Regional ecosystem details for 7.5.4
| Regional ecosystem | 7.5.4 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Contains Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 5, 6, (4), (9.6), (9.4) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 6000 ha; Remnant 2021 5000 ha |
| Short description | Corymbia intermedia or Melaleuca viridiflora woodland to open forest of uplands on weathered soils of a remnant surface |
| Structure code | Open Forest |
| Description | Corymbia intermedia (pink bloodwood) or Melaleuca viridiflora (broad leaf tea tree) woodland to open forest of uplands. Weathered soils of a remnant surface. Contains Palustrine. (BVG1M: 9c). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 7.5.4a: Corymbia intermedia +/- Eucalyptus tereticornis woodland and open forest with Allocasuarina torulosa, A. littoralis, Lophostemon suaveolens, Acacia flavescens, Banksia aquilonia and Xanthorrhoea johnsonii. Weathered soils and laterite of a remnant surface. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9e). 7.5.4b: Corymbia intermedia, Allocasuarina torulosa, Lophostemon suaveolens woodland and open forest. Laterite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9e). 7.5.4c: Corymbia intermedia +/- Eucalyptus tereticornis, +/- Lophostemon suaveolens open forest to low open forest with Allocasuarina torulosa, A. littoralis, Acacia flavescens and Banksia aquilonia. Deep weathered soils of basalt origin. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9e). 7.5.4d: Corymbia clarksoniana, E. drepanophylla +/- E. tereticornis woodland to low woodland often with Allocasuarina torulosa, Allocasuarina littoralis, Lophostemon suaveolens, Acacia cincinnata, A. flavescens, Banksia aquilonia, Xanthorrhoea johnsonii. Weathered soils of a remnant surface. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9e). 7.5.4e: Corymbia intermedia, Allocasuarina torulosa, Lophostemon suaveolens open forest and woodland. Weathered soils of a remnant surface. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9e). 7.5.4f: Corymbia intermedia, Allocasuarina torulosa, Lophostemon suaveolens open forest and woodland. Deep weathered soils of basalt origin. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9e). 7.5.4g: Melaleuca viridiflora woodland. Laterite. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 21a). |
| Supplementary description | Stanton and Stanton (2005), L14d, W14d, X14d, L16e in part (Qld Herbarium and WTMA (2005) L250a), W16e in part (Qld Herbarium and WTMA (2005) W250a), X16e in part (Qld Herbarium and WTMA (2005) X250a), L78, W16e in part (Qld Herbarium and WTMA (2005) W250 |
| Protected areas | Baldy Mountain FR, Girringun NP |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Cool, dry season (June-Sep). b: April-Sep. g: Early to mid-dry season in normal season (March-May). Early to late-season in wet year (March-Sep). INTENSITY: Low to moderate. g: Low to moderate. INTERVAL: 2-5 years. g: 3-10 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 2. INTERVAL_MAX: 10. STRATEGY: Mosaic burn < 30%. Begin burning early in the fire season, with progressive patch fires burnt through the year. Stop burning when the network of fires and other breaks is sufficient to impede fire spread later in the year. Storm-burning may be used to add further diversity to the fire mosaic. g: Patch burn (<30% of area) early in the dry season to limit the extent and intensity of wildfires. Fires may, depending on the conditions and type of vegetation, burn areas larger than just the melaleuca ecosystem. Ensure secure boundaries from non fire-regime adapted ecosystems. Use topography to restrict spread of fire. Consider the needs of melaleuca ecosystems based on understorey (i.e., heath dominated, sedge dominated or mixed grass/shrub) when planning burns. High soil moisture (or presence of water on the ground) is required, as avoidance of peat-type fires must be maintained. ISSUES: Ignition is most likely during hot, dry season (Oct - Jan). These fires are typically high intensity fires that can be difficult to control. Maintaining a fire mosaic will ensure protection of animal habitats and mitigate against wildfires. b: An occasional moderate severity fire may be used to manage overabundant recruitment of trees. g: Restrict extent and intensity of fires. High intensity and extensive fires degrade vegetation structure and destroy animal habitats. Melaleuca forests are fire-adapted, but too high an intensity or frequent fire will slow or prevent regeneration and lead to lower species richness (since these communities contain numerous obligate seed regenerating species that require sufficient fire intervals to produce seed). High intensity fires may kill trees and lead to whipstick regeneration. Too frequent fire may result in a net loss of nutrients over time from an already nutrient poor system. Fire associations are significantly influenced by understorey composition. |
| Comments | 7.5.4: Threatened by grazing and associated erosion. Central-western parts of the bioregion. |
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.
