Regional ecosystem details for 7.12.38
| Regional ecosystem | 7.12.38 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Endangered |
| Subregion | 3.5, 9, (5), (3.2) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 1000 ha; Remnant 2021 1000 ha |
| Short description | Deciduous microphyll vine forest and/or blue-green algae-covered granite and rhyolite boulderfields |
| Structure code | Bare |
| Description | Deciduous microphyll vine forest and/or blue-green algae-covered granite and rhyolite boulderfields. Foothills of the moist rainfall zone. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 29b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 7.12.38a: Blue-green algae-covered boulders on giant granodiorite boulder jumbles (granitic lithosol). Occurs on boulderfields largely devoid of vascular plants. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 29b). 7.12.38b: Deciduous microphyll vine thicket. Granite and rhyolite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 7b). 7.12.38c: Deciduous microphyll vine thicket. Lowlands and foothills of the far south of the bioregion. Dry rainfall zone. Rhyolite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 7b). |
| Supplementary description | Stanton and Stanton (2005), R11, R11a, G11, G260a in part (Qld Herbarium and WTMA (2005) G260ab); Neldner and Clarkson (1995), 195; Tracey and Webb (1975), 21, 11 |
| Protected areas | Kalkajaka NP (CYPAL), Ngalba-bulal NP (CYPAL), Annan River (Yuku Baja-Muliku) NP, Paluma Range NP, Mount Lewis NP |
| Special values | 7.12.38: The Black Trevethan Range is the only known habitat for several very restricted threatened species of fauna including Cophixalus saxatilis, Nactus galgajuga, Carlia scirtetis, Ctenotus nullum. Caves formed in these boulder fields provide roost sites for Macroderma gigas. Threatened plant species include Rhaphidospora cavernarum. Southern limit for several Cape York species e.g. Curcuma australasica and Arytera bifoliolata. |
| 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 | 7.12.38: The blue-green algae that cover the surface of the granitic boulders form the major component of the biomass. Floristically depauperate. Affinities with this vegetation are mixed, with definite Cape York, southern Queensland and Einasleigh Uplands representatives. This regional ecosystem is confined to the Black Mountain-Mount Simon area near Cooktown, although a variant of the deciduous microphyll vine forest element is found in the far south, on the Seaview Range. Fire regimes and intensity is important. The edges of this ecosystem are very weedy, but overall it is in good condition. 7.12.38a: 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.
