Regional ecosystem details for 3.11.19
| Regional ecosystem | 3.11.19 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 2, (7.9) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 1000 ha; Remnant 2021 1000 ha |
| Short description | Themeda triandra closed tussock grassland or Asteromyrtus lysicephala, Neofabricia myrtifolia, Grevillea pteridifolia dwarf open heathlands on headlands and islands |
| Structure code | Closed Tussock Grassland |
| Description | Themeda spp. and/or Heteropogon contortus (black spear grass) closed tussock grassland with occasional scattered emergent shrubs or dwarf open heathland of Asteromyrtus lysicephala (back to front bush), Grevillea pteridifolia (toothbrush grevillea) and Neofabricia myrtifolia (yellow teatree). These communities are often very wind-sheared. Occurs on exposed plateaus and headlands. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 29a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 3.11.19a: Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) and/or T. arguens and/or Heteropogon contortus (black spear grass) closed tussock grassland which varies in height depending on exposure to the prevailing winds. Heteropogon contortus (black spear grass), Cassytha filiformis and Zornia muriculata are frequently present, but contribute only a small proportion of the biomass. Scattered shrubs may be present, but are generally windsheared and do not emerge much above the ground layer. Restricted to rocky headlands and islands. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 29a). 3.11.19b: Asteromyrtus lysicephala (back to front bush), Neofabricia myrtifolia (yellow teatree), Grevillea pteridifolia (golden Grevillea) and Melaleuca viridiflora (broad-leaved teatree) dwarf open heath, with Styphelia ruscifolia locally dominant. Although in many areas, the canopy has a PFC of greater than 70%, the large amount of outcropping rock reduces the overall PFC to about 50%. The ground layer is very sparse and dominated by graminoids. Schoenus sparteus is the most frequent graminoid. Occurs on exposed plateaus and headlands. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 29a). |
| Protected areas | Cape Melville NP (CYPAL), Annan River (Yuku Baja-Muliku) RR, Annan River (Yuku Baja-Muliku) NP, Archer Point CP |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: August-September up to November depending on the season. INTENSITY: Patchy and low or moderate to high. Fires will tend to burn either with high intensity or at low intensity. INTERVAL: 5-10 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 5. INTERVAL_MAX: 10. STRATEGY: Apply a mosaic across the landscape at a range of intervals to create areas of varying post-fire response. Burn 10-20% of the landscape. ISSUES: These ecosystems typically have a longer fire interval than surrounding vegetation, so it is important to manage fire in surrounding country to avoid too frequent fire. Planned burns in and around heath will assist in breaking up the continuity of fuels across the landscape, preventing late season wildfires which have deleterious ecological effects. |
| Comments | 3.11.19: Headlands on the east coast of the south east of the bioregion. 3.11.19b: The plants making up the sparse to mid-dense, even canopy are severely windsheared. In sheltered positions, (e.g. between rocks), the shrubs may reach 1m in height. A variety of species make up the canopy and the dominance may vary with locality.This vegetation community may also occurs on sandstone lithologies on exposed headlands & plateaus (3.10.19). Headlands on the east coast of the south east of the 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.
