Regional ecosystem details for 7.12.60
| Regional ecosystem | 7.12.60 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Contains Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | Endangered |
| Subregion | 5, 6, (1), (4), (2), (9), (7) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 1000 ha; Remnant 2021 1000 ha |
| Short description | Melaleuca viridiflora +/- Corymbia clarksoniana +/- Eucalyptus platyphylla woodland to open forest on granite and rhyolite |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Melaleuca viridiflora (broad leaf tea tree) +/- Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) +/- Eucalyptus platyphylla (poplar gum) woodland to open forest. Granite and rhyolite. Contains Palustrine. (BVG1M: 21a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 7.12.60a: Melaleuca viridiflora woodland. Granite and rhyolite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21a). 7.12.60b: Corymbia clarksoniana, and/or C. intermedia, +/- Lophostemon suaveolens open woodland to low open woodland with a prominent secondary tree layer of Melaleuca viridiflora, and often with Xanthorrhoea johnsonii in the ground stratum. Granite and rhyolite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21a). 7.12.60c: Melaleuca quinquenervia woodland, open forest or shrubland. Granite and rhyolite. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 22a). |
| Supplementary description | Stanton and Stanton (2005), G41, CG41, R41, CR41, G78, R78, G33 |
| Protected areas | Girringun NP, Koombooloomba South FR, Hinchinbrook Island NP, Goold Island NP, Paluma Range NP, Mount Lewis NP, Mount Mackay NP, Tully Gorge NP, Orpheus Island NP |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Mid- to late dry season. b: Early to mid-dry season in normal season (March-May) and in drier areas (e.g., Mt Molloy region) where there is likelihood of fire continuing into dry period leaving ground exposed for long duration. Early to late-season in wet year (March-Sep). INTENSITY: Low to moderate. INTERVAL: 5-15 years. b: 3-10 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 3. INTERVAL_MAX: 15. STRATEGY: Allow fires in surrounding fire-adapted communities to burn into these melaleuca communities if the soil is moist. b: 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. ISSUES: Burn more frequently if whipstick regeneration is an issue. Keep flame height low if ant plants are present. b: 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. |
| Comments | 7.12.60c: This rare vegetation community is extinct. |
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.
