Regional ecosystem details for 3.12.36
| Regional ecosystem | 3.12.36 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 3 |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 500 ha; Remnant 2021 500 ha |
| Short description | Evergreen to complex evergreen mesophyll to notophyll vine forest and thicket on mountain ranges of Torres Strait Islands |
| Structure code | Closed Forest |
| Description | Well-formed evergreen mesophyll/notophyll vine forest. These can be reduced to lower vine thickets on more wind exposed parts. Occurs on slopes of granite peaks. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 1a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 3.12.36a: Evergreen mesophyll/notophyll vine forest (23-35m) dominated by Myristica insipida, Dysoxylum latifolium, Cryptocarya cunninghamii, Sterculia shillinglawii and Calophyllum sil. Subdominants in the canopy include Maranthes corymbosa, Semecarpus australiensis, Mimusops elengi (tanjong) and Buchanania arborescens. There is a dense and diverse sub-canopy and shrub layer. Occurs on footslopes and upper slopes of granite peaks. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 1a). 3.12.36b: Windswept notophyll vine thicket (6-8m) which includes Calophyllum sil, Syzygium branderhorstii, Diospyros hebecarpa, Heptapleurum actinophyllum, Podocarpus grayae and Licuala ramsayi. The sub-canopy and shrub layers are sparse. Occurs on upper slopes on granite and rhyolite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 1a). 3.12.36x3: [RE not in use]²: This proposed new regional ecosystem is now mapped as 3.12.44. Low Melaleuca citrolens (scrub teatree) and often also M. viridiflora (broad-leaved teatree) and M. foliolosa (scale-leaved teatree) dominate the sparse canopy layer (3-9m tall). In places, these species occur as multi-stemmed shrubs rather than single-stemmed low trees. A sparse shrub layer is sometimes present. The short, sparse ground layer is dominated by annual graminoids with Fimbristylis spp., Schizachyrium spp. (fire grass) and Aristida spp. (three-awned speargrass) being the most commonly encountered taxa. Occurs on slopes of granite hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21b). |
| Special values | 3.12.36: Habitat for a number of endangered, vulnerable and near threatened species including Cadetia wariana, Cheilocostus potierae, Dischidia littoralis and Psydrax reticulata, as well as species at limits of their range. 3.12.36a: Habitat for the endangered plant species Alectryon repandodentatus, the vulnerable plant species Arenga australasica, Dischidia littoralis and the near threatened plant species Sterculia shillinglawii subsp. shillinglawii as well containing many species at the their geographical range in Australian. 3.12.36b: Habitat for the near threatened species Syzygium buettnerianum. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Do not burn deliberately. INTENSITY: Do not burn deliberately. INTERVAL: Do not burn deliberately. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: No deliberate fire management required within this unit. Undertake fuel reduction burns in surrounding vegetation utilising multiple small fires throughout the appropriate season to manage biodiversity values and to limit the extent and reduce risks of wildfire. ISSUES: Fire sensitive vegetation type. |
| Comments | 3.12.36: Restricted to more mountainous Torres Strait islands. 3.12.36a: Restricted to more mountainous Torres Strait islands. The exotic species Mangifera indica (mango) is a commonly found canopy species in the variant on Dauan Island. 3.12.36b: Torres Strait Islands. |
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.
