Regional ecosystem details for 8.11.10
| Regional ecosystem | 8.11.10 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 4, 11.14, 5 |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 2000 ha; Remnant 2021 2000 ha |
| Short description | Lophostemon spp. and/or Acacia spp. and/or Melaleuca viridiflora and/or Allocasuarina littoralis +/- Eucalyptus spp. +/- Corymbia spp. tall open shrubland on exposed hill slopes of islands and headlands on metamorphosed sediments |
| Structure code | Tall Open Shrubland |
| Description | Lophostemon confertus and/or L. suaveolens and/or Acacia leiocalyx and/or A. julifera subsp. curvinervia and/or A. disparrima subsp. disparrima and/or Allocasuarina littoralis tall open shrubland to open scrub or low woodland to low open forest (2-7m tall). Eucalyptus crebra and/or E. exserta may sometimes be codominants or associated canopy species. The canopy is highly variable, and is usually a mixture of several of these species. Other occasional associated species in the canopy may include Corymbia intermedia, C. clarksoniana, C. dallachiana, C. xanthope, C. tessellaris, Alphitonia excelsa and E. platyphylla. A dense to very sparse shrub layer (0.2 - 2.5m tall) is often present, and dominant species may sometimes include Lophostemon confertus, Acacia leiocalyx, Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora, Acacia disparrima subsp. disparrima, Grevillea banksii, Banksia integrifolia subsp. compar, Alphitonia excelsa, Dodonaea lanceolata and Xanthorrhoea latifolia subsp. latifolia. Rainforest species may be present. A very sparse to mid-dense lower shrub layer is sometimes present, and dominants may include Xanthorrhoea latifolia subsp. latifolia, Breynia oblongifolia, Alectryon connatus, and Phyllota phylicoides. The ground layer is very sparse (to isolated plants) due to the complex and often dense shrub and/or tree layers (unless Xanthorrhoea latifolia is in the ground layer in which case it may be dense). Species may include Acacia spp. seedlings, Gahnia aspera, Themeda triandra, Schoenus sparteus, Lomandra confertifolia, Xanthorrhoea latifolia subsp. latifolia, Alloteropsis semialata, Paspalidium distans and Eremochloa bimaculata. Slopes, ridges and crests (often on headlands usually with rock at surface) on rolling rises, undulating low hills and steep low hills of lowlands and foothills. Geologies mapped include Ccs (Shoalwater Formation). Carboniferous quartzose sandstone, mudstone; local quartz-muscovite-biotite schist. DCt (Townshend Formation). Devonian - Carboniferous massive amphibolite, quartzite and mica schist. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 28e). |
| Supplementary description | Bailey et al. (2000); 8H-11, 8HG, R-1-73, RHs-11; Brushe et al. (in prep.), map units c60, c73, Queensland Herbarium 2008 Caslof11 |
| Protected areas | Keppel Bay Islands NP, Percy Isles NP, Byfield NP, Capricorn Coast NP, Keppel Bay Islands NP (S), Byfield CP, Shoalwater Bay CP |
| Special values | 8.11.10: A structurally diverse regional ecosystem which is habitat for a diverse range of fauna. Habitat for vulnerable plant species Corymbia xanthope and Comesperma oblongatum. Also habitat for a number of plant species which are poorly known in the Central Qld Coast bioregion, including Hakea lorea (common inland but not on the coast), Acianthus spp., Cryptostylis erecta, Dianella crinoides, Digitaria diffusa, Hybanthus monopetalus, Peripleura diffusa and Pterostylis ophioglossa. Northern range limit of a number of plant species, including Marsdenia fraseri, Phyllota phylicoides, Hovea clavata and Patersonia sericea. Northern limit in coastal areas for Lomandra leucocephala. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Late wet to early dry season with occasional storm burns. INTENSITY: moderate to high. INTERVAL: 7-15 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 7. INTERVAL_MAX: 15. STRATEGY: Attempt mosaic burns on landscape scale, targeting different areas in different years. |
| Comments | 8.11.10: Previously large areas along and adjacent to Emu Park have been largely cleared for urban use. Distinguished from all other regional ecosystems and vegetation communities on land zone 11 by the low stature of the vegetation, dominance of sclerophyll species, and presence on headlands and islands. Restricted to the Shoalwater Bay area. Found along the coast (mainly headlands) between Emu Park and Port Clinton. Also on the Keppel Island Group, Townshend Island, South Percy Island and other smaller islands within Shoalwater Bay. Often relatively good due to the exposed/harsh nature of the habitat which discourages weed invasion. Some islands however have been heavily impacted by feral and grazing animals (goats, sheep, cattle and horses) though most of these animals have now been removed. Impacts include significant changes to vegetation structure and species composition, as well as loss of ground cover and soil erosion. Weed invasion is a problem in some places (especially those areas that have been grazed) and include *Lantana camara, *Passiflora suberosa, *P. pallida, *Opuntia stricta, *Melinis repens and *Passiflora foetida. |
1 Estimated extent is from version 13 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.
