Regional ecosystem details for 3.5.4
| Regional ecosystem | 3.5.4 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 4, 7, (8) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 15000 ha; Remnant 2021 15000 ha |
| Short description | Semi-deciduous notophyll vine forest in small patches on northern plateaus |
| Structure code | Closed Forest |
| Description | A diverse group of species which includes Welchiodendron longivalve (yellow box-penda), Acacia polystachya (wattle), Buchanania arborescens (native mango), Dysoxylum oppositifolium (pink mahogany), Canarium australianum (scrub turpentine), Endiandra glauca (coach walnut) and Alstonia actinophylla (milkwood) as dominants in a dense, even canopy (18-25m tall). A number of other species may be present in the canopy and dominate in places. At some sites the canopy may only be 8-15 metres tall and be dominated by single species such as Choriceras tricorne (Cape choriceras). A sparse to mid-dense sub-canopy layer (15-20m tall) and mid-dense low tree layer (3-8 m) are usually also present. The composition of these layers varies between individual vine forest patches. Thin wiry vines such as Flagellaria indica are frequent and often reach the top of the canopy. Scattered epiphytic orchids are present on the lower branches of the canopy trees. The ground is covered with a thick layer of leaf litter and rocks frequently outcrop. Scattered forbs and tree seedlings are usually present. Occurs as small patches on plateaus. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 2c). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 3.5.4x1: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped as 3.5.33. A mid-dense to dense, uneven canopy (12-35m tall) is often dominated by the evergreen trees Welchiodendron longivalve (yellow box-penda), Emmenosperma alphitonioides, Halfordia kendack, Syzygium forte subsp. forte, Acmena hemilampra subsp. hemilampra and Flindersia ifflaiana. Other frequent canopy trees that may be codominants in places include Acacia polystachya, Blepharocarya involucrigera (rose butternut), Alstonia actinophylla (milkwood), Buchanania arborescens (native mango) (walnut), Podocarpus grayae, Sterculia quadrifida and Endiandra glauca. Occasional evergreen emergent trees up to 40 metres tall are present. A number of species may be present in the sparse to mid-dense sub-canopy layer (10-22m tall) with Endiandra glauca (coach walnut) the most frequently encountered tree and Ptychosperma elegans the most frequent palm. A sparse to mid-dense shrub/low tree layer (0.5-10m) is usually present. Atractocarpus sessilis and Choriceras tricorne are the most frequent species in this layer. Wilkiea rigidifolia, Syzygium fibrosum, Tabernaemontana orientalis and Cryptocarya cunninghamii are often present. The palms, Licuala ramsayi (fan palm), Hydriastele wendlandiana and Ptychosperma macarthurii are frequently present in the lower tree layers. The composition of these layers varies between individual vine forest patches. Thin wiry vines such as Flagellaria indica, Smilax australis, S. glyciphylla and Strychnos minor are common, and often reach the top of the canopy. Scattered epiphytic orchids are present on the lower branches of the canopy trees. The ground is covered with a thick layer of leaf litter, and rocks frequently outcrop. Scattered ferns, graminoids and tree seedlings are usually present. Occurs on sandplains & plateaus. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 2c). 3.5.4x2: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is not mapped. Acacia crassicarpa (spoon tree) dominates the mid-dense to dense canopy (6-15m tall). Neofabricia myrtifolia (yellow teatree) and Syzygium banksii are frequently codominant trees. The sparse to dense sub-canopy (2-8m tall) is composed of a variety of trees, with Atractocarpus sessilis, Choriceras tricorne, Psydrax spp., Leucopogon yorkensis and Halfordia kendack occurring at the highest densities. Pandanus conicus is frequently present as a conspicuous low tree. The sparse shrub layer (0.5-2m tall) is composed of a variety of shrubs and young trees of species of the upper layers, with Alyxia spicata and Lithomyrtus obtusa occurring locally at high densities. The ground layer is very sparse, mainly composed of scattered graminoids. Occurs on sandsheets close to the coast. