Regional ecosystem details for 3.2.17
| Regional ecosystem | 3.2.17 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 4, 2, (1), (6), (3) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 18000 ha; Remnant 2021 18000 ha |
| Short description | Leucopogon yorkensis open scrub on dunefields |
| Structure code | Open Scrub |
| Description | Open scrub to tall shrubland, though can also occur as closed scrub. Leucopogon yorkensis is usually dominant, though a range of other heath species can also occur including Neofabricia myrtifolia (yellow teatree), Thryptomene oligandra, Jacksonia thesioides (broombush), Asteromyrtus brassii and Styphelia ruscifolia, along with Acacia crassicarpa (spoon tree), Alyxia spicata (chain fruit) and Psydrax spp. A range of emergents can occur including canopy species, Callitris intratropica (cypress pine), Corymbia spp. (bloodwoods) and Araucaria cunninghamii (hoop pine). A lower shrub often occurs and includes Leucopogon spp., Lomandra banksii and Myrsine variabilis (muttonwood). The sparse to dense ground cover commonly includes Dianella spp., Lomandra spp. And a range of graminoids. Occurs on dunefields. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 3a). |
| Supplementary description | Stanton, Fell & Gooding (2008), D14n, D14e. |
| Protected areas | Apudthama NP (CYPAL), Wuthathi (Shelburne Bay) NP (CYPAL), KULLA (McIlwraith Range) NP (CYPAL), Bromley (Ampulin) NP (CYPAL), Cape Melville NP (CYPAL), Annan River (Yuku Baja-Muliku) RR, Endeavour River NP, Possession Island NP, Annan River (Yuku Baja-Mul |
| 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 | 3.2.17: RE's 3.2.8 (part), 3.2.15 (part), 3.2.19 and proposed new REs 3.2.15x1, 3.5.19x5 were amalgamated into this RE. In exposed situations, the height of the canopy can be reduced to a shrubland or even dwarf open heath. There is a higher density of shrubs where the tree layers are more open. The heights of the vegetation are often variable and clearly defined layers are often difficult to discern and in some cases the emergent species form a true canopy layer over the L. yorkensis shrub layer. Occurs on major dunefields and beach ridges of the east coast. Also occurs on some 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.
