Regional ecosystem details for 3.3.38
| Regional ecosystem | 3.3.38 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 7, (1), (6), (8), (3) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 27000 ha; Remnant 2021 27000 ha |
| Short description | Deciduous notophyll and/or microphyll vine thicket +/- Lagerstroemia archeriana on heavy clay alluvium |
| Structure code | Low Closed Forest |
| Description | Deciduous to semi-deciduous vine thicket that can contain Lagerstroemia archeriana, Terminalia sericocarpa and sometimes Melaleuca spp. Eucalyptus microtheca emergents sometimes occur. Occurs on heavy clay alluvium. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 7b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 3.3.38a: Deciduous notophyll / microphyll vine thicket. The uneven canopy (5-10, rarely to 18m tall) is composed of a variety of species most of which are deciduous in the dry season. Lagerstroemia archeriana subsp. archeriana (crepe myrtle), Strychnos lucida (strychnine bush), Diospyros hebecarpa (grey ebony), Croton arnhemicus (hard cascarilla), Larsenaikia ochreata (native gardenia) and Memecylon pauciflorum often occur at high densities. Lagerstroemia archeriana subsp. archeriana and Bombax ceiba (kapok) are frequently present as emergent trees up to 25m tall. Eucalyptus microtheca (coolabah) is a common emergent tree along the drainage lines of the Archer River and its tributaries. A sparse to mid-dense sub-canopy layer is sometimes present. Ixora timorensis (black berry tree), Gardenia scabrella (native gardenia), Strychnos lucida and Cleistanthus apodus (weeping cleistanthus) usually dominate the sparse to mid-dense shrub layer (0.5-6m tall). Vines are frequent in both the shrub and tree layers. The ground layer is usually sparse but can be mid-dense in areas where the tree canopy is sparse. Abutilon auritum (Chinese lantern), Curcuma australasica (Cape York lily) and Oplismenus spp. provide the greatest cover in the ground layer. Occurs on heavy clay alluvium west of the great dividing range. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 7b). 3.3.38b: Deciduous notophyll vine thicket dominated by Terminalia sericocarpa (damsonwood) and Lagerstroemia archeriana (crepe myrtle) with Cordia dichotoma (snotty gobble tree), Barringtonia acutangula subsp. acutangula (freshwater mangrove) and Buchanania arborescens (satinwood) also common. An open subcanopy can include canopy species +/- Antidesma ghaesembilla (blackcurrant) +/- Dendrolobium umbellatum (horsebush). The sparse shrublayer can include a range of deciduous vine thicket species. The ground layer is generally sparse. Ziziphus oenopolia (wine jujube) often grows along the outer edge of this community. Occurs on heavy clay alluvium east of the Great Dividing Range. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 7b). 3.3.38c: Semi deciduous notophyll vine forest. Dominant species include Canarium australianum, Terminalia subacroptera, Semecarpus australiensis, Buchanania arborescens and Acacia auriculiformis +/- Erythrina variegata +/- Welchiodendron longivalve +/- Parinari nonda +/- Chionanthus ramiflorus. Can include isolated pockets of Lophostemon suaveolens (swamp mahogany) open forest. Occurs on alluvial to colluvial plains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 7b). 3.3.38d: Deciduous vine thicket. The uneven canopy (4-8m tall) is dominated by a variety of species with Terminalia oblongata subsp. volucris, Melaleuca citrolens (scrub teatree), Cochlospermum gillivraei (kapok) and Croton arnhemicus the most frequent species. Occasional Eucalyptus acroleuca (Lakefield coolabah) trees are present as emergents (8-10m tall). The shrub layer is sparse to mid-dense, and 1-5m tall. There is an abundance of the scandent shrubs Capparis sepiaria, Stigmaphyllon timoriense and Ziziphus oenopolia present in the canopy and shrub layers. The ground layer is very sparse, with an accumulation of leaf litter on the ground. Occurs in depressions. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 7b). 3.3.38e: Low closed forest which often includes Strychnos lucida, Memecylon pauciflorum, Larsenaikia ochreata, Lagerstroemia archeriana, Croton arnhemicus and Terminalia muelleri. Emergent Elaeocarpus arnhemicus and Eucalyptus microtheca are usually present. A sparse shrub layer often includes canopy species +/- Capparis spp. Occurs on heavy clay alluvium. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 7b). |
| Protected areas | Oyala Thumotang NP (CYPAL), Rinyirru (Lakefield) NP (CYPAL), KULLA (McIlwraith Range) NP (CYPAL) |
| Special values | 3.3.38: High diversity of vascular plants, many with restricted distributions. Important wildlife corridors. The near threatened plant species Margaritaria indica occurs in this ecosystem. 3.3.38d: Floristic affinities with deciduous vine thickets of central Cape York Peninsula. |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: No deliberate fire management required within this unit. Undertake fuel reduction burns in surrounding vegetation utilising multiple small fires throughout the appropriate season to manage biodiversity values and to limit the extent and reduce risks of wildfire. ISSUES: Fire sensitive vegetation type. |
| Comments | 3.3.38: Central part of bioregion and in the Torres Strait. Heavily used by cattle and feral pigs for shelter. 3.3.38a: Central part of bioregion west of the dividing range. Heavily used by cattle and feral pigs for shelter. 3.3.38b: Often grows along the edges of extensive grasslands of the Nesbit plain and the semi deciduous mesophyll/ notophyll vine forest. Central part of bioregion east of the dividing range. Heavily used by cattle and feral pigs for shelter. 3.3.38c: Part of 3.11.2b was amalgamated into this vegetation community.Traditional burning practice has had a major structural impact on this community, most likely leading to a significant reduction in its original extent and floristic composition. Confined to Gebar Iskand in the Torres Strait. 3.3.38d: Was previously mapped as 3.3.40a. Lakefield National Park. 3.3.38e: Patches of forest with emergents Eucalyptus microtheca which were probably once RE 3.3.37. Central Peninsula mainly in the Archer River Basin. |
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.
