Regional ecosystem details for 7.2.5
| Regional ecosystem | 7.2.5 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 2, 1, 3, (7) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 600 ha; Remnant 2021 400 ha |
| Short description | Mesophyll to notophyll vine forest of Syzygium forte subsp. forte on sands of beach origin |
| Structure code | Closed Forest |
| Description | Mesophyll to notophyll vine forest of Syzygium forte subsp. forte (white apple). Beach ridges and sand plains of beach origin. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 3a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 7.2.5a: Simple mesophyll to notophyll vine forest with Syzygium forte subsp. forte, Buchanania arborescens, Pleiogynium timorense, Dillenia alata, Litsea fawcettiana, and Chionanthus ramiflorus. Beach ridges and sand plains of beach origin. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 3a). 7.2.5b: Acacia polystachya dominated communities, mostly closed forest but includes some woodlands, with a lower layer of vine forest species. Beach ridges and sand plains of beach origin. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 28b). |
| Supplementary description | Stanton and Stanton (2005), D75, D40 |
| Protected areas | Girramay NP, Gulngay NP, Ella Bay NP, Russell River NP, Moresby Range NP, Goold Island NP, Halifax Bay Wetlands NP |
| Special values | 7.2.5: A very attractive regional ecosystem aesthetically (due to attractive form of Syzygium forte subsp. forte). Important fruit source for birds, and very significant for many migratory species. |
| 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. a: Do not burn deliberately. Limit fire encroachment from adjacent ecosystems by burning when conditions are favourable. Burn away from edges. b: Maintain appropriate mosaic burning in surrounding country. Do not protect from fire but do not burn deliberately. 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. a: Most plant species in this ecosystem are fire sensitive. Inappropriate fire may affect sensitive trees (e.g., coastal she-oaks), remove habitat trees, remove structurally complex understorey or promote weed invasion and erosion. b: This is mainly a self protecting community. |
| Comments | 7.2.5: Threatened by housing and industrial development, and recreational disturbance, particularly in the vicinity of Forrest Beach. A regional ecosystem of very small extent with approximately one third of that extent outside protected tenures. This regional ecosystem is possibly derived from sclerophyll communities via gradual invasion of Syzygium forte subsp. forte. From Forrest Beach to near Gordonvale, most common in the Herbert and Tully subregions. |
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.
