Regional ecosystem details for 3.2.21
| Regional ecosystem | 3.2.21 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 4, 2, (6), (3), (1), (5), (9) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 58000 ha; Remnant 2021 58000 ha |
| Short description | Neofabricia myrtifolia +/- Jacksonia thesioides open to closed heath on dunefields |
| Structure code | Open Heath |
| Description | Neofabricia myrtifolia (yellow teatree), Neoroepera banksii open to closed heath to Neofabricia myrtifolia, Labichea buettneriana dwarf open-heath. A scattered emergent layer is usually present. Extensive on dunefields. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 29a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 3.2.21a: Neofabricia myrtifolia (yellow teatree), Neoroepera banksii open to closed heath, usually with Jacksonia thesioides (broombush) and Styphelia ruscifolia. Other commonly occurring species are Boronia alulata, Hibbertia banksii, Acacia calyculata, Asteromyrtus lysicephala, L. lavarackii and Labichea buettneriana. An emergent layer often contains Grevillea pteridifolia (toothbrush Grevillea), Allocasuarina littoralis (black sheoak) and Acacia spp. The very sparse ground layer most commonly contains Lomandra banksii, Schoenus sparteus and Arthrostylis aphylla. Extensive on dunefields. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 29a). 3.2.21b: Neofabricia myrtifolia, Labichea buettneriana dwarf open-heath, usually with Jacksonia thesioides (broombush), Styphelia ruscifolia, Boronia alulata and Neoroepera banksii as sub dominants. Hibbertia banksii and Grevillea pteridifolia also usually occur. Allocasuarina littoralis, Banksia dentata are common very scattered emergents. Schoenus sparteus is usually dominant in the sparse ground layer. Extensive 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), Rinyirru (Lakefield) NP (CYPAL), KULLA (McIlwraith Range) NP (CYPAL), Endeavour River NP |
| Special values | 3.2.21: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Acacia solenota, Dendrobium bigibbum, Dendrobium johannis, Dockrillia wassellii, Stackhousia sp. (McIvor River J.R.Clarkson 5201). |
| 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. Absence of fire leads to tree domination by black she-oak and grevillea. |
| Comments | 3.2.21: This regional ecosystem varies with locality in height, density and species composition. The differences can probably be attributed to differences in exposure to wind, amount of sand movement and soil moisture conditions. In exposed situations the shrubs are stunted and wind sheared (<1m tall), whereas in sheltered positions, a closed scrub (5-8m tall) may occur. East coast, predominantly in the Cape Flattery and Shelburne Bay dunefields. 3.2.21a: There are scattered open patches where shrubs are absent. East coast, predominantly in the Cape Flattery and Shelburne Bay dunefields. 3.2.21b: Was previously mapped as 3.2.23. East coast, predominantly in the Cape Flattery dunefields. May be further impacted by expansion of silica mining. |
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.
