Regional ecosystem details for 8.11.2
| Regional ecosystem | 8.11.2 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 4, 2, 5, (11.14), (3) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 3000 ha; Remnant 2021 3000 ha |
| Short description | Semi-evergreen notophyll to microphyll vine forest of foothills and uplands on metamorphosed sediments |
| Structure code | Closed Forest |
| Description | Semi-evergreen notophyll to microphyll vine forest. Emergents such as Argyrodendron polyandrum and Dysoxylum mollissimum subsp. molle may be present. Typical canopy dominants are Argyrodendron polyandrum, Terminalia porphyrocarpa, Myristica globosa subsp. muelleri, Archontophoenix cunninghamiana, Falcataria toona and Dendrocnide photiniphylla. The sub-canopy may include species such as Myristica globosa subsp. muelleri, Archontophoenix cunninghamiana, Alangium polyosmoides subsp. tomentosum, Strychnos psilosperma, Drypetes deplanchei, Gossia bidwillii and Planchonella cotinifolia. Lower tree and shrub layers typically include Drypetes deplanchei, Diospyros geminata, Mallotus philippensis, Eugenia reinwardtiana, Alyxia ruscifolia Psydrax odorata and Strychnos psilosperma. Common vines are Trophis scandens, Austrosteenisia blackii, Cissus oblonga and Melodorum leichhardtii. The ground layer is usually very sparse and may include Adiantum hispidulum, Alpinia caerulea, Ancistrachne uncinulata and Adiantum aethiopicum. Epiphytes are often present and commonly include Asplenium australasicum and Drynaria rigidula. Occurs on slopes, gullies and ridges on undulating low hills to steep mountains of foothills and uplands, of the moist to dry rainfall zone. Geologies are mapped as Ccs (Shoalwater Formation), DCt (Townshend Formation), DCb (Broome Head Metamorphics) and Kx (Styx Coal Measures). Early Cretaceous - Devonian quartzose and lithic sandstone, mudstone, schist, amphibolite, quartzite and gneiss. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 5b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 8.11.2x1a: Semi-evergreen microphyll vine thicket to vine forest. The canopy may be dominated by species such as Drypetes deplanchei, Sersalisia sericea and Alectryon connatus. Other canopy and sub-canopy species include Cupaniopsis anacardioides, Cyclophyllum coprosmoides, Ficus obliqua, Ixora queenslandica, Litsea fawcettiana, Macaranga involucrata var. mallotoides and Pittosporum ferrugineum. Gullies sometimes support clumps of Archontophoenix cunninghamiana. Stands of Araucaria cunninghamii (often with very few other species associated) are known to occur on South Percy Island on serpentinite. Common vines include Jasminum didymum, J. simplicifolium, Trophis scandens subsp. scandens and Capparis sepiaria. The ground stratum is usually sparse. Slopes and ridges on rolling rises to steep low hills of the very dry rainfall zone, of lowlands on islands and near-coastal headlands, on metamorphic rocks. Geologies mapped as Ccs (Shoalwater Formation), DCt (Townshend Formation) and DCb (Broome Head Metamorphics). Carboniferous - Devonian quartzose sandstone, mudstone, amphibolite, quartzite, schist and quartz-rich garnetiferous psammitic to pelitic migmatitic gneiss. Also serpentinite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 5b). |
| Supplementary description | Bailey et al. (2003), CLMR-11, NRF-11, RF-11, 8HVS-11; Brushe et al. (in prep), Map Units c27-11, c72-11, c78-11; McDonald (1995), Groups 5, 6 |
| Protected areas | Mount Kinchant CP, Byfield NP, Eungella NP, Mount Ossa NP, Capricorn Coast NP, Percy Isles NP, Broad Sound Islands NP |
| Special values | 8.11.2: Habitat for near threatened plant species Arytera dictyoneura and species with a restricted distribution such as Bowenia serrulata and Macrozamia miquelii. The light colour form of the southern Boobook Owl is of locally significant conservation value. 8.11.2x1a: A restricted ecosystem which is still poorly known. Examples on serpentinite are very rare. Habitat for near threatened plant species Xylosma ovata. |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. ISSUES: Fire management in adjacent areas may need to take into consideration the emergence of this ecosystem. |
| Comments | 8.11.2: Distinguished from all other rainforests on Land Zone 11 by occurring on foothills and uplands of the mainland (instead of islands or headlands where 8.11.11 occurs) and by consisting of a higher proportion of species which occur in more mesic situations (such as Myristica globosa subsp. muelleri and Alangium villosum) as opposed to those which dominate in the harsh conditions of the islands and headlands on which 8.11.11 occurs (such as Drypetes deplanchei and Sersalisia sericea). Occurs in subregion 2, from Calen to an area just south of Kinchant Dam. Also mapped throughout subregions 4 and 5, from West Point Head (west of Port Clinton) to Yeppoon. Moderate to good, with most areas having some history of logging, and some areas suffering minor weed invasion with species such as *Lantana camara and *Passiflora suberosa, *P. pallida. 8.11.2x1a: Distinguished from the only other rainforest ecosystem on metamorphics in the Central Queensland Coast bioregion (8.11.2) by the occurrence on islands and headlands (as opposed to inland from the coastal edge) and dominance of microphyll species such as Drypetes deplanchei and Sersalisia sericea. Is similar in landscape position, and can be similar in species composition, to 8.10.1c (but this occurs on sedimentary rocks), and 8.12.11c (but this occurs on igneous rocks). Restricted to the Shoalwater Bay area. There are patches north and south of Cape Manifold, on the western side of Port Clinton, on the east coast of Townshend Island and on other smaller islands within Shoalwater Bay. Also South Percy Island. Patches are often small, and sometimes fragmented, leading to a vulnerability to weed invasion. Some areas invaded by *Lantana camara, and *Passiflora suberosa, *P. pallida may also be present. Vulnerable to hot fires. |
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.
