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Regional ecosystem details for 7.2.9

Regional ecosystem 7.2.9
Vegetation Management Act class Of concern
Wetlands Palustrine
Biodiversity status Endangered
Subregion 3, 2, (1), (9), (6), (7)
Estimated extent1 Pre-clearing 4000 ha; Remnant 2021 3000 ha
Short description Melaleuca quinquenervia shrubland to closed forest, or Lepironia articulata open to closed sedgeland, on dune swales and swampy sand plains of beach origin
Structure code Open Forest
Description Melaleuca quinquenervia (swamp paperbark) shrubland to closed forest, or Lepironia articulata (grey sedge) open to closed sedgeland. Dune swales and swampy sandplains of beach origin. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 22a).

Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include:
7.2.9a: Melaleuca quinquenervia open forest to woodland and shrubland. Dune swales and swampy sandplains of beach origin. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 22a).
7.2.9b: Mixed sedgeland-shrubland complex with Melaleuca quinquenervia. Perennially inundated peat soils. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 22a).
7.2.9c: Lepironia articulata sedgeland. Permanent swamp with deep deposits of fibrous peat. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34c).
7.2.9d: Melaleuca quinquenervia and Acacia crassicarpa open forest to woodland. Sandy soils with organic hardpan layer at depth. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 22a).
Supplementary description Stanton and Stanton (2005), D33, D92, D76, D84, D96; Kemp and Morgan (1999) 7; Tracey and Webb (1975), 17 (in part)
Protected areas Kurrimine Beach NP, Girramay NP, Gulngay NP, Etty Bay Road CP, Russell River NP, Hinchinbrook Island NP, Hull River NP, Daintree NP (CYPAL), Ella Bay NP
Special values 7.2.9: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Livistona drudei, Nepenthes mirabilis (Bramston Beach).
Fire management guidelines SEASON: Early to mid-dry season. c: Early (June-Sep) to late (Oct-Dec) dry season. INTENSITY: Low with occasional moderate. c: Moderate. INTERVAL: 3-10 years. c: 3-5 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 3. INTERVAL_MAX: 10. STRATEGY: Burn with anticipated rain as it will increase patchiness. Create burn mosaics using progressive burning. Do not deliberately burn submerged swamps but allow fire to carry into their edge. c: Burn 25-30%; variation in topography and moisture will create a mosaic. ISSUES: Avoid peat fires and maintain awareness of high biomass grasses which can increase fire intensity and spread. Avoid burning ant plants. c: Opportunities to burn sedgelands are rare. High biomass grasses may increase fire intensity. Dense regeneration of melaleuca may require a subsequent fire.
Comments 7.2.9: Inappropriate burning may threaten the persistence of the peat layer in this regional ecosystem. Distributed in most near-coastal parts of the Wet Tropics, and particularly well-developed in the Tully and Innisfail subregions.

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.

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Licence
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Last updated
14 May 2024