Regional ecosystem details for 7.2.1
| Regional ecosystem | 7.2.1 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Endangered |
| Wetlands | Contains Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | Endangered |
| Subregion | 9, 3, (2), (6), (3.2), (7), (1) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 3000 ha; Remnant 2021 900 ha |
| Short description | Mesophyll vine forest on beach ridges and sand plains of beach origin |
| Structure code | Closed Forest |
| Description | Mesophyll vine forest. Beach ridges and sand plains of beach origin, mainly in small patches in the lee of coastal beach ridges in very high rainfall areas. Contains Palustrine. (BVG1M: 3a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 7.2.1a: Complex mesophyll or mesophyll vine forest. Lowlands on beach sands, of the very wet and wet rainfall zone. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 3a). 7.2.1b: Mesophyll vine forest with Intsia bijuga, Beilschmiedia obtusifolia, and Palaquium galactoxylon. Calcareous coastal sands, of the very wet rainfall zone. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 3a). 7.2.1c: Closed forest with Calophyllum inophyllum, Terminalia arenicola, Dillenia alata, Myristica insipida, Planchonella obovata, Millettia pinnata, and Hibiscus tiliaceus. Beach ridge deposits adjacent to the foredune, in the very wet rainfall zone. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 3a). 7.2.1d: Swampy mesophyll vine forest with Archontophoenix alexandrae (feather palm) in the sub-canopy. Seasonally inundated lowland areas on dune sands. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 4a). 7.2.1e: Simple Notophyll vine forest with Syzygium angophoroides, on sands of beach origin. Dune sands. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 3a). 7.2.1f: Simple notophyll vine forest with Blepharocarya involucrigera, Acacia celsa, Flindersia bourjotiana, Syzygium angophoroides, Dillenia alata, Grevillea baileyana, Syzygium kuranda, Calophyllum sil, Backhousia hughesii, Acronychia acronychioides. Shallow sand deposits in lowland swamps. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 3a). 7.2.1g: Mesophyll vine forest with Archontophoenix alexandrae (feather palm). Seasonally impeded drainage on dune sands. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 4a). 7.2.1h: Mesophyll vine forest with Licuala ramsayi (fan palm). Seasonally impeded drainage on dune sands. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 4a). 7.2.1i: Mesophyll vine forest. Lowlands on dune sands, of the very wet and wet rainfall zone. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 3a). |
| Supplementary description | Stanton and Stanton (2005), D2a, D2b, D3a, D3b, D72, D228, A228, D225, D52, D81, D1a; Kemp and Morgan (1999), 5; Kemp et al. (1999), 5; Tracey and Webb (1975), 2b |
| Protected areas | Kurrimine Beach NP, Daintree NP (CYPAL), Russell River NP, Hinchinbrook Island NP, Annan River (Yuku Baja-Muliku) RR, Gulngay NP, Frankland Group NP, Girramay NP, Hope Islands NP (CYPAL), Kurrimine Beach CP, Hull River NP, Ella Bay NP, Goold Island NP, Ma |
| Special values | 7.2.1: Important fruit source for birds, and very significant for many migratory species. Habitat for threatened species including: Gardenia actinocarpa and Arenga australasica. High scenic value. |
| 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 | 7.2.1: A regional ecosystem of very limited extent on very nutrient depauperate sands. Threatened by housing and industrial development, and recreational disturbance. Information on condition and values of this regional ecosystem can be found in Lavarack (1991) and Hopkins et al. (1999). 7.2.1a: Coastal margin, mainly central and northern parts of the bioregion. 7.2.1b: Very rare, mapped only in the far north of the bioregion. 7.2.1c: Scattered along the coastal margin, mainly in the far north. 7.2.1d: Coastal margin, mainly central and northern parts of the bioregion. 7.2.1e: Coastal margin, mainly central and northern parts of the bioregion. 7.2.1f: Coastal margin, mainly central and northern parts of the bioregion. 7.2.1g: Feather palm forests also occur on alluvium as 7.3.3. Scattered along the coastal margin. 7.2.1h: Fan palm forests also occur on alluvium as 7.3.4. Very rare, coastal margin in central parts of the bioregion. 7.2.1i: Scattered along the coast, mainly in central and northern parts of the bioregion. |
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.
