Regional ecosystem details for 7.3.34
| Regional ecosystem | 7.3.34 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Endangered |
| Wetlands | Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | Endangered |
| Subregion | 1, 3, 2, (4), (7) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 2000 ha; Remnant 2021 500 ha |
| Short description | Melaleuca viridiflora var. attenuata open forest to closed forest on broad swampy drainage lines of alluvial plains |
| Structure code | Open Forest |
| Description | Melaleuca viridiflora var. attenuata open forest to closed forest. Broad swampy drainage lines of alluvial plains. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 22b). |
| Supplementary description | Stanton and Stanton (2005), A216; Kemp et al. (1999), 22; Tracey and Webb (1975),18 |
| Protected areas | Jalum CP, Paluma Range NP |
| Special values | 7.3.34: Habitat for threatened species including Myrmecodia beccarii (ant plant) and Hypochrysops apollo apollo (apollo jewel butterfly). |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Mid- to late dry season. INTENSITY: Low to moderate. INTERVAL: 5-15 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 5. INTERVAL_MAX: 15. STRATEGY: Allow fires in surrounding fire-adapted communities to burn into these melaleuca communities if the soil is moist. ISSUES: Burn more frequently if whipstick regeneration is an issue. Keep flame height low if ant plants are present. |
| Comments | 7.3.34: The Melaleuca described in this RE is similar to M. viridiflora, but is taller and with softer, paler bark, and a different flowering period. The landform on which it occurs is much swampier than RE 7.3.8 (standing water remains for several months of the year). In southern areas, this regional ecosystem provides a moist humid situation in an otherwise dry environment, and therefore harbours the southern-most populations of ant plant (Myrmecodia beccarii) and button plant (Dischidia nummularia). Scattered across the coastal plains from Bluewater to just north of Cairns, formerly much more common. Reasonably good condition except where heavily grazed. |
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.
