Regional ecosystem details for 7.3.2
| Regional ecosystem | 7.3.2 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | Endangered |
| Subregion | 4 |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 90 ha; Remnant 2021 80 ha |
| Short description | Grasslands and sedgelands +/- Melaleuca spp. within volcanic craters, often on peat |
| Structure code | Tussock Grassland |
| Description | Grasslands and sedgelands +/- Melaleuca spp. (paperbark). Poorly drained, periodically flooded, acid peat in depressions of volcanic craters. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34f). |
| Supplementary description | Stanton and Stanton (2005), B89 |
| Special values | 7.3.2: A very rare and unusual ecosystem. Pollen analyses of sediments which have accumulated in volcanic crater lakes and swamps are used to reconstruct vegetation and climate patterns through the past 80 000 years. Particularly important in this regard are Lynch's Crater (a peat mining lease covers this swamp) and Bromfield Swamp (presently subject to cattle grazing). Bromfield Swamp and Quincan Crater are situated close to the boundary between complex mesophyll and complex notophyll vine forest, providing records of vegetation changes through the last 8000-11 000 years. Lynch's Crater, at a similar altitude but existing under a much higher rainfall, provides evidence of a vegetation sequence from about 80 000 years BP to within the last 10 000 years. |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Exclude fire. ISSUES: These communities should not normally burn owing to the presence of standing water. Exclusion of fire should reduce the risk of peat fires. |
| Comments | 7.3.2: A rare ecosystem subject to weed invasion and peat mining. Occurs on the Atherton Tablelands. Various land uses have affected the condition of these swamps. For example past mining, grazing and pasture establishment attempts have changed the hydrology, species composition and vegetation structure in Lynches Crater, which is also currently surrounded by an edible bamboo plantation. In addition, cattle currently graze Bromfield Crater. The Mt Quincan swamp is in good condition, although the scoria cone is being quarried. These swamps may all be threatened by weed (including pasture species) invasion. |
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.
