Regional ecosystem details for 7.3.10
| Regional ecosystem | 7.3.10 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Contains Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | Endangered |
| Subregion | 3, 2, 9, 7, (8), (1), (5), (6), (4) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 60000 ha; Remnant 2021 14000 ha |
| Short description | Simple-complex mesophyll to notophyll vine forest on moderate to poorly-drained alluvial plains of moderate fertility |
| Structure code | Closed Forest |
| Description | Simple-complex mesophyll to notophyll vine forest. Moderately to poorly-drained alluvial plains of moderate fertility. Contains Palustrine. (BVG1M: 1a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 7.3.10a: Mesophyll vine forest. Moderately to poorly-drained alluvial plains, of moderate fertility. Lowlands of the very wet and wet zone. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 1a). 7.3.10b: Mesophyll vine forest recovering from disturbance, with Acacia spp. canopy or emergents. Moderately to poorly-drained alluvial plains, of moderate fertility. Lowlands of the very wet and wet zone. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 5d). 7.3.10c: Mesophyll vine forest with scattered Archontophoenix alexandrae (feather palm) in the sub-canopy. Seasonally inundated lowland alluvial plains. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 4a). 7.3.10d: Open areas in vine forests dominated by sprawling vines, with emergent vine-draped trees or clumps of trees. Vines commonly include Decalobanthus peltatus. Alluvial plains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 5d). 7.3.10e: Simple notophyll vine forest with Blepharocarya involucrigera, Acacia celsa, Flindersia bourjotiana, Syzygium angophoroides, Dillenia alata, Grevillea baileyana, Syzygium kuranda, Calophyllum sil, Backhousia hughesii and Acronychia acronychioides. Swampy alluvial plains. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 4a). 7.3.10f: Simple Notophyll vine forest with Syzygium angophoroides. Swampy alluvial plains. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 4a). 7.3.10g: Simple notophyll vine forest dominated by Blepharocarya involucrigera. Alluvial plains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 4a). |
| Supplementary description | Stanton and Stanton (2005), A2a, A2a(a), A2a(b), A2a(c), A72, A66, A109, A81, A52; Kemp et al. (1999), 48 (part); Kemp and Morgan (1999), 49 (part); Tracey and Webb (1975), 2a (in part) |
| Protected areas | Daintree NP (CYPAL), Tully Gorge NP, Hinchinbrook Island NP, Wooroonooran NP, Ella Bay NP, Djiru NP, Japoon NP, Mount Mackay NP, Russell River NP, Girringun NP, Girramay NP, Kuranda NP, Hull River NP, Eubenangee Swamp NP, Ngalba-bulal NP (CYPAL), Gulngay |
| Special values | 7.3.10: Small areas on the very wet lowlands, especially between the Daintree River and Cape Tribulation, harbour plant species which are extremely restricted and uncommon. Many areas of this ecosystem are considered refugial in nature and are local centres of endemism. Many representatives of primitive families of flowering plants are present, including the monotypic family Idiospermaceae. The ecosystem is the habitat for many threatened plant 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. 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 | 7.3.10: This is the dominant rainforest type on alluvial plains - it occurs on shallower, less fertile soils than 7.3.17 (Stanton and Stanton (2005) A1a), and it is widespread. It generally receives higher rainfall (or more seasonally-even rainfall) than 7.3.23 (Stanton and Stanton (2005) A1c). Includes levees, plains and colluvials (high rainfall means there is little difference in floristics across these soils). It varies from being very species-diverse to quite simple. This regional ecosystem has been extensively and selectively cleared for agricultural purposes and remaining areas are highly fragmented and altered in structure and species composition. 7.3.10a: Widespread across coastal parts of the bioregion. 7.3.10b: Widespread across coastal parts of the bioregion. 7.3.10c: Widespread across coastal parts of the bioregion. 7.3.10d: Presumed to originate either from cyclone damaged rainforests, or areas of rainforest that have been previously cleared prior to the aerial photograph and land survey records (i.e. possibly of indigenous origin). 7.3.10e: Coastal lowlands north of Innisfail. 7.3.10f: Scattered along far eastern parts of the Wet Tropics coastal plain. 7.3.10g: Sites subject to episodic disturbance such as a seral stage of recovery from a single event or period of disturbance. |
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.
