Regional ecosystem details for 8.11.3
| Regional ecosystem | 8.11.3 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 4, 2, (5), (11.14), (3) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 32000 ha; Remnant 2021 29000 ha |
| Short description | Variable woodland to open forest, often including Corymbia intermedia, Eucalyptus portuensis, C. trachyphloia, E. platyphylla and E. drepanophylla on low hills on metamorphosed sediments |
| Structure code | Open Forest |
| Description | Eucalyptus portuensis and/or Corymbia intermedia and/or C. trachyphloia, and/or E. exserta and/or E. platyphylla and/or E. crebra and/or Eucalyptus tereticornis and/or E. platyphylla and/or Lophostemon suaveolens and/or E. drepanophylla and/or C. clarksoniana woodland (to low woodland) to open forest (8-35m tall). There is often a mixture of three or more species in the canopy, and there are several other species which may sometimes be dominant or co-dominant. There is often a sparse to mid-dense secondary tree layer consisting of juvenile Eucalyptus spp. and Corymbia spp., and sometimes Lophostemon spp., Melaleuca spp. and Acacia spp. A mid-dense to very sparse shrub layer is often present and may include Allocasuarina spp., Acacia spp., Cycas media subsp. media and Xanthorrhoea latifolia subsp. latifolia. The ground layer is often dominated by species such as Themeda triandra, Xanthorrhoea latifolia subsp. latifolia and Heteropogon spp. Occurs on low to medium hills formed from metamorphosed sediments. Geologies mapped include Ccs (Shoalwater Formation), DCcw (Wandilla Formation), Pa/Ple (Calen Coal Measures) and Plz (Lizzie Creek Volcanics). Early Permian - Late Devonian quartzose and lithic sandstone, mudstone and siltstone. Qr (Quaternary clay, silt and gravel; colluvial). Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9d). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 8.11.3a: Corymbia intermedia and/or Eucalyptus portuensis and/or C. clarksoniana and/or E. platyphylla and/or E. drepanophylla open forest to woodland (15-32m tall). There is usually a mixture of three or more species in the canopy, and there are several other species which may sometimes be dominant, co-dominant or associated in the canopy, including E. exserta, C. tessellaris and E. tereticornis. There is usually a very sparse to mid-dense secondary tree layer, often consisting of juvenile Eucalyptus spp. and Corymbia spp., as well as sometimes Lophostemon suaveolens, L. confertus, Acacia leptocarpa, Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora and rainforest pioneering species. There is sometimes a very sparse to mid-dense shrub layer, with common species including Hibiscus heterophyllus, Cycas media subsp. media, Acacia leptocarpa, Glochidion sumatranum, Tabernaemontana orientalis, Timonius timon var. timon and Glochidion apodogynum. Juvenile pioneering rainforest species may also be common. The ground layer is often dominated by species such as Themeda triandra, Xanthorrhoea latifolia subsp. latifolia, Mnesithea rottboellioides and Imperata cylindrica, with other species frequently to occasionally present including Flemingia parviflora, Glycine cyrtoloba, Pycnospora lutescens, Fimbristylis dichotoma, Desmodium rhytidophyllum, Dianella caerulea and Eragrostis brownii. Slopes, ridges and crests on undulating to rolling hills of foothills. Geologies mapped include Pa/Ple (Calen Coal Measures), Ccs (Shoalwater Formation) and Plz (Lizzie Creek Volcanics). Early Permian - Carboniferous quartzose and lithic sandstone, siltstone, mudstone, coal, shale and acid to intermediate flows and pyroclastics; local schist). Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9d). 8.11.3b: Eucalyptus portuensis and/or Corymbia intermedia and/or C. trachyphloia and/or E. exserta and/or Lophostemon confertus woodland (to low woodland) to open forest (8-35m tall). E. crebra and E. tereticornis are rare dominant canopy species. Other species which may be co-dominant or form a minor component of the canopy include Syncarpia glomulifera, Lophostemon suaveolens, E. crebra, C. clarksoniana, E. fibrosa and E. suffulgens. There is often a very sparse to mid-dense secondary tree layer (2.5-15m tall) which may be dominated by Allocasuarina torulosa, Acacia flavescens, Lophostemon confertus, Syncarpia glomulifera and Banksia integrifolia subsp. compar. A shrub layer is commonly present (1-5m tall), and dominants may include Lophostemon confertus, Acacia