Regional ecosystem details for 3.3.49
| Regional ecosystem | 3.3.49 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 8, 6, 1, 7, (2), (4), (9), (5), (3), (2.4), (9.3), (2.6), (7.9) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 1117000 ha; Remnant 2021 1113000 ha |
| Short description | Melaleuca viridiflora +/- Corymbia clarksoniana low open woodland on floodplains and alluvial plains |
| Structure code | Low Open Woodland |
| Description | Melaleuca viridiflora low open woodland to low woodland +/- Corymbia clarksoniana +/- Grevillea glauca +/- Acacia spp. An emergent layer often with C. clarksoniana, can occur, along with a range of other Eucalyptus spp. and Corymbia spp. A very sparse to sparse subcanopy layer often occurs with canopy spp. +/- Petalostigma banksii and sometimes heath species. The shrublayer also contains juvenile canopy spp. +/- Antidesma spp. The sparse to dense groundlayer often includes Eriachne spp., Aristida spp., Schizachyrium spp., sedge spp. and hydrophilic forbs. Occurs on alluvial plains and floodplains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 3.3.49a: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.3.49. Low open woodland to low woodland dominated by Melaleuca viridiflora (broad-leaved teatree). Petalostigma banksii (smooth-leaved quinine) can be sub-dominant to scattered in the canopy. Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) can occur as scattered emergents. P. banksii is often dominant in an open but distinct sub-canopy along with scattered Alphitonia pomaderroides (soapbush), Grevillea spp. and Melaleuca spp. The sparse shrublayer also commonly includes scattered P. banksii and occasionally Xanthorrhoea johnsonii (grass tree). The open to mid-dense groundlayer is can be dominated by Schizachyrium fragile (fire grass), Themeda triandra, (kangaroo grass), Eriachne spp.. Where wetter sedges and hydrophilic forbs are common. Occurs on floodplains. Occurs on floodplains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21a). 3.3.49b: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.3.49. Low open woodland to low woodland dominated by Melaleuca viridiflora (broad-leaved teatree). An emergent layer can occur, usually of Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) though a range of other Corymbia spp. and Eucalyptus spp. may also occur. A range of other species may also occur in the canopy layer with the most likely species C. clarksoniana. The subcanopy layer can be absent to sparse and contain a range of woodland species including Grevillea spp., Terminalia spp., and Acacia spp.. There is often a sparse to open shrublayer with M. viridiflora re-growth plus juveniles of canopy species. A range of grasses can be dominant in the sparse to grassy groundlayer and include Aristida spp., Eriachne spp., Alloteropsis semialata (cockatoo grass) and sedges like Fimbristylis spp., Scleria spp., Rhynchospora spp. Often occur along with a range of hydrophilic forbs in wetter parts. Occurs on low-lying plains. Occurs on low-lying plains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21a). 3.3.49c: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.3.49. Melaleuca viridiflora (broad-leaved paperbark), often with M. stenostachya (fibre-barked teatree), dominates the very sparse to sparse canopy (8-14m tall). A very sparse sub-canopy tree layer is usually present, and dominated by Petalostigma banksii (quinine), M. foliolosa (scale-leaved teatree) and M. stenostachya. Scattered shrubs consisting mainly of the same species plus Croton arnhemicus (hard Cascarilla) and M. viridiflora are sometimes present. Xanthorrhoea johnsonii (grass tree) dominates in some areas. The ground layer is sparse to mid-dense and dominated by Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum), Alloteropsis semialata (cockatoo grass), Arundinella setosa and Eremochloa bimaculata (poverty grass). Includes M. viridiflora low woodland with scattered emergent C. clarksoniana on broad drainage depressions. Occurs on flat plains and broad drainage depressions. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21a). 3.3.49d: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.3.49. Melaleuca viridiflora (broad-leaved teatree) dominates a very sparse canopy (4-14m tall) with scattered emergent Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) (8-18m tall) often present. Other Corymbia spp. or Eucalyptus spp. occur very occasionally as emergent trees. A very sparse sub-canopy tree layer (2-9m tall) is present at most sites with M. viridiflora and Petalostigma pubescens (quinine) occurring at the greatest densities. A very sparse shrub layer (<0.5 m) dominated by M. viridiflora juveniles is present at most sites. The ground layer is sparse to mid-dense and dominated by grasses or sedges in wetter parts. Schizachyrium spp. (fire grass), Aristida spp. (three-awned spear grasses), Eriachne spp. (wanderrie grasses) and Eremochloa bimaculata (poverty grass) are common dominant species in this layer. Occurs on current alluvial drainage lines. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21a). 3.3.49x1: Melaleuca cajuputi open woodland to woodland on coastal plains. Occurs on coastal plains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21a). |
| Protected areas | Rinyirru (Lakefield) NP (CYPAL), Olkola NP (CYPAL), Muundhi (Jack River) NP (CYPAL), Oyala Thumotang NP (CYPAL), KULLA (McIlwraith Range) NP (CYPAL), Cape Melville NP (CYPAL), Lama Lama NP (CYPAL), Alwal NP (CYPAL), Ngaynggarr NP (CYPAL), Batavia NP (CYPA |
| Special values | 3.3.49: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Astonia australiensis, Dendrobium bigibbum, Dendrobium johannis, Fimbristylis adjuncta, Habenaria fuscina, Habenaria xanthantha, Hibbertia cymosa, Homoranthus tropicus, Hoya revoluta, Pluchea tenuis, Stemona angusta, Stylidium longissimum. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Early to mid-dry season, with occasional storm burn or late dry season burn of limited area. INTENSITY: High, but low to moderate are more likely during the early to mid-dry season. INTERVAL: 1-5 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 1. INTERVAL_MAX: 5. STRATEGY: A mosaic of early dry season fires will prevent extensive wildfires in the late dry season and preserve areas for later storm-burning. Storm time and late dry season burns are used to maintain suitable vegetation structure. Burn less than 30% in any year. ISSUES: Lack of fire or low intensity burns can lead to overabundant broad-leaved ti-tree. High intensity fires may be difficult to achieve because of low fuel availability and accumulation rates and typically moister conditions. High intensity fires around storm time will promote a better developed ground layer. Active burning early in the dry season creates a mosaic to minimise the spread of wildfire late in the dry season. Early burns will usually burn with low intensity and will not control broad-leaved ti-tree. |
| Comments | 3.3.49: REs 3.3.49x1, 3.3.42 (a&b) and 3.3.43 were amalgamated into this RE. One of the most extensive REs in the bioregion. Eucalyptus melanophloia (silver-leaved ironbark) (6-10m tall) was recorded at one site. Widely distributed on floodplains, and extends into adjacent Gulf Plains bioregion. 3.3.49a: The variant of vegetation unit 158A is very similar to 3.3.49 but is characterised by a very sparse to sparse shrub layer (0.5-2m tall) dominated by Bossiaea armitii. Other shrub species include Alphitonia pomaderroides (soapwood), Melaleuca viridiflora, Acacia leptocarpa (a wattle), Asteromyrtus symphyocarpa, Calytrix leptophylla, Grevillea pteridifolia (golden Grevillea) and Neofabricia sericisepala (yellow teatree). Eucalyptus melanophloia (silver-leaved ironbark) (6-10m tall) was recorded at one site. 3.3.49b: This unit is derived from vegetation unit 159, but is restricted to those parts of the mapped unit no longer subject to inundation or saturation in the wet season. 3.3.49c: Especially in the Lakefield area. 3.3.49d: Especially in Lakefield. 3.3.49x1: Often grades in to 3.3.61 with scattered Melaleuca cajaputi emergents. On the west coast of the bioregion. |
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.
