Regional ecosystem details for 7.12.64
| Regional ecosystem | 7.12.64 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Contains Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 6, (2) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 8000 ha; Remnant 2021 8000 ha |
| Short description | Xanthorrhoea spp., Allocasuarina littoralis, Banksia plagiocarpa +/- Leptospermum polygalifolium +/- Rhodomyrtus trineura subsp. trineura heathland and associated rock pavements of granite uplands and highlands of Hinchinbrook Island and near Bishop Peak |
| Structure code | Open Heath |
| Description | Heathlands with Xanthorrhoea spp. (grasstree), Allocasuarina littoralis (black sheoak), Banksia plagiocarpa (blue banksia) +/- Leptospermum polygalifolium (yellow tea tree) +/- Rhodomyrtus trineura subsp. trineura (native guava), and associated rock pavements. Granite uplands and highlands of Hinchinbrook Island and the vicinity of Bishops Peak. Wet rainfall zone. Contains Palustrine. (BVG1M: 29b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 7.12.64a: Heathland with Xanthorrhoea johnsonii, X. latifolia, Allocasuarina littoralis, Banksia plagiocarpa, Leptospermum polygalifolium, Rhodomyrtus trineura subsp. trineura, Leucopogon cuspidatus and Hibbertia melhanioides. Ground stratum spp. include Schoenus sparteus, Patersonia glabrata, Gahnia insignis and Lepidosperma laterale. Granite uplands and highlands, of the wet rainfall zone. Hinchinbrook Island and the vicinity of Bishops Peak. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 29b). 7.12.64b: Rock outcrops and pavements with herbs, and sparse scattered shrubs including Borya septentrionalis, Micraira subulifolia, Melaleuca polandii, Banksia plagiocarpa, Allocasuarina littoralis, Drosera adelae, and D. spatulata. Granite uplands and highlands of Hinchinbrook Island and the vicinity of Bishops Peak. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 29b). 7.12.64c: Allocasuarina littoralis low woodland and open forest. Steep rocky granite mountain slopes, and ridge tops of Hinchinbrook Island and Bishops Peak. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 28e). 7.12.64d: Bare rock. Steep rocky mountain slopes, and ridge tops of wet granite uplands and highlands on Hinchinbrook Island and Bishops Peak area. Granite and rhyolite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 29b). 7.12.64e: 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. Granite uplands of Hinchinbrook Island and Bishops Peak. Wet rainfall zone. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34f). |
| Supplementary description | Stanton and Stanton (2005), G21 in part (Qld Herbarium and WTMA (2005) G244c), G146 in part (Qld Herbarium and WTMA (2005) G245b), G145 in part (Qld Herbarium and WTMA (2005) G246b), R260a in part (Qld Herbarium and WTMA (2005) R260ae), G260a in part (Qld |
| Protected areas | Hinchinbrook Island NP, Girringun NP, Goold Island NP |
| Special values | 7.12.64: Habitat for the following threatened plant species (some of which are endemic to Hinchinbrook Island and the Bishops Peak area): Tetramolopium sp. (Mt Bowen D.G.Fell+ DGF1224), Drosera adelae, Acacia homaloclada, Comesperma praecelsum, Banksia plagiocarpa. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Avoid dry conditions or fires will spread too much. April to July or as early as March, conditions permitting. e: Oct-Dec (occasionally Sep). INTENSITY: Moisture and topography affect severity. Low to high. e: Variable, depending on fuel. INTERVAL: 10-20 years with some areas burnt at longer intervals. e: There will be practical difficulties in attempting to burn grassland and sedgeland at different intervals. INTERVAL_MIN: 10. INTERVAL_MAX: 20. 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. e: 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: 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 (e.g., loss of Banksia plagiocarpa). 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. e: 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 | 7.12.64: Distinguished from Allocasuarina dominated rock-pavement regional ecosystems by its occurrence on Hinchinbrook island and Bishops Peak area, and common occurrence of Banksia plagiocarpa and Leptospermum polygalifolium and a variety of species endemic to Hinchinbrook Island and Bishops Peak area. Hinchinbrook Island and the vicinity of Bishops Peak. 7.12.64d: 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.
