Regional ecosystem details for 7.12.26
| Regional ecosystem | 7.12.26 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 6, 5, (7), (4), (3), (2), (9), (1) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 35000 ha; Remnant 2021 35000 ha |
| Short description | Syncarpia glomulifera +/- Corymbia intermedia +/- Allocasuarina spp. open forest, or Lophostemon suaveolens, Allocasuarina littoralis, C. intermedia shrubland +/- vine forest spp. on exposed ridgelines or steep slopes on granites and rhyolites |
| Structure code | Open Forest |
| Description | Syncarpia glomulifera (turpentine) +/- Corymbia intermedia (pink bloodwood) +/- Allocasuarina spp. (sheoaks) closed forest to woodland, or Lophostemon suaveolens (swamp mahogany), Allocasuarina littoralis (black sheoak), C. intermedia shrubland, (or vine forest with these species as emergents). Exposed ridgelines or steep rocky slopes, on granite and rhyolite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9d). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 7.12.26a: Syncarpia glomulifera, Allocasuarina torulosa and/or A. littoralis open forest and woodland. Uplands and highlands, often on steep slopes, of the wet rainfall zone. Granite and rhyolite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 28e). 7.12.26b: Syncarpia glomulifera, Allocasuarina torulosa and/or A. littoralis open forest and woodland with a very well-developed vine forest understorey. Uplands and highlands, often on steep slopes, of the wet rainfall zone. Granite and rhyolite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 28e). 7.12.26c: Corymbia intermedia, Syncarpia glomulifera, Lophostemon confertus closed forest with Allocasuarina torulosa and Banksia aquilonia. Uplands and highlands, of the wet to moist rainfall zone. Granite and rhyolite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9d). 7.12.26d: Syncarpia glomulifera, Corymbia intermedia, Allocasuarina littoralis, Banksia aquilonia, Acacia flavescens woodland to low woodland with Xanthorrhoea johnsonii. Foothills and uplands of the moist rainfall zone. Granite and rhyolite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9d). 7.12.26e: Syncarpia glomulifera low open forest and low woodland. Uplands on steep rocky slopes, of the moist and dry rainfall zone. Granite and rhyolite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 28e). 7.12.26f: Lophostemon suaveolens, Allocasuarina littoralis, Corymbia intermedia, Eucalyptus pellita, Grevillea glauca, Persoonia falcata and Xanthorrhoea johnsonii tall open shrubland. Upper slopes and ridge crests of moist zone. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 28e). |
| Supplementary description | Stanton and Stanton (2005), G13f, G16f, G60, G67, G67v, R13f, R16f, R60, R67, R67v, R161, G161; Tracey and Webb (1975), 13f, 16f |
| Protected areas | Girringun NP, Hinchinbrook Island NP, Paluma Range NP, Girramay NP, Tully Gorge NP, Little Mulgrave NP, Kirrama NP, Fitzroy Island NP, Baldy Mountain FR, Wooroonooran NP, Grey Peaks NP, Daintree NP (CYPAL), Herberton Range CP, Dinden NP, Goold Island NP, |
| Special values | 7.12.26: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Acacia homaloclada, Austrobuxus megacarpus, Corybas cerasinus, Melaleuca uxorum, Parsonsia wildensis, Vincetoxicum rupicola. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Avoid dry conditions or fires will spread too much. April to July or as early as March, conditions permitting. c,d,e,f: April-May or in some years through until Sep. INTENSITY: Moisture and topography affect severity. Low to high. c,d,e,f: Low to occasional moderate. INTERVAL: 6-10 years with some areas burnt at longer intervals. Fire intervals less than 6 years are too short to allow replenishment of obligate seeders. c,d,e,f: 6-10 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 6. INTERVAL_MAX: 10. STRATEGY: Mosaic burns will be achieved through use of natural features such as topography and creek-lines. Burn in association with surrounding vegetation. Protection relies on the broad-scale management of surrounding country with numerous small fires throughout the year so that wildfires will be very limited in extent. Fire exclusion and buffering from fire are not necessary. c,d,e,f: Mosaic burn 25-70% of the target area. Across the landscape burn different areas at different intervals to add diversity. ISSUES: Any planned burning should be conducted in association with plans for surrounding vegetation. Often contains obligate seed regenerating species and as such, the application of frequent fire may reduce species richness if the intervals between fire are not sufficient for plants to produce seed. Too frequent a fire frequency may result in a net loss of nutrients over time from an already nutrient poor system. Burn when water and moisture are present on the ground. c,d,e,f: Occasional moderate fire can assist management of overabundant tree recruitment. Too frequent fire can eliminate shrubs which require several years before they set seed. |
| Comments | 7.12.26: Dense regeneration of understorey species such as Acacia flavescens and Allocasuarina littoralis are characteristic of disturbance. Generally experiences severe seasonal moisture deficits. Scattered throughout the bioregion but very common on the Cardwell Range and Hinchinbrook Island, also the Kirrama Range, Seaview Range, Yarrabah, and ranges west of Gordonvale. Susceptible to sheet and gully erosion. 7.12.26b: Well-developed vine forest understorey is probably a condition state caused by infrequent burning. |
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.
