Regional ecosystem details for 8.11.5
| Regional ecosystem | 8.11.5 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 2, (3) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 600 ha; Remnant 2021 400 ha |
| Short description | Corymbia tessellaris and/or Eucalyptus tereticornis +/- E. drepanophylla open forest on low hills formed from metamorphosed sediments or conglomerate (subregion 2) |
| Structure code | Open Forest |
| Description | Corymbia tessellaris and/or Eucalyptus tereticornis open forest to woodland. Occasionally E. drepanophylla and/or C. clarksoniana are co-dominant or associated species. There is occasionally a very sparse secondary tree layer with species which may include C. tessellaris, E. tereticornis, E. platyphylla, C. dallachiana, Albizia procera, Alphitonia excelsa, and Planchonia careya. A shrub layer may be present and typical species might include Cycas media subsp. media, Ficus opposita, Glochidion lobocarpum, Alphitonia excelsa and Planchonia careya. The ground layer is grassy, and commonly includes Imperata cylindrica, Mnesithea rottboellioides, Digitaria parviflora, Abildgaardia ovata, Heteropogon triticeus, Panicum effusum, Themeda triandra and Heteropogon contortus. Occurs on slopes, ridges and crests on undulating low hills to rolling hills of foothills. Soil is dark and geology probably mostly sedimentary, metamorphic rocks and conglomerates. Geology types mapped include DCc (Campwyn Beds), Kgbm/b (Ben Mohr Igneous Complex/b), Kgbm/g (Ben Mohr Igneous Complex/g), Ple (Calen Coal Measures) and Pla (Carmila Beds). Early Cretaceous to Late Devonian acid to intermediate flows, mudstone, siltstone, sandstone and gabbro. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9c). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 8.11.5a: Corymbia tessellaris and Eucalyptus tereticornis open forest to woodland. Occasionally C. clarksoniana is a co-dominant or associated species, and Lophostemon suaveolens is sometimes present. There is occasionally a very sparse secondary tree layer with species which may include Albizia procera, Alphitonia excelsa, and Planchonia careya. A shrub layer may be present and typical species might include Cycas media subsp. media, Alphitonia excelsa and Planchonia careya. The ground layer is grassy, and commonly includes Imperata cylindrica, Abildgaardia ovata, Heteropogon triticeus, Mnesithea rottboellioides, Panicum effusum, Digitaria parviflora, Themeda triandra and Heteropogon contortus. Occurs slopes, ridges and crests on undulating low hills to rolling hills of foothills. Soil is dark and geology probably mostly sedimentary, metamorphic rocks and conglomerates. Geology types mapped include Kgbm/b (Ben Mohr Igneous Complex/b) and Kgbm/g (Ben Mohr Igneous Complex/g) Early Cretaceous gabbro and monzogranite and Ple (Calen Coal Measures) and Pla (Carmila Beds) Early Permian quartzose and lithic sandstone, siltstone, mudstone and conglomerate. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9c). 8.11.5b: Corymbia tessellaris woodland to open forest. Eucalyptus drepanophylla is sometimes present as a codominant or associated canopy species. There may be a secondary tree layer with species including C. tessellaris, E. drepanophylla, E. platyphylla, C. dallachiana and Albizia procera. The shrub layer is very sparse to sparse, and may include species such as Cycas media subsp. media, Ficus opposita and Glochidion lobocarpum. The ground layer is mid-dense and commonly dominated by species such as Digitaria parviflora and Mnesithea rottboellioides. Occurs on Slopes and crests on undulating rises to rolling low hills of foothills. Appears to be mainly occurring on conglomerate rocks, with the geology type mapped as DCc (Campwyn Beds). Early Carboniferous to Late Devonian acid to intermediate flows and pyroclastics; mudstone, siltstone, quartzose sandstone, oolitic limestone and conglomerate. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9c). |
| Special values | 8.11.5a: An uncommon vegetation community. 8.11.5b: Very restricted, poorly known vegetation community. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Winter. INTENSITY: Moderate. INTERVAL: 3 - 5 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 3. INTERVAL_MAX: 5. ISSUES: None known. Further research and monitoring is required within this ecosystem. Care should be taken to maintain tree hollows and also to maintain ground litter and fallen timber habitats. |
| Comments | 8.11.5a: Distinguished from 8.11.5b by lacking Eucalyptus drepanophylla as a prominent component of the canopy. Distinguished from all other regional ecosystems on land zone 11 by the clear dominance of E. tereticornis and/or Corymbia tessellaris. Occurs in two isolated patches within subregion 2. The first, near the O'Connell River west of the Bruce Highway between Yalboroo and Elaroo (10km south of Bloomsbury) and the other between Blue Mountain and the Pioneer River (10km south of Mirani). Largely unknown, but weeds are likely to be a problem given the proximity to cleared lands and possibly a slightly higher soil fertility than other surrounding ecosystems on low hills. *Lantana camara is known to be dense in some places. Other weed species present include *Ageratum conyzoides subsp. conyzoides, *Melinis minutiflora, *Passiflora suberosa, *P. pallida and *Triumfetta rhomboidea. 8.11.5b: Distinguished from 8.11.5a by the presence of Eucalyptus drepanophylla as a prominent component of the canopy. Distinguished from all other regional ecosystems on land zone 11 by the clear dominance of Corymbia tessellaris. Restricted to a small area between Mount Springcliffe and Mount Sweetland about 10km west of Cape Hillsborough National Park, in subregion 2. Areas visited appear to be heavily weed invaded, possibly due to a combination of past land practices and a relatively high soil fertility. The most problematic species are *Lantana camara and *Centrosema molle, with other species including *Ageratum conyzoides subsp. conyzoides, *Bidens pilosa, *Melinis repens *Mimosa pudica, *Passiflora suberosa, *P. pallida, *Stylosanthes spp., *Triumfetta rhomboidea and *Urena lobata. |
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.