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 3a). 3.5.4x3: [RE not in use]²: This proposed new RE is now mapped as 3.5.33. Simple evergreen notophyll vine forest on sand plains. RE is defunct. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 3a). 3.5.4x4: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is not mapped. The dense to mid-dense canopy (6-20m tall) is dominated by a variety of species including Asteromyrtus angustifolia, Neofabricia myrtifolia (yellow teatree), Syzygium banksii, Acacia crassicarpa (spoon tree) and Araucaria cunninghamii (Hoop pine). A sparse emergent tree layer of A. cunninghamii (15-30m tall) is present in small patches. The sparse to mid-dense sub-canopy (2-8m tall) is composed of a variety of trees, with Atractocarpus sessilis, Choriceras tricorne, Psydrax sp., Leucopogon yorkensis and Pandanus conicus occurring at the highest densities. The sparse shrub layer (0.5-2m tall) is composed of shrubs and young trees of species of the upper layers. Eugenia reinwardtiana, Pimelea aquilonia, Myrsine variabilis, Choriceras tricorne and Styphelia ruscifolia occur in large numbers. The ground layer is very sparse, and mainly composed of the graminoids, Arthrostylis aphylla, Lomandra spp. And Dianella spp. Occurs on coastal plains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 3a). 3.5.4x5: [RE not in use]²: This proposed new regional ecosystem is now mapped as 3.12.3b. A fairly even, closed canopy (12-35m tall) dominated mainly by Acacia polystachya (a wattle), A. midgleyi (brown salwood) or Blepharocarya involucrigera (rose butternut). Canarium australianum (scrub turpentine), Grevillea baileyana (Findlay's silky oak) Lophostemon suaveolens (swamp mahogany), Argyrodendron polyandrum (brown tulip oak) and Buchanania arborescens (native mango) are often present and subdominant in the canopy. Eucalyptus spp. form a sparse emergent layer (20-40m tall) in places. The sub-canopy layer (10-25 metres tall) consists of a variety of evergreen species with Cryptocarya cunninghamii (coconut laurel), C. vulgaris (northern laurel), Dysoxylum acutangulum, Endiandra glauca (coach walnut) and Chionanthus ramiflorus (native olive) the most frequent trees. A sparse, low tree layer (0.5-10m tall) is usually present. Atractocarpus sessilis (native gardenia), Diploglottis macrantha, Tabernaemontana orientalis, Cryptocarya claudiana, Wilkiea rigidifolia and Cupaniopsis flagelliformis (brown tuckeroo) are frequently present in this layer. Scattered slender vines such as Flagellaria indica (supplejack) and Tetracera nordtiana var. nordtiana, are frequent. The climbing palms, Calamus caryotoides (fish-tail lawyer vine) and C. australis (hairy mary) are often present, and form dense thickets in disturbed areas. Epiphytes such as Drynaria quercifolia are relatively scarce. A very sparse ground layer is composed of seedling trees, graminoids and ferns. Occurs on coastal plains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 5d). |
| Supplementary description | Neldner and Clarkson (in prep), 12, 12-10. |
| Protected areas | Apudthama NP (CYPAL), Batavia NP (CYPAL), Oyala Thumotang NP (CYPAL), Bromley (Kungkaychi) NP (CYPAL) |
| Special values | 3.5.4: Habitat for the near threatened species Senegalia albizioides and Margaritaria indica. |
| 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 | 3.5.4: The RE 3.7.2x2 was amalgamated into this RE. Great variability in species composition between patches. This RE also occurs in small patches on outcrops of deeply weathered rock (land zone 7) and sandstone outcrops (land zone 10). North of bioregion. 3.5.4x1: Shelburne Bay. 3.5.4x2: Lockhart River. 3.5.4x4: Cape Weymouth. 3.5.4x5: Lockhart River. |
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.
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.
