Regional ecosystem details for 8.12.11
| Regional ecosystem | 8.12.11 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 1, 2, 4, (6), (5), (11.14), (11.2) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 16000 ha; Remnant 2021 16000 ha |
| Short description | Semi-evergreen microphyll vine thicket +/- Araucaria cunninghamii on islands and coastal headlands on Mesozoic to Proterozoic igneous rocks and Tertiary volcanics |
| Structure code | Closed Forest |
| Description | Semi-evergreen microphyll vine thicket. Emergents include Araucaria cunninghamii and Falcataria toona. The canopy is often dominated by species such as Cleistanthus dallachyanus, Mimusops elengi, Terminalia porphyrocarpa and Sersalisia sericea. Other canopy species include Drypetes deplanchei, Alectryon connatus, Acacia spirorbis subsp. solandri, Diospyros hebecarpa, Cupaniopsis anacardioides and Ganophyllum falcatum. There is sometimes a lower tree layer, with species including Cleistanthus dallachyanus, Aidia racemosa, Larsenaikia jardinei, Mallotus philippensis, Diospyros hebecarpa and Elaeodendron melanocarpum. Typical vines are Austrosteenisia blackii, Eustrephus latifolius and Cissus oblonga. There is often a very sparse shrub layer, including Eugenia reinwardtiana, Alyxia ruscifolia, Fitzalania heteropetala, Xylosma ovata and Medicosma obovata. The ground layer is usually very sparse, with species such as Drynaria sparsisora, Pseuderanthemum variabile, Clematicissus opaca and Adiantum aethiopicum. This ecosystem includes simple stands of Araucaria cunninghamii with minimal lower tree or shrub layers. Also includes very small areas of Pisonia grandis shrubland to open forest on some islands. Occurs on slopes, ridges, crests and gullies on undulating hills to steep mountains of lowlands and foothills of islands and headlands. Geologies mapped as Kw and Kc (Whitsunday Volcanics), Pll (Airlie Volcanics), Kp (Proserpine Volcanics) and Kg. Early Cretaceous - Early Permian waterlaid acid to intermediate air-fall pyroclastics, minor pyroclastic flows and lavas. Carbonaceous arkosic conglomerate. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 5b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 8.12.11a: Semi-evergreen microphyll vine thicket. Emergents include Araucaria cunninghamii, Falcataria toona, Terminalia porphyrocarpa and Argyrodendron polyandrum. The canopy is often dominated by Cleistanthus dallachyanus, Mimusops elengi, Terminalia porphyrocarpa and Euroschinus falcatus. Other canopy species include Acacia spirorbis subsp. solandri, Diospyros hebecarpa, Cupaniopsis simulata, Ganophyllum falcatum, Argyrodendron polyandrum and Macropteranthes fitzalanii. There is sometimes a lower tree layer, with species including Cleistanthus dallachyanus, Aidia racemosa, Drypetes deplanchei, Larsenaikia jardinei, Mallotus philippensis, Diospyros hebecarpa, Elaeodendron melanocarpum and Sersalisia sericea. The most common vines are Austrosteenisia blackii, Cissus oblonga, Pandorea pandorana and Trophis scandens. There is often a very sparse shrub layer, including Eugenia reinwardtiana, Alyxia ruscifolia, Fitzalania heteropetala, Cleistanthus dallachyanus, Medicosma obovata and Memecylon pauciflorum. The ground layer is usually very sparse, with species such as Drynaria sparsisora, Pseuderanthemum variabile, Clematicissus opaca and Aneilema acuminatum. This ecosystem includes simple stands of Araucaria cunninghamii with minimal lower tree or shrub layers. Also includes very small areas of Pisonia grandis shrubland to open forest on some islands. Occurs on slopes, ridges, crests and gullies on undulating hills to steep mountains of lowlands and foothills of islands and headlands. Geologies mapped as Kw and Kc (Whitsunday Volcanics), Pll (Airlie Volcanics), Kp (Proserpine Volcanics) and Kg. Early Cretaceous - Early Permian waterlaid acid to intermediate air-fall pyroclastics, minor pyroclastic flows and lavas. Carbonaceous arkosic conglomerate. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 5b). 