Regional ecosystem details for 3.12.48
| Regional ecosystem | 3.12.48 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 3, 2, 4, (1) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 2000 ha; Remnant 2021 2000 ha |
| Short description | Heteropogon triticeus or Themeda triandra or Schizachyrium fragile tussock grassland on rocky igneous coastal headlands and islands |
| Structure code | Closed Tussock Grassland |
| Description | Closed to open tussock grassland of Heteropogon triticeus (giant spear grass) +/- Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum) +/- Lepturus repens +/- Lomandra spp. Twining vines species such as Cassytha filiformis, Evolvulus alsinoides, and Ipomoea brassii can be common. Scattered emergents shrubs can occur and include Alyxia spicata (chain fruit), Lithomyrtus obtusa, Syzygium suborbiculare and Grevillea glauca (clothespeg Grevillea). Occurs on the crests of igneous hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 32b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 3.12.48a: Closed to open tussock grassland of Heteropogon triticeus (giant spear grass) +/- Mnesithea rottboellioides (northern cane grass) +/- Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum) +/- Aristida spp. (three-awned speargrass) +/- Eragrostis spp. (lovegrass) Twining vines species such as Cassytha filiformis, Evolvulus alsinoides, and Ipomoea brassii can be common. Scattered emergents shrubs can occur and include Alyxia spicata (chain fruit), Lithomyrtus obtusa, Syzygium suborbiculare and Grevillea glauca (clothespeg Grevillea). Occurs on the crests of igneous hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 32b). 3.12.48b: Tussock grassland of Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) +/- Heteropogon spp. +/- Cassytha filiformis +/- Zornia muriculata. Scattered emergent windswept shrubs of Terminalia spp., and Cochlospermum gillivraei (kapok) are sometimes present. Occurs on igneous headlands and islands. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 32b). 3.12.48c: Tussock grassland of Schizachyrium fragile (fire grass) and Aristida spp. (three-awned speargrass) +/- Arundinella setosa +/- Eriachne spp. (wanderrie grasses) with scattered tall emergents that can include Welchiodendron longivalve (yellow box penda), Melaleuca stenostachya (fibre barked teatree) and Petalostigma pubescens (quinine). Occurs on rocky igneous headlands and islands. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 32b). |
| Protected areas | Lizard Island NP, Cape Melville NP (CYPAL), Wuthathi (Sir Charles Hardy Group) NP (CYPAL), Wuthara Island NP (CYPAL), Howick Group NP (CYPAL), Possession Island NP, Three Islands Group NP |
| 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 intensity fire, particularly where seedlings or saplings are overabundant. INTERVAL: 1-3 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 1. INTERVAL_MAX: 3. 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: A significant issue to the retention of open grasslands is invasion of trees and shrubs following long periods of fire absence, low frequency of fire or fire applied repeatedly too early in the burning season. Woody thickening is exacerbated by stock grazing combined with repeated early season burns. 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. Invasive high biomass grasses can promote fire and increase severity. Variation in burn seasons and short fire frequencies promote bird diversity. |
| Comments | 3.12.48: Grasslands are easily mappable but it is difficult to determine which is the dominant grass species. Found on shallower soils and often mosaics with shrubland where the soil is slightly deeper. Occurs on coastal headlands and offshore islands along the east coast of the Peninsula and in the Torres Strait. 3.12.48a: REs 3.12.29, 3.12.31 were amalgamated in to this RE. Occurs on Torres Strait Islands. 3.12.48b: A variant (vegetation unit 189B) occurs on Lizard Island and was described by Byrnes et al. (1977). Themeda triandra dominates the grassland, with Arundinella nepalensis codominant in the valleys. On headlands this RE may be transitioning into 3.12.21 and occur as a low woodland of Acacia polystachya and Dodonaea polyandra. Occurs on Torres Strait Islands and other offshore islands and headlands along the east coast. 3.12.48c: Restricted to headlands near the tip and some east coast islands. |
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.
