Regional ecosystem details for 3.2.18
| Regional ecosystem | 3.2.18 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Contains Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 4, 2, (1), (6), (3) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 51000 ha; Remnant 2021 51000 ha |
| Short description | Thryptomene oligandra open heath +/- Asteromyrtus lysicephala on flat sand plains |
| Structure code | Open Heath |
| Description | Thryptomene oligandra open heath to shrubland and (sometimes) dwarf open heath usually with Asteromyrtus lysicephala, Baeckea frutescens and Melaleuca arcana. Other common species include Hibbertia banksii, Jacksonia thesioides and Neofabricia myrtifolia. A range of canopy species may appear as scattered emergents. The very sparse to mid-dense ground layer is most usually dominated by Baloskion tetraphyllum with Dapsilanthus spp. Common along with a range of hydrophilic forbs. Occurs between the parabolic dunes of the Cape York dunefields. Contains Palustrine. (BVG1M: 29a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 3.2.18a: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.2.18. Asteromyrtus lysicephala (back to front bush), Neofabricia myrtifolia (yellow teatree), Thryptomene oligandra (thryptomene), Hibbertia banksii forma banksii and Jacksonia thesioides consistently occur at high densities and dominate the sparse to mid-dense canopy (0.5-2m tall). Acacia spp. (wattles) and Banksia dentata (swamp banksia) are often present as emergent shrubs (2-3m tall). The ground layer is very sparse and dominated by sedges, with Baloskion tetraphyllum subsp. meiostachyum the most frequent graminoid. Occurs on the flat coastal sandplains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 29a). 3.2.18b: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.2.18. Melaleuca arcana (Cape York paperbark), Leptospermum polygalifolium, Thryptomene oligandra and Asteromyrtus lysicephala (back to front bush) form an open heath (1.0-1.5m tall) with emergent Banksia robur (swamp banksia) and Gahnia sieberiana (saw sedge) (1.5-2.5m tall). Occurs on the flat coastal sandplains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 29a). 3.2.18c: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.2.18. The plants making up the sparse to mid-dense, even canopy (10-50cm tall) 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. Asteromyrtus lysicephala (back to front bush), Grevillea pteridifolia (toothbrush grevillea), Melaleuca viridiflora (broad-leaved paperbark) and Neofabricia myrtifolia (yellow teatree) usually occur at the highest densities, 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 dunefields. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 29a). |
| Protected areas | Wuthathi (Shelburne Bay) NP (CYPAL), Bromley (Ampulin) NP (CYPAL), Apudthama NP (CYPAL), Cape Melville NP (CYPAL), KULLA (McIlwraith Range) NP (CYPAL), Annan River (Yuku Baja-Muliku) RR, Lizard Island NP, Annan River (Yuku Baja-Muliku) NP |
| Special values | 3.2.18: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Acacia solenota, Dendrobium bigibbum, Habenaria xanthantha. |
| 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 | 3.2.18: Both vegetation communities 3.2.18a and 3.2.18b as well as RE 3.2.20 all amalgamated into this RE. Occurs on flat sandplains which occur between the parabolic dunes in the major dunefields. Mainly east coast but extends around the tip to south of the Jardine River mouth. 3.2.18b: Cape Flattery dunefields. 3.2.18c: Shelburne Bay. |
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.