flavescens, Allocasuarina torulosa, Xanthorrhoea latifolia subsp. latifolia, Acacia aulacocarpa, Planchonia careya, Jacksonia scoparia, Grevillea banksii and Coelospermum reticulatum. The mid-dense to very sparse ground layer is dominated by species such as Xanthorrhoea latifolia subsp. latifolia, Themeda triandra, Heteropogon triticeus, Macrozamia miquelii, Aristida spp., Heteropogon contortus, Bowenia serrulata and Entolasia stricta. Slopes (often steep), ridges and crests on gently undulating rises to steep mountains of foothills and uplands. Geologies mapped include Ccs (Shoalwater Formation) and DCcw (Wandilla Formation). Late Devonian - Carboniferous quartzose and lithic sandstone, mudstone, siltstone and jasper; local schist. Qr and Qr>Ccs (Quaternary clay, silt, sand and gravel; colluvial and residual deposits). Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9d). 8.11.3c: Eucalyptus tereticornis and/or E. platyphylla and/or Lophostemon suaveolens and/or E. crebra woodland to open forest (11-25m tall). Corymbia intermedia and/or C. tessellaris are sometimes co-dominant in the canopy. Other associated canopy species may include E. portuensis, C. clarksoniana, Lophostemon confertus and C. dallachiana. Rainforest elements are occasionally present in the canopy. A sparse to mid-dense secondary tree layer (4-15m tall) is usually present, and dominant species may include Allocasuarina torulosa, Lophostemon suaveolens, L. confertus, Acacia flavescens and Livistona decora, with rainforest elements sometimes present. A mid-dense to very sparse shrub layer (1.5-5m tall) is frequently present, and dominants may include Allocasuarina torulosa, Acacia flavescens, Planchonia careya, Acacia crassa subsp. longicoma and Alphitonia excelsa. The sparse to mid-dense ground layer (0.4-1.5m tall) may be dominated by species such as Themeda triandra, Xanthorrhoea latifolia subsp. latifolia, Heteropogon contortus, Digitaria sp., Dianella caerulea, Imperata cylindrica and Heteropogon triticeus. Occurs on slopes, ridges and crests on undulating rises to steep hills of foothills, on metamorphosed sediments. Geologies mapped include Ccs (Shoalwater Formation) and DCcw (Wandilla Formation). Late Devonian - Carboniferous quartzose and lithic sandstone, mudstone, siltstone and jasper; local schist. Qr and TQr/g\c (Quaternary - Late Tertiary clay and clayey chert gravel; colluvial). Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9c). |
| Supplementary description | Bailey et al. (2003), EA-11; Brushe et al. (in prep), Map Units 55-11, c55-11b, c55-11d, c62-11, c63-11, c64-11, c65-11, c69-11, c70-11b, c70-11d c71-11; Queensland Herbarium (2008), Egc_11 |
| Protected areas | Byfield NP, Mount Ossa NP, Eungella NP, Pioneer Peaks NP, Percy Isles NP |
| Special values | 8.11.3: Habitat for the Northern Quoll (Pollock, 1995) which is listed as "Endangered" in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Potential habitat for the endangered species Cycas ophiolitica. 8.11.3b: Habitat for the vulnerable species Grevillea venusta. Also habitat for a number of species at the northern limit of their range, including Comesperma esulifolium, Jacksonia scoparia, Daviesia umbellulata, Eucalyptus fibrosa, E. suffulgens, Pomaderris ferruginea, Patersonia sericea and Hovea clavata. Also habitat for a number of species which are poorly known from the CQC Bioregion, including Daviesia ulicifolia, Corybas barbarae and Rhynchospora rubra. 8.11.3c: Habitat for a number of species which are poorly known in the CQC bioregion, including Dysoxylum rufum, Dockrillia bowmanii, Acacia implexa, Brachychiton bidwillii, Cymbidium suave and Calanthe triplicata. Habitat for some species at the northern limit of their range, including Petalostigma triloculare. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: 8.11.3a: Winter with occasional storm burns. 8.11.3b and c: Late autumn to early winter. INTENSITY: 8.11.3a: Moderate. 8.11.3b and c: Low to moderate. INTERVAL: 8.11.3a: 4 - 6 years. 8.11.3b and c: Minimum of 4 -6 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 4. INTERVAL_MAX: 50. STRATEGY: Aim to burn no more than 50 % of any given area. ISSUES: 8.11.3a: There is some evidence to suggest that extensive fires expose northern quolls to increased predation. Fire may also be deleterious during the breeding season (app June to November). If patchy fires cannot be achieved in a given area during this time, storm burning is strongly recommended. Care should be taken to maintain tree hollows and also to maintain ground litter and fallen timber habitats. 8.11.3b: Consider pollination and fruiting events of Cycas ophiolitica and avoid burning during these periods where practical. Mosaic burning will be important to avoid significant impacts of fire on the long term persistence of Cycas ophiolitica and fauna which utilise this habitat. Care should be taken to maintain tree hollows and also to maintain ground litter and fallen timber habitats. 8.11.3c: Care should be taken to maintain tree hollows and also to maintain ground litter and fallen timber habitats. |
