Regional ecosystem details for 3.11.17
| Regional ecosystem | 3.11.17 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 1, 2, 5, (6), (7), (8) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 20000 ha; Remnant 2021 20000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus chlorophylla +/- Melaleuca viridiflora woodland to open woodland on metamorphic slopes |
| Structure code | Low Open Woodland |
| Description | Eucalyptus chlorophylla (shiny-leaved box) woodland to low open woodland commonly with Melaleuca viridiflora (broad-leaved teatree), Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) and Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood). M. viridiflora and M. foliolosa (scale-leaved teatree) occasionally occur as scattered sub-canopy trees. Scattered shrubs of canopy species and Acacia spp. are frequently present. The sparse ground layer is usually dominated by Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass), Heteropogon triticeus (giant speargrass) and H. contortus (black speargrass). Occurs on metamorphic hillslopes and low rises. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 3.11.17a: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.11.17. Eucalyptus chlorophylla (shiny-leaved box) trees dominate the very sparse to sparse canopy (6-10m tall). Melaleuca viridiflora (broad-leaved teatree) and M. foliolosa (scale-leaved teatree) frequently occur as scattered sub-canopy trees (4-8m tall). Scattered shrubs (0.5-2m tall) are frequently present. The sparse ground layer is usually dominated by the perennial grasses Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass), Heteropogon triticeus (giant speargrass) and H. contortus (black speargrass). Occurs on metamorphic hillslopes. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9b). 3.11.17b: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.11.17. Eucalyptus chlorophylla (shiny-leaved box) dominates the very sparse to sparse canopy (8-25m tall). Other Eucalyptus spp. are occasionally present in the canopy. Scattered Hakea persiehana (bootlace oak), Melaleuca viridiflora (broad-leaved teatree) and Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) are sometimes present as sub-canopy trees (4-12m tall). A shrub layer is rarely formed but scattered Dolichandrone alternifolia, Grewia savannicola (dog's balls) and Melaleuca viridiflora shrubs 0.5-2m tall may be present. The ground layer is sparse to dense and dominated by the grasses Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass), Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum), Themeda arguens, T. triandra (kangaroo grass) and Dichanthium sericeum subsp. sericeum (Queensland bluegrass). Occurs on remnant metamorphic low rises. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9b). 3.11.17x1: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped as 3.11.18. 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 (long-fruited bloodwood) 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 metamorphic hillslopes and rises. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21a). |
| Protected areas | KULLA (McIlwraith Range) NP (CYPAL), Cape Melville NP (CYPAL), Juunju Daarrba Nhirrpan NP (CYPAL), Alwal NP (CYPAL), Muundhi (Jack River) NP (CYPAL), Olkola NP (CYPAL), KULLA (McIlwraith Range) RR, Biniirr NP (CYPAL) |
| 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. x1: Burn early to mid-dry season. INTENSITY: Low to moderate with occasional high during storm burns. x1: Low to moderate. INTERVAL: 1-5 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 1. INTERVAL_MAX: 5. STRATEGY: Apply a mosaic across the landscape to break up the continuity of fuels across the landscape and limit the extent of late season wildfire. Burn 30-60%. 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. x1: Melaleuca woodlands will burn less frequently than eucalypt woodlands due to lower fuel accumulation and typically moister conditions. |
| Comments | 3.11.17: South of bioregion. 3.11.17a: South of bioregion. |
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.
