Regional ecosystem details for 7.8.1
| Regional ecosystem | 7.8.1 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Endangered |
| Subregion | 3, 4, 7, (2) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 30000 ha; Remnant 2021 11000 ha |
| Short description | Complex mesophyll to mesophyll vine forest on well-drained basalt lowlands and foothills |
| Structure code | Closed Forest |
| Description | Complex mesophyll vine forest. Lowlands and foothills, on krasnozem soils derived from basalts and basic volcanic parent material. Very wet and wet rainfall zone. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 1a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 7.8.1a: Complex mesophyll vine forest. Lowlands and foothills on basalt, of the very wet and wet rainfall zone. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 1a). 7.8.1b: Mesophyll vine forest. Lowlands and foothills on lateritic soils, of the very wet and wet rainfall zone. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 1a). 7.8.1c: Mosaic of fernland and low vine forest with Chionanthus ramiflorus. Steep rocky slopes and scree slopes. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 2a). 7.8.1d: Simple mesophyll vine forest with Castanospermum australe, Dysoxylum pettigrewianum, Dysoxylum alliaceum, Ficus variegata, Chisocheton longistipitatus, Ailanthus integrifolia, Aleurites rockinghamensis, Wrightia laevis, Lindera queenslandica and Alstonia scholaris. Small trees and shrubs are sparse and include Myristica globosa, Gomphandra australiana, Acmenosperma claviflorum, Synima cordierorum, Brombya platynema and Wilkiea longipes. Calamus spp. very uncommon. Arenga australasica, Ptychosperma elegans and Archontophoenix alexandrae are uncommon. Ground layer very sparse with ground ferns and gingers rare. Benstonea monticola can be locally common. Large vines prominent, epiphytes uncommon. Lowlands on krasnozem soils derived from basalts and basic volcanic parent material. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 1a). |
| Supplementary description | Stanton and Stanton (2005), B1a, B100, (also Qld Herbarium and WTMA (2005) B2a); Tracey and Webb (1975), 1a |
| Protected areas | Wooroonooran NP, Tully Gorge NP, Japoon NP, Meingan Creek CP, Gadgarra NP, Clump Mountain NP, Barnard Island Group NP, Tully Falls NP, Palmerston Rocks NP, Japoon FR, Ella Bay NP |
| Special values | 7.8.1: Habitat for threatened plant species including: Carronia pedicellata, Chingia australis, Plesioneuron tuberculatum, Endiandra globosa, Salacistis ochroleuca, Pneumatopteris costata and Didymoglossum mindorense. Also habitat for some other restricted and/or uncommon species including Beilschmiedia volckii, Gouania australiana, Marsdenia jensenii. One of the few habitats of the unusual epiphyte Procris pedunculata. |
| 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 | 7.8.1: Ridges tend to have conspicuous broken canopies smothered by climber-towers due to storm and cyclone damage. Tree ferns, king-fern Angiopteris evecta and large fleshy herbs including gingers and aroids typify creek banks and steep gully sides. This RE is approaching the threshold of 'Of concern' Vegetation Management Act class and therefore consideration of any further clearing should be very carefully assessed. Lowlands from Tully to Gordonvale, with the major occurrence on the gentle relief characteristic of the basalt flows in the lower Palmerston area west of Innisfail. A very large proportion has been cleared for agriculture, and most accessible remnants not within protected areas have been logged. 7.8.1b: Defined by the extent of the Eubenangee soil type. Virtually extinct. 7.8.1d: Notable for the overall and comparatively low species diversity and the paucity of Wet Tropics regional endemic species. In particular the families Lauraceae, Myrtaceae, Proteaceae and Rutaceae are poorly represented. Areas further north under 7.8.1 are species rich, epiphytes common and have high numbers of Wet Tropics regional endemics present. Much of this RE has been cleared for grazing, agriculture and houses. Restricted to basalt soils around Clump Point. A very large proportion has been cleared for agriculture and residential development. |
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.
