Regional ecosystem details for 7.11.40
| Regional ecosystem | 7.11.40 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Contains Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 9 |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 600 ha; Remnant 2021 600 ha |
| Short description | Complex of sclerophyll communities dominated by Syncarpia glomulifera or Melaleuca spp., or sedges, or ferns, or microphyll vine forest with Trochocarpa bellendenkerensis on highlands, on quartzite or associated metamorphics |
| Structure code | Open Forest |
| Description | Complex of sclerophyll communities dominated by Syncarpia glomulifera (turpentine), or Melaleuca spp. (tea tree), or sedges, or ferns, or microphyll vine forest with Trochocarpa bellendenkerensis. Uplands and highlands, on quartzite or associated metamorphics, of the very wet rainfall zone. Contains Palustrine. (BVG1M: 28e). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 7.11.40a: Melaleuca quinquenervia woodland to open forest and shrubland. Highlands, on quartzite or associated metamorphics, of the very wet rainfall zone. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 22a). 7.11.40b: Syncarpia glomulifera and Melaleuca quinquenervia open forest. Seasonal swamp of upland hillslopes. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 22b). 7.11.40c: Closed sedgeland with emergent shrubs of Melaleuca quinquenervia and Banksia robur. Highlands, on quartzite or associated metamorphics, of the very wet rainfall zone. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34f). 7.11.40d: Melaleuca viridiflora woodland. Highlands, on quartzite or associated metamorphics, of the very wet rainfall zone. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 21a). 7.11.40e: Simple notophyll vine forest with Acacia celsa forming more than one third of the canopy. Sharply broken topography on metamorphics. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 5d). 7.11.40f: Microphyll Vine Thicket with Trochocarpa bellendenkerensis, Uromyrtus tenella, Rhodomyrtus macrocarpa, Placospermum coriaceum, Musgravea stenostachya, and Acacia celsa. Steep metamorphic scree slopes of upland and highland areas. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 6b). 7.11.40g: Sedgeland-shrubland complexes with emergent shrubs, fernland with emergent shrubs, shrublands, and low woodlands with Allocasuarina littoralis, Melaleuca quinquenervia, Rhodomyrtus sericea, Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum, Gahnia sieberiana, Schoenus sparteus, Ischaemum australe, Dianella sp., Drosera sp. Uplands on metamorphics in the Thornton Range area. Very wet rainfall zone. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34f). 7.11.40h: Closed fernland with Gleichenia dicarpa, Gahnia sieberiana, Palhinhaea cernua, Pseudolycopodium densum, Smilax glyciphylla, Hibbertia scandens. Emergent shrubs of Myrsine achradifolia, Acronychia chooreechillum, Rhodomyrtus sericea, Uromyrtus metrosideros, Hypsophila halleyana, Trochocarpa sp. High mountain summits on metamorphics. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34f). 7.11.40i: Bare rock. Highlands, on quartzite or associated metamorphics in the Thornton Range area. Very wet rainfall zone. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 29b). |
| Supplementary description | Stanton and Stanton (2005), A229, A230, Q229, M229, Q33, M33, Q78, M178, M188, M162 in part (Qld Herbarium and WTMA (2005) M266b), Q162 in part (Qld Herbarium and WTMA (2005) Q266b), M158, Q260a in part (Qld Herbarium and WTMA (2005) Q260ab) |
| Protected areas | Daintree NP (CYPAL) |
| Special values | 7.11.40: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Hedyotis novoguineensis. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Oct-Dec (occasionally Sep). a, b, d: Early to mid-dry season in normal season (March-May). Early to late-season in wet year (March-Sep). e, f: Do not burn deliberately. INTENSITY: Variable, depending on fuel. a, b, d: Low to moderate. e, f: Do not burn deliberately. INTERVAL: 10-20 years. There will be practical difficulties in attempting to burn grassland and sedgeland at different intervals. a, b, d: 3-10 years. e, f: Do not burn deliberately. INTERVAL_MIN: 3. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Entire continuous areas are likely to burn at any one time. Burn 25-30% of these communities in WET in any one year. Attempt to time burning when water level is high enough to cover both peat and sedge bases. Protect from wildfire or manage surrounding country to reduce the potential of fire incursion. a, b, d: Patch burn (<30% of area) early in the dry season to limit the extent and intensity of wildfires. Fires may, depending on the conditions and type of vegetation, burn areas larger than just the melaleuca ecosystem. Ensure secure boundaries from non fire-regime adapted ecosystems. Use topography to restrict spread of fire. Consider the needs of melaleuca ecosystems based on understorey (i.e., heath dominated, sedge dominated or mixed grass/shrub) when planning burns. High soil moisture (or presence of water on the ground) is required, as avoidance of peat-type fires must be maintained. e, f: Do not burn deliberately. Mosaic burning in surrounding fire-adapted ecosystems will minimise spread and severity of wildfire during severe weather events. ISSUES: A planned burn is likely to be over 100% of the planned burn area; so while mosaic burning is desirable to maintain structure and protect animal habitat and food, it will rarely be achievable. Under dry conditions, with little soil moisture, peat may burn as it is highly flammable in such circumstances. Sedges are disadvantaged by repeated high intensity fires. a, b, d: Restrict extent and intensity of fires. High intensity and extensive fires degrade vegetation structure and destroy animal habitats. Melaleuca forests are fire-adapted, but too high an intensity or frequent fire will slow or prevent regeneration and lead to lower species richness (since these communities contain numerous obligate seed regenerating species that require sufficient fire intervals to produce seed). High intensity fires may kill trees and lead to whipstick regeneration. Too frequent fire may result in a net loss of nutrients over time from an already nutrient poor system. Fire associations are significantly influenced by understorey composition. e, f: Occasional hot fires in adjoining communities may be required to prevent expansion of rainforest elements. Edges are generally self-protecting but back burning from rainforest edges may be desirable. The occurrence of high biomass grasses in or adjacent to rainforest may detrimentally affect rainforest during fire events associated with dry weather. |
| Comments | 7.11.40: Western edge of Thornton Range, north of the Daintree River. 7.11.40i: Patches of bare rock < 0.2 ha are defined as more open areas of the surrounding ecosystems. |
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.
