Regional ecosystem details for 3.5.6
| Regional ecosystem | 3.5.6 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 6, 5, (2), (7) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 40000 ha; Remnant 2021 40000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus phoenicea woodland on sandy outwash plains |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Woodland to open forest dominated by Eucalyptus phoenicea (scarlet gum). E. tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark), E. leptophleba (Molloy box), Corymbia nesophila (Melville Island bloodwood) and Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) can also occur in the canopy. A sparse mixed subcanopy contains canopy species, Grevillea spp. and Acacia spp. The sparse to mid-dense shrub layer often contains Coelospermum reticulatum (medicine bush), Acacia calyculata, Melaleuca nervosa, Persoonia falcata (geebung) and Planchonia careya (cocky apple). The sparse ground layer is dominated by the grasses, Aristida spp., Schizachyrium spp. and Thaumastochloa spp. Occurs on sandy plains and ridges. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14c). |
| Supplementary description | Neldner and Clarkson (in prep), 85, 86 |
| Protected areas | Rinyirru (Lakefield) NP (CYPAL), Muundhi (Jack River) NP (CYPAL), Ngaynggarr NP (CYPAL), Cape Melville NP (CYPAL), Biniirr NP (CYPAL), Melsonby (Gaarraay) NP (CYPAL) |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Commence planned burns early in the dry season, after the wet season when dry enough to burn. Use occasional storm burns but generally avoid periods of extremely hot, dry conditions. INTENSITY: Low to moderate with occasional high during storm burns. INTERVAL: 2-5 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 2. INTERVAL_MAX: 5. STRATEGY: Apply a mosaic across the landscape at a range of intervals to create varying stages of post-fire response. Burn 30-60% at the property level. ISSUES: To mitigate against the impact of late dry season fires, commence burning early in the season and continue through the dry to break up continuity of fuels across the landscape. Planned fire applied repeatedly early in the dry season may lead to woody thickening because fires are not of sufficiently high intensity; this may be exacerbated by stock grazing. Manage extent, intensity and frequency of fires judiciously, to avoid habitat tree loss. |
| Comments | 3.5.6: Eucalyptus portuensis can be co-dominant. On the Battlecamp sandstone plateau. |
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.
