Regional ecosystem details for 3.8.5
| Regional ecosystem | 3.8.5 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 3 |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 500 ha; Remnant 2021 300 ha |
| Short description | Semi-deciduous and deciduous notophyll vine forest on the basaltic islands of the Torres Strait |
| Structure code | Closed Forest |
| Description | Semi-deciduous and deciduous notophyll vine forest. Occurs on basaltic islands. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 2d). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 3.8.5a: Semi-deciduous and deciduous notophyll vine forest often with Bombax ceiba, Diospyros hebecarpa, Alectryon repandodentatus, Adenanthera pavonina and Wrightia pubescens subsp. penicillata. Bombax ceiba and Coco nucifera can sometimes occur as emergents. A mid-dense to dense subcanopy and/or shrub layer of canopy species often occurs. Eugenia reinwardtiana, Phaleria octandra, Paleome angustifolia, Glycosmis trifoliata and Micromelum minutum are also common in the shrub layer. Commonly occurring vine species are Flagellaria indica, Smilax spp. and Abrus precatorius. Occurs on basalt hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 2d). 3.8.5b: Deciduous vine forest of Gyrocarpus americanus (helicopter tree), Cathormion umbellatum subsp. moniliforme, Garuga floribunda var. floribunda, Mimusops elengi (tanjong), Wrightia laevis, Diospyros hebecarpa and Bombax ceiba. The more open sub-canopy contains D. hebecarpa, Celtis philippensis, Alectryon repandodentatus and Manilkara kauki (Wongai plum). Eugenia reinwardtiana, Glycosmis trifoliata and Micromelum minutum are also common in the shrub layer. Occurs in basalt gullies. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 2d). 3.8.5c: Deciduous vine thicket with Garuga floribunda var. floribunda, Gyrocarpus americanus, Bombax ceiba and Antiaris toxicaria var. macrophylla. The sparse sub-canopy contains Cleistanthus peninsularis, Drypetes deplanchei, Eugenia reinwardtiana and Alectryon repandodentatus. The sparse shrub layer overlies basalt talus. Occurs on escarpments on basalt and scoria cones. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 2d). 3.8.5d: Low vine forest and vine thicket with Barringtonia calyptrata, Macaranga tanarius, Hibiscus tiliaceus, Cerbera manghas, Myristica insipida, Planchonella obovata, Alstonia spectabilis and Premna dallachyana with vines such as Mucuna gigantea and Entada phaseoloides. Bombax ceiba may occur as a sparse emergent in more successional stages. Occurs in sheltered gullies on basaltic cones. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 2d). 3.8.5e: Complex of semi deciduous vine thicket and low open forest of Pandanus spp. +/- Hibiscus tiliaceus. The vine thicket component is as described by 3.8.5c with Manilkara kauki particularly prominent in the canopy. Occurs on basalt escarpment. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 2d). |
| Special values | 3.8.5: Habitat for the endangered plant species Alectryon repandodentatus. |
| 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 | 3.8.5: Eastern Island Group of Torres Strait. 3.8.5a: Mer and Erub Islands, Torres Strait. 3.8.5b: Erub Island, Torres Strait. 3.8.5c: Erub and Mer Islands, Torres Strait. 3.8.5d: Mer Island, Torres Strait. The development of these communities is controlled by both soil limitations and fire. *Mangifera indica (mango) is a naturalised species in this community. 3.8.5e: Mer Island, Torres Strait. |
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.