| Comments | 8.11.3a: Distinguished from 8.11.3b and 8.11.3c by occurring only in subregion 2 (the others are only in subregion 4). Distinguished from 8.11.1 and 8.11.4 by the presence of other co-dominating or dominating species besides Eucalyptus platyphylla and E. drepanophylla (and 8.11.3a occurs on more definite hills than the more gently undulating terrain of 8.11.4). Composed of more of a mixture of canopy species than the 8.11.5 series which is always dominated by E. tereticornis and/or Corymbia tessellaris. Distinguished from 8.11.6 by the absence of E. latisinensis and the occurrence in subregion 2 instead of subregion 4. Differs from the 8.11.8 series by never having C. citriodora or E. moluccana dominant or subdominant. Has a taller canopy than 8.11.10 and is never dominated by Lophostemon confertus. Occurs in subregion 2 between Mount Catherine (just south of Yalboroo) and the Pioneer River near Marian. Ranges from poor to good, depending on the history and severity of disturbance caused by activities such as cattle-grazing, timber harvesting and recreation. Weed invasion is a major issue in many areas, with *Lantana camara being one of the most serious issues. Other problem weeds include *Triumfetta rhomboidea, *Mimosa pudica, *Ageratum conyzoides subsp. conyzoides, *Passiflora suberosa, *P. pallida, *Synedrella nodiflora, *Urena lobata, *Centrosema molle, *Mesosphaerum suaveolens, *Megathyrsus maximus, *Melinis minutiflora, *Melinis repens, *Stachytarpheta spp. and *Stylosanthes spp. 8.11.3b: Similar to 8.11.3a, but occurs only in subregions 4 and 5 (8.11.3a occurs only in subregion 2). Distinguished from all other regional ecosystems on land zone 11 by the occurrence away from exposed slopes of islands and headlands (8.11.3b tends to occur inland or in more sheltered situations than the sometimes similar 8.11.10) and also by the dominance of Eucalyptus portuensis, C. intermedia, C. trachyphloia, E. exserta or L. confertus. Where occasionally E. tereticornis or E. crebra are dominant, one or more of the previous species are usually also a prominent feature of the canopy or subcanopy. Occurs only in the Shoalwater Bay area and is almost entirely restricted to subregion 4, with a few patches occurring in subregion 5. It is mapped extensively from Mount Hummock to Conical Mountain and also around Mount Atherton. Relatively good, though some areas are invaded by *Lantana camara. Ground layer weeds may include *Passiflora suberosa, *P. pallida, *Melinis minutiflora, *Sida cordifolia, *Triumfetta rhomboidea and *Emilia sonchifolia. 8.11.3c: Occasionally similar to 8.11.3a, but occurs only in subregions 4 and 5 (8.11.3a occurs only in subregion 2). Distinguished from 8.11.3b by the dominance of Lophostemon suaveolens or Eucalyptus platyphylla or E. tereticornis, and although E. portuensis may be present, it is not dominant. Can seem similar to 8.11.5a and 8.11.5b, but these occur only in subregion 2 and 8.11.3c occurs only in subregion 4. Sometimes similar to 8.11.4 but occurs on more definite slopes as opposed to gently undulating areas. Distinguished from all other regional ecosystems on land zone 11 by the occurrence away from exposed slopes of islands and headlands. Occurs on slopes and ridges in subregion 4. An extensive area exists in the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area. In the past there was a large area to the north of Yeppoon, this is almost entirely gone with only small patches remaining. Vulnerable to weed invasion, with problem species including *Lantana camara and *Passiflora suberosa, *P. pallida and *Triumfetta rhomboidea. Other common weeds include *Passiflora foetida, *Macroptilium atropurpureum, *Sporobolus pyramidalis, *Ageratum conyzoides subsp. conyzoides and *Melinis repens. |
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.
