Regional ecosystem details for 7.12.7
| Regional ecosystem | 7.12.7 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 9, 6, 7, 9.3, 8, (4), (3), (5), (1), (2), (9.6) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 15000 ha; Remnant 2021 15000 ha |
| Short description | Simple to complex microphyll to notophyll vine forest, often with Agathis robusta or A. microstachya, on granites and rhyolites of moist foothills and uplands |
| Structure code | Closed Forest |
| Description | Simple to complex microphyll to notophyll vine forest, often with Agathis robusta (kauri pine) or A. microstachya (bull kauri). Granites and rhyolites of foothills and uplands, of the moist rainfall zone. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 5c). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 7.12.7a: Complex notophyll vine forests (with emergent Agathis robusta). Foothills and uplands on granite and rhyolite north of the Herbert River. Moist rainfall zone. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 5c). 7.12.7b: Simple notophyll vine forest with Pseudoweinmannia lachnocarpa and emergent Agathis microstachya. Uplands of the moist rainfall zone. Rhyolite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 5c). 7.12.7c: Simple notophyll semi-evergreen vine forest. Uplands of the dry rainfall zone. Rhyolite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 5c). 7.12.7d: Microphyll vine-fern forest with Agathis robusta. Highlands of the dry rainfall zone. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 6b). |
| Supplementary description | Stanton and Stanton (2005),G6, CG6, R6, R57, R63, G68; Tracey and Webb (1975), 6 |
| Protected areas | Ngalba-bulal NP (CYPAL), Girringun NP, Mount Windsor NP, Dinden NP, Kirrama NP, Daintree NP (CYPAL), Little Mulgrave NP, Kuranda NP, Baldy Mountain FR, Tully Gorge NP, Macalister Range NP, Danbulla NP, Bare Hill CP, Hinchinbrook Island NP, Hann Tableland |
| Special values | 7.12.7: Habitat for threatened plant species including: Alectryon semicinereus, Alpinia hylandii, Elaeocarpus coorangooloo, Arytera dictyoneura. Rhodamnia longisepala is endemic and confined to this RE on the Windsor Tableland. |
| 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 | 7.12.7: A feature of this regional ecosystem is the large number of tree species shared with the subtropical forests of the Southeast Queensland bioregion. Accordingly, there are very few regional endemics present. Local floristic variations especially within A. robusta communities show marked species disjunctions within the bioregion. A. robusta does not occur south of the Herbert River and in these areas Argyrodendron polyandrum becomes more prominent. Widespread throughout the bioregion. Agathis robusta was eagerly sought after by the timber industry. The condition of this RE is dependent upon the past practises of logging, which was variable between forestry districts. Lantana camara often forms dense thickets around the margin and invades suitable canopy gaps within the rainforest. |
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.
