Regional ecosystem details for 3.2.24
| Regional ecosystem | 3.2.24 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 9, 7, 4, 2, 6, (3), (1), (5), (2.1) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 15000 ha; Remnant 2021 15000 ha |
| Short description | Mixed open tussock grassland and open forblands or shrublands on exposed foredunes and islands |
| Structure code | Open Forbland |
| Description | Mixed open tussock grassland and open forblands, dominated by a range of graminoids and forbs. Emergent shrubs to shrublands can also occur. Occurs on exposed foredunes, islands and coral cays. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 28d). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 3.2.24a: Mixed closed tussock to open tussock grassland including combinations of Sarga plumosum, Heteropogon triticeus and Eragrostis spp. Eremochloa bimaculata can sometimes also be dominant. Sub-shrubs of Acacia humifusa and Lithomyrtus obtusa may also occur as sub-dominants. An emergent layer sometimes occurs and can include Premna serratifolia and Grevillea parallela. Occurs on exposed foredunes. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 28d). 3.2.24b: Mixed closed tussock grassland to forbland including combinations of Lepturus repens, Sesuvium portulacastrum and Boerhavia spp. Urochloa subquadripara, Spinifex sericeus and Sarga plumosum can also occur as dominants. In rare instances a shrubland dominated by Sersalisia sericea can occur. Scattered emergents of a range of species can often occur and include Scaevola taccada, Casuarina equisetifolia and Premna serratifolia. Occurs on exposed foredunes. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 28d). 3.2.24c: Premna serratifolia tall shrubland to open scrub occasionally with Colubrina asiatica, Terminalia spp. and Diospyros spp. Emergents of species in the shrublayer can occur along with Manilkara kauki. A sparse to mid-dense lower layer can contain a range of shrub species and vines. The sparse to dense ground layer commonly includes Lepturus repens, Ipomoea pes-caprae and Sesuvium portulacastrum. Occurs on exposed foredunes. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 28d). |
| Protected areas | Rinyirru (Lakefield) NP (CYPAL), Cape Melville NP (CYPAL), Bromley (Ampulin) NP (CYPAL), Flinders Group NP (CYPAL), Howick Group NP (CYPAL), Apudthama NP (CYPAL), Turtle Group NP, Lizard Island NP, Annan River (Yuku Baja-Muliku) NP, Possession Island NP, |
| Special values | 3.2.24: This regional ecosystem provides an important rookery for sea turtles. 3.2.24a: This regional ecosystem provides an important rookery for sea turtles. 3.2.24b: This regional ecosystem provides an important rookery for sea turtles. 3.2.24c: In a variant (vegetation unit 162A) the shrub layer is dominated by Dodonaea platyptera, with Premna serratifolia subdominant and Abrus precatorius abundant. In a second variant (vegetation unit 162B) Colubrina asiatica or Cordia subcordata are the dominant shrubs. Included in Littoral Rainforest and Coastal Vine Thickets ecological community (as former RE 3.2.31) protected under the Commonwealth's EPBC act (1999). |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Do not burn deliberately. Protection relies on broad-scale management of surrounding country with numerous small fires throughout the year so that wildfires will be very limited in extent. ISSUES: Fire sensitive. Unlikely to burn owing to sparsity of vegetation. Burning of this ecosystem may lead to dune instability. |
| Comments | 3.2.24: Previously mapped as (part) 3.2.24, 3.2.25, 3.2.31, 3.2.32. Usually these communties exits as a mosaic on the dunes and move around over time. East coast and the Torres Strait islands. Also on west coast just north of Pormpuraaw. 3.2.24a: Previously mapped as (part) 3.2.24. East coast and the Torres Strait islands. Also on west coast just north of Pormpuraaw. 3.2.24b: Was previosly mapped as 3.2.32 and (part) 3.2.24. Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait islands. 3.2.24c: Was previously mapped as 3.2.5 and 3.2.31. Coastal dunes acros the Peninsula, predominantly on the west coast and from Cooktown to Bathurst Bay. Great Barrier Reef and 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.
