Regional ecosystem details for 8.11.6
| Regional ecosystem | 8.11.6 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 4, (11.14), (5) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 8000 ha; Remnant 2021 8000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus latisinensis and/or E. crebra and/or E. exserta +/- Corymbia intermedia +/- C. trachyphloia open forest on metamorphosed sediments |
| Structure code | Open Forest |
| Description | Eucalyptus latisinensis and/or E. crebra and/or E. exserta open forest to open woodland (9-22m tall). Where E. latisinensis is a prominent feature of the canopy, common codominant or associated species include Corymbia intermedia, C. trachyphloia, Syncarpia glomulifera, E. portuensis and Allocasuarina spp. In areas closer to mangroves on low hills, E. crebra and/or E. exserta are sometimes dominant, with associated species including C. clarksoniana and C. trachyphloia. There is frequently a mid-dense to very sparse lower tree layer present, and in E. latisinensis dominated associations this often consists of Allocasuarina torulosa and/or A. littoralis, Banksia integrifolia subsp. compar and Grevillea banksii, whilst in E. crebra and/or E. exserta communities there is often an Acacia flavescens or Lophostemon confertus dominated layer. A shrub layer and/or lower tree layer is usually present consisting of species such as Allocasuarina spp., Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora, Grevillea banksii, Acacia flavescens, A. disparrima subsp. disparrima, Alyxia ruscifolia and Coelospermum reticulatum. The ground layer is dominated by species such as Xanthorrhoea latifolia subsp. latifolia, Themeda triandra, Eremochloa bimaculata, Entolasia stricta, Hibbertia stricta and Gahnia aspera. Occurs on slopes and crests on gently undulating rises to undulating hills of lowlands and foothills, on sediments. Geologies mapped include Ccs (Shoalwater Formation). Carboniferous quartzose sandstone, mudstone; local quartz-muscovite-biotite schist. Qr and Qr>Ccs (Quaternary clay, silt, sand, gravel and soil; colluvial and residual deposits). Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9d). |
| Supplementary description | Bailey et al. (2003), Map unit ECg-11; Brushe et al. (in prep), Map units c43-11, c44, c47-11a |
| Protected areas | Byfield NP |
| Special values | 8.11.6: Habitat for plant species that are poorly known in the Central Queensland Coast bioregion including Acacia leiocalyx subsp. Leiocalyx, Gompholobium pinnatum, Goodenia rotundifolia and Hypoxis pratensis var. pratensis, as well as species at the northern limit of their range such as Xanthorrhoea fulva, Hibbertia vestita and Comesperma esulifolium. Also habitat for Bowenia serrulata which is restricted to the Shoalwater area. Habitat for the Glossy Black Cockatoo which is listed as "Vulnerable" in the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Late wet to early dry season, with occasional storm burns (Nov-Dec). Winter burns may be acceptable if conditions have not been appropriate for burning until winter. INTENSITY: Mainly low, but with some moderate and high. INTERVAL: 3-7 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 3. INTERVAL_MAX: 7. STRATEGY: Apply mosaic burns across the landscape at a range of intervals. At a fine scale attempt to create a spatial mosaic with multiple burn patches 20 ha or less; aim for a 30-50% burnt area. At the bioregion scale do not burn more than 20% within the same year. ISSUES: Lack of fire promotes overabundant pioneer rainforest species. Too frequent fire or inappropriately timed fire promotes weeds, including high-biomass grasses that lead to inappropriate fires. At least 7 years between burns is required to permit obligate seeding shrubs to reproduce. |
| Comments | 8.11.6: The RE 8.11.1 may sometimes have a similar species dominance, but 8.11.6 tends to be associated with very more gently sloping terrain (as opposed to definite steep hills). The RE 8.11.4 also often occurs on gently sloping terrain, however it is usually dominated by Eucalyptus platyphylla. Occurs in subregion 4 around the mouth of Water park Creek at Corio Bay and in the coastal area to the east of Mount Hummock and west of Port Clinton in the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area. Moderately good, though susceptible to weed invasion. Common weeds include *Lantana camara, *Melinis minutiflora and *Passiflora suberosa, *P. pallida. |
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.
