Regional ecosystem details for 3.3.53
| Regional ecosystem | 3.3.53 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 4, 6, (7), (1), (5), (2), (3) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 91000 ha; Remnant 2021 91000 ha |
| Short description | Neofabricia myrtifolia +/- Melaleuca viridiflora low woodland on streams and alluvial plains |
| Structure code | Low Woodland |
| Description | Neofabricia myrtifolia low woodland to low open forest +/- Melaleuca viridiflora +/- Asteromyrtus brassii. Callitris intratropica emergents can occur. This RE rarely occurs as emergent canopy species over an Asteromyrtus lysicephala open heath. Occurs on streams and alluvial plains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 29a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 3.3.53a: Neofabricia myrtifolia and Thryptomene oligandra low woodland to low open forest +/- Lophostemon suaveolens+/- Acacia crassicarpa +/- Banksia dentata. Callitris intratropica can occur as an emergent. The sparse to mid-dense shrub layer includes canopy species and often includes Asteromyrtus lysicephala, Jacksonia thesioides and Leucopogon yorkensis. The sparse ground layer often contains Lomandra banksii, Schoenus sparteus, and juvenile canopy and shrub layer heath species. Occurs on streambanks and alluvial plains. Contains Riverine. (BVG1M: 28c). 3.3.53b: Melaleuca viridiflora and/or Neofabricia myrtifolia and/or Asteromyrtus brassii low open woodland to woodland +/- Banksia dentata +/- Eucalyptus tetrodonta. An emergent layer can occur and include canopy species +/- Corymbia clarksoniana +/-Eucalyptus brassiana. The sparse sub canopy can contain canopy species +/-Grevillea spp. The sparse to mid-dense shrub layer often contains Asteromyrtus lysicephala +/- M. viridiflora +/- Persoonia falcata +/- Acacia spp. The sparse to mid-dense ground layer is often dominated by Schoenus spp. and Eriachne spp. In some cases this community can also occur as an open heath of Asteromyrtus lysicephala and M. viridiflora with emergents of the above canopy species. Occurs on sandy alluvial plains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 29a). 3.3.53c: Neofabricia myrtifolia and Asteromyrtus brassii woodland usually with emergent Callitris intratropica. A mid-dense subcanopy contains canopy species +/- Atractocarpus sessilis +/- Leucopogon yorkensis. A sparse shrub layer contains canopy species +/- Psydrax spp. +/- Styphelia ruscifolia. The sparse ground layer contains Lomandra spp. and Cleistochloa spp. Occurs on streams often at the landward side of coastal dunefields. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 29a). 3.3.53x1: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped as 3.3.53b. 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 sandplains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 29a). 3.3.53x2: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped as 3.3.67. Melaleuca arcana (Cape York paperbark) dominates the sparse to mid-dense canopy (0.5-3m tall). Thryptomene oligandra, Asteromyrtus lysicephala (back to front bush), Baeckea frutescens (weeping baeckea) and Gahnia sieberiana (saw sedge) are usually also present at high densities. These latter species may be taller than the predominant M. arcana, which may only reach 0.5m metres in places. Very occasional emergent Grevillea pteridifolia (toothbrush grevillea) trees up to 6 metres tall may be present. The ground layer is sparse to mid-dense and dominated by Baloskion tetraphyllum subsp. meiostachyum, Dapsilanthus spp. and Schoenus sparteus. In places, Gahnia sieberiana forms thick sedgelands up to 2 metres tall. Occurs on sandplains. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 29a). |
| Protected areas | Apudthama NP (CYPAL), Muundhi (Jack River) NP (CYPAL), Ngaynggarr NP (CYPAL), Rinyirru (Lakefield) NP (CYPAL), Batavia NP (CYPAL), Melsonby (Gaarraay) NP (CYPAL), Bromley (Ampulin) NP (CYPAL) |
| Special values | 3.3.53: The near threatened species Xanthostemon arenarius occurs in this ecosystem. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: August-September up to November depending on the season. x2: Burn any time after the wet season when sufficiently dry to carry fire, with occasional storm or late dry season burns (Oct-Jan). 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. x2: Apply a mosaic across the landscape to break up the continuity of fuels and limit the extent of late season wildfire. 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. x2: A combination of early to mid-dry season fires and storm-burns would assist in maintaining a mosaic of fire ages. A mosaic of fire ages ensures both habitat diversity and restricts fire spread. Avoid peat fires by burning when there is standing water or the ground is water logged. |
| Comments | 3.3.53: RE 3.3.54 and 3.3.55 were amalgamated in to this RE. Mainly in the northern part of the bioregion but also mapped in the Laura Basin. 3.3.53a: Along the Jardine River and tributaries. Proposed new RE 3.5.19x7 was amalgamated in to this vegetation community. 3.3.53b: Proposed new RE 3.5.19x3 was amalgamated in to this vegetation community. 3.3.53x1: In some areas the structure has changed from a previously open heath with emergents to a woodland dominated by the previously emergent species. Wenlock River near Moreton. 3.3.53x2: Shelburne Bay and Iron Range. |
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.
