion. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Commence planned burns early in the dry season, after the wet season when dry enough to burn. Use occasional storm burns but generally avoid periods of extremely hot, dry conditions. INTENSITY: Low to moderate with occasional high during storm burns. INTERVAL: 2-5 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 2. INTERVAL_MAX: 5. STRATEGY: Apply a mosaic across the landscape at a range of intervals to create varying stages of post-fire response. Burn 30-60% at the property level. ISSUES: To mitigate against the impact of late dry season fires, commence burning early in the season and continue through the dry to break up continuity of fuels across the landscape. Planned fire applied repeatedly early in the dry season may lead to woody thickening because fires are not of sufficiently high intensity; this may be exacerbated by stock grazing. Manage extent, intensity and frequency of fires judiciously, to avoid habitat tree loss. |
| Comments | 3.11.11: RE's 3.11.9, 3.11.10a, 3.11.1x1 and 3.11.11x3 were amalgamated into this RE. Widespread on Coen-Yamba Inlier. 3.11.11x1a: Ranges near Lockhart River. 3.11.11x1b: Coleman Plateau. 3.11.11x1d: South of the bioregion. 3.11.11x1e: West of Lockhart River. 3.11.11x2: Previously mapped as 3.10.8. Restricted to low hills north west of Musgrave Roadhouse in the central peninsula. 3.11.11x3: Coen Inlier. |
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.
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.
