Regional ecosystem details for 7.12.1
| Regional ecosystem | 7.12.1 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Contains Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 7, 6, 9, (5), (3), (2), (8), (1), (4) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 124000 ha; Remnant 2021 120000 ha |
| Short description | Simple to complex mesophyll to notophyll vine forest of moderately to poorly-drained granites and rhyolites of moderate fertility of the moist and wet lowlands, foothills and uplands |
| Structure code | Closed Forest |
| Description | Simple to complex mesophyll to notophyll vine forest. Moderately to poorly-drained granites and rhyolites of moderate fertility of the moist and wet lowlands, foothills and uplands. Contains Palustrine. (BVG1M: 2a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 7.12.1a: Mesophyll to notophyll vine forest. Lowlands and foothills of the very wet and wet rainfall zones. Granite and rhyolite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 2a). 7.12.1b: Mesophyll to notophyll vine forest recovering from disturbance, with Acacia spp. canopy or emergents. Lowlands and foothills of the very wet and wet rainfall zones. Granite and rhyolite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 5d). 7.12.1c: Low to medium complex notophyll vine forest with Flindersia bourjotiana, Alstonia muelleriana, Grevillea baileyana, Cerbera floribunda, Franciscodendron laurifolium, Austromuellera trinervia, Carnarvonia araliifolia, Stenocarpus reticulatus, Musgravea heterophylla, Buckinghamia ferruginiflora, Elaeocarpus bancroftii, and Beilschmiedia castrisinensis. Colluvial boulder fields of lowlands and foothills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 2a). 7.12.1d: Mesophyll vine forest with scattered feather palms (Archontophoenix alexandrae). Seasonally inundated areas, on granite. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 4a). 7.12.1e: Complex mesophyll vine forest. Lowlands on granitic colluvium, of the moist and dry rainfall zones. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 1a). |
| Supplementary description | Stanton and Stanton (2005), G2a, G2a(a), CG2a(a), G2a(c), CG2a, R2a, R2a(a), CR2a, G72, CG72, G166, CG1c; Tracey and Webb (1975), 2a |
| Protected areas | Tully Gorge NP, Girringun NP, Wooroonooran NP, Daintree NP (CYPAL), Girramay NP, Japoon NP, Ngalba-bulal NP (CYPAL), Malbon Thompson FR, Mount Lewis NP, Mount Mackay NP, Hinchinbrook Island NP, Paluma Range NP, Russell River NP, Djiru NP, Kuranda NP, Grey |
| Special values | 7.12.1: Habitat for threatened plant species including: Actephila foetida, Arytera dictyoneura, Citrus inodora, Cladopus queenslandicus, Cheilocostus potierae, Croton densivestitus, Dansiea elliptica, Diploglottis pedleyi, Drosera adelae, Endiandra anthropophagorum, Phlegmariurus spp., Lepiderema largiflorens, Neostrearia fleckeri and Piper mestonii. Habitat for many plant species endemic to the bioregion. The vegetation community 7.12.1c (G166) harbours many regionally endemic species such as Choriceras majus, Beilschmiedia castrisinensis, Mesua larnachiana, Dissiliaria tuckeri and Buckinghamia ferruginiflora. Endemicity levels and species number decline south of the Tully River. The unusual grass Lophatherum gracile occurs along creeks particularly in the Tully area. It is the only known habitat of Passiflora aurantioides which in Australia is confined to the Babinda-Bellenden Ker area. |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Do not burn deliberately. Mosaic burning in surrounding fire-adapted ecosystems will minimise spread and severity of wildfire during severe weather events. ISSUES: 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 | 7.12.1: This is the dominant rainforest regional ecosystem below 400 m on granitic hills and mountains. It occurs on more poorly-drained and lower fertility soils than 7.12.2. Widespread throughout the bioregion. Destructive cyclonic winds and previous logging activities have resulted in much canopy disturbance, usually resulting in a significant Calamus cover. |
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.
