Regional ecosystem details for 8.1.2
| Regional ecosystem | 8.1.2 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Intertidal |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 2, 6, 5, (1), (4), (3), (11.14), (11.2) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 11000 ha; Remnant 2021 11000 ha |
| Short description | Samphire open forbland on saltpans and plains adjacent to mangroves |
| Structure code | Open Forbland |
| Description | Samphire open forbland to isolated clumps of forbs. Vascular plants may be absent over large areas, or may include one or several of the following succulent herbs; Sesuvium portulacastrum, Tecticornia indica subsp. julacea, T. indica subsp. leiostachya, T. halocnemoides subsp. tenuis, T. pergranulata subsp. queenslandica, Salicornia quinqueflora subsp. Quinqueflora, Suaeda australis, S. arbusculoides, Tecticornia australasica, the grass Sporobolus virginicus, or sedges such as Cyperus polystachyos var. polystachyos, C. scariosus, Fimbristylis ferruginea and F. polytrichoides. Occurs on plains adjacent to mangroves with soils consisting of marine sediments. There is salt accumulation at the soil surface from evaporation of sea water which inundates these areas during the higher tides. Geologies mapped include Qhe/m (Holocene mud, sandy mud, muddy sand and minor gravel), Qm (Quaternary coastal mud, silt and minor evaporites), Qhcm (Holocene mud and sandy mud), Qhct (Holocene silt, mud and sand) and Qhe/s (Holocene sand, muddy sand, mud and minor gravel). Intertidal. (BVG1M: 35b). |
| Supplementary description | Bailey et al. (2003), CMD-1; Batianoff, Dillewaard and Franks (1997), Vegetation unit 7 (in part); Bean (1991), Vegetation type 9 - mangroves and saltpan (in part); Brushe et al. (in prep), Vegetation Unit c2; Cumming (1997), Vegetation type 32; Danaher ( |
| Protected areas | Cape Palmerston NP, West Hill NP, Byfield NP, Whitsunday Islands NP, Conway NP, Sandringham Bay CP, Skull Knob CP, Dryander NP, Bakers Creek CP, Newry Islands NP, Cape Hillsborough NP, Keppel Bay Islands NP, Reliance Creek NP, Percy Isles NP |
| Special values | 8.1.2: Many of the plant species defining this regional ecosystem are unique to it. Habitat for Tecticornia indica, Tecticornia halocnemoides subsp. tenuis, Sarcocornia quinqueflora, Tecticornia pergranulata subsp. queenslandica which are largely restricted to this ecosystem. Habitat for the significant species Beach Thick-knee, Mongolian Plover, Sooty Oystercatcher, Great Knot, Eastern Curlew, Terek Sandpiper, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Pacific Golden Plover, Pied Oystercatcher, and Ruddy Turnstone. (Watkins 1993). |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. ISSUES: Although typically inflammable, some areas merge with saltwater couch grasslands which can support fire. |
| Comments | 8.1.2: Distinguished from all other regional ecosystems by the dominance of succulent saline-adapted herbaceous species and the occurrence on intertidal mud flats. Found along the mainland coast throughout the bioregion. Common to occasional in small patches. Also occurs in small areas on a few islands. An extensive area is mapped adjacent to Llewellyn Bay near Sarina. Occasionally subject to drainage changes due to adjacent agricultural activities (including ponded pastures). Vehicular damage by recreationalists has occurred in many areas. |
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.
