Regional ecosystem details for 7.12.37
| Regional ecosystem | 7.12.37 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Contains Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 6, 7, 5, 9, (3), (2), (4), (1), (8) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 5000 ha; Remnant 2021 5000 ha |
| Short description | Rock pavements and seepage areas of wet lowlands, uplands and highlands of the eastern escarpment and central range (excluding Hinchinbrook Island and Bishop Peak) on granite and rhyolite, with Allocasuarina spp. Low woodland and/or sedgelands |
| Structure code | Low Woodland |
| Description | Rock pavements and seepage areas of wet lowlands, uplands and highlands of the eastern escarpment and central range (excluding high granite areas of Hinchinbrook Island and Bishops Peak), with Allocasuarina spp. (sheoaks) low woodland and/or sedgelands. Granite and rhyolite. Contains Palustrine. (BVG1M: 28e). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 7.12.37a: Complex of open to closed shrublands, low to medium woodlands and forests and grasslands. Mountain rock pavements. Main component: scrub (Allocasuarina littoralis, Syncarpia glomulifera, Lophostemon confertus), shrubland (Banksia aquilonia, Leptospermum sp.) and heath (Xanthorrhoea johnsonii, Gahnia spp., Dicranopteris linearis). Mountainous eastern fall. Granite and rhyolite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 28e). 7.12.37b: Allocasuarina littoralis woodland and open forest. Steep rocky mountain slopes, and ridge tops, on granite and rhyolite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 28e). 7.12.37c: Allocasuarina littoralis, Banksia aquilonia, Leptospermum polygalifolium, and Xanthorrhoea johnsonii open shrubland with Themeda triandra and Gahnia spp. Exposed slopes on shallow granite soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 28e). 7.12.37d: Allocasuarina littoralis, Banksia aquilonia, Leptospermum polygalifolium, Acrotriche aggregata, Xanthorrhoea johnsonii, open shrubland. Common ground cover species include Themeda triandra and Gahnia spp., whilst Borya septentrionalis sometimes occupies small rock faces. Exposed slopes on shallow soils on granite and rhyolite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 28e). 7.12.37e: Acacia flavescens, Allocasuarina littoralis, Lophostemon grandiflorus, Alyxia spicata and Acacia calyculata closed heath and shrubland. Exposed coastal headlands. Granite and rhyolite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 28e). 7.12.37f: Gahnia sieberiana sedgeland. Seepage zones and shallow basins on granite slopes and ridges. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34f). 7.12.37g: 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 of the very wet rainfall zone. Granite and rhyolite. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34f). 7.12.37h: Acacia flavescens, Allocasuarina littoralis and Allocasuarina torulosa low shrubby open forest to woodland. Granite and rhyolite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 28e). 7.12.37i: Bare rock pavements associated with Allocasuarina spp. (sheoaks) shrublands and/or sedgelands on seepage areas of wet lowlands, uplands and highlands of the eastern escarpment and central range (excluding high granite areas of Hinchinbrook Island and Bishops Peak). Rock pavements and outcrops. Granite and rhyolite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 29b). |
| Supplementary description | Stanton and Stanton (2005), G213, G145 in part (Qld Herbarium and WTMA (2005) G246a), R146, G146 in part (Qld Herbarium and WTMA (2005) G146 and G245a), R213, R21 in part (Qld Herbarium and WTMA (2005) R244a), G21 in part (Qld Herbarium and WTMA (2005) G2 |
| Protected areas | Girringun NP, Tully Gorge NP, Wooroonooran NP, Hinchinbrook Island NP, Girramay NP, Daintree NP (CYPAL), Paluma Range NP, Japoon NP, Fitzroy Island NP, Kirrama NP, Ngalba-bulal NP (CYPAL), Tully Falls NP, Maalan NP, Mount Mackay NP, Herberton Range CP, An |
| Special values | 7.12.37: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Austrobuxus megacarpus, Coleus gratus, Polyalthia submontana subsp. submontana, Prostanthera albohirta, Prostanthera clotteniana, 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. f, g: Oct-Dec (occasionally Sep). INTENSITY: Moisture and topography affect severity. Low to high. f, g: Variable, depending on fuel. 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. f, g: 10-20 years. There will be practical difficulties in attempting to burn grassland and sedgeland at different intervals. INTERVAL_MIN: 6. INTERVAL_MAX: 20. STRATEGY: Mosaic burns will be achieved through use of natural features such as topography and creek-lines. Protect from wildfire or manage surrounding country to reduce the potential of fire incursion. f, g: 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. ISSUES: Burn when water and moisture are present on the ground. These communities contain some obligate seeding species that are dependent on fire for seed release. f, g: 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. |
| Comments | 7.12.37: Distinguished from other Allocasuarina spp. dominated rock-pavement regional ecosystems by its eastern fall position and high rainfall, and exclusion from Hinchinbrook Island and Bishops Peak (occurrences of which are split into their own ecosystem - 7.12.64). Scattered across most of the bioregion. 7.12.37a: Minor components: 13f and 16f. (Webb and Tracey). 7.12.37i: 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.