8.12.11c: Semi-evergreen microphyll vine thicket. Emergents such as Araucaria cunninghamii, Falcataria toona, Euroschinus falcatus and Ficus spp. are sometimes present. Canopy dominants typically include Sersalisia sericea, Alectryon connatus and Drypetes deplanchei. Other canopy species and lower tree layers may include Polyalthia nitidissima, Acronychia laevis, Cupaniopsis anacardioides, Diospyros geminata, Exocarpos latifolius, Psydrax odorata, Acacia disparrima subsp. disparrima, Gossia bidwillii and Sterculia quadrifida. A very sparse to sparse shrub layer may be present, with species such as Xylosma ovata, Alyxia ruscifolia, Micromelum minutum and Psychotria poliostemma. Vines are common and include Eustrephus latifolius, Hoya australis subsp. australis, Smilax australis, Trophis scandens subsp. scandens and Clematicissus opaca. The ground layer is typically very sparse to sparse (sometimes dense in patches) with species including Gahnia aspera, Adiantum aethiopicum, Dianella caerulea, Pseuderanthemum variabile, Microsorum punctatum, Drynaria sparsisora and Hypoestes floribunda. Occasional epiphytes include Dendrobium discolor and Dockrillia bowmanii. This ecosystem includes simple stands of A. cunninghamii with minimal lower tree or shrub layers. Occurs on slopes, ridges, crests and gullies on undulating low hills to steep low hills of lowlands and foothills of islands and headlands. Geologies mapped as RKvp (Peninsula Range Volcanics), Kw (Whitsunday Volcanics), Pg/b, SDh (Mount Holly beds) and Ki. Early Cretaceous - Late Silurian waterlaid acid to intermediate air-fall pyroclastics, minor pyroclastic flows and lavas. Includes pyroclastic crystal tuff. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 5b). |
| Supplementary description | Bailey et al. (2000), R-1-8512, R-1-94, 8HVS-12; Batianoff (1995a) Vegetation Units 1 and 2; Batianoff (1996); 4b; Batianoff, Dillewaard and Franks (1997), Vegetation Units 28, 32, 33; Bean 1991, Vegetation type 2; Brushe et al. (in prep), Map units c93_1 |
| Protected areas | Conway NP, Whitsunday Islands NP, Dryander NP, Molle Islands NP, Northumberland Islands NP, South Cumberland Islands NP, Gloucester Island NP, Broad Sound Islands NP, Percy Isles NP, Smith Islands NP, Cape Hillsborough NP, Conway CP, Brampton Islands NP, |
| Special values | 8.12.11: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Berrya rotundifolia, Bertya pedicellata, Brachychiton compactus, Medicosma obovata, Neisosperma kilneri, Samadera bidwillii, Solanum sporadotrichum. 8.12.11a: Habitat for vulnerable plant species Capparis batianoffii, Medicosma obovata, Omphalea celata and Neisosperma kilneri, and near threated species Brachychiton compactus. Habitat for species with a restricted range including Homalium sp. (South Molle Island J.A.Gresty AQ208995), Gossia pubiflora, Larsenaikia jardinei and Dissiliaria indistincta, and species poorly known from the Central Queensland Coast bioregion such as Tetrastigma thorsborneorum, Acalypha eremorum, Cassia brewsteri and Cupaniopsis simulata. Important habitat for the fauna species Petrogale persephone (Proserpine rock-wallaby) which is listed as "Endangered" in the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992. 8.12.11c: Habitat for vulnerable plant species Comesperma oblongatum and the near threatened plant species Xylosma ovata. Also potential habitat for vulnerable plant species Berrya rotundifolia which has been recorded on Middle Percy Island. Northern range limit of Brachychiton bidwillii. Habitat for species poorly known in the Central Queensland Coast bioregion such as Cordyline petiolaris. |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. ISSUES: This ecosystem readily encroaches into adjacent woodlands and grasslands, and periodic high intensity fire along its margins may be required. |
| Comments | 8.12.11a: Distinguished from 8.12.11c by the occurrence in Subregion 2 only (8.12.11c is in Subregion 4 only). Grades into 8.12.18 from which it can be distinguished by being dominated by species such as Cleistanthus dallachyanus, Mimusops elengi and Terminalia porphyrocarpa, as opposed to Argyrodendron spp., and Dissiliaria indistincta. The RE 8.12.18 is a better developed rainforest, in slightly more sheltered conditions, whilst 8.12.11a tends to occur on harsher, often more exposed sites. Distinguished from other land zone 12 rainforest regional ecosystems by the combination of occurring on islands (or headlands) and the microphyll dominated leaf composition of the canopy. Occurs in subregions 1, 2 and 3. It is present in coastal areas from Dingo Beach to Cape Conway, and at Cape Hillsborough. Also found on many islands from Holbourne Island, north of Bowen to Red Clay Island, west of Carmila. Generally in good condition. Threatened by fires in hot conditions, and more open examples are sometimes invaded by *Lantana camara. Vulnerable to cyclone damage. On many islands, goats have caused considerable damage to shrub and ground layers, probably affecting seedling establishment. In some areas, goat grazing has left the ground so bare that soil erosion has occurred. 8.12.11c: This vegetation community is distinguished from 8.12.11a by the more common presence of Alectryon connatus, Polyalthia nitidissima and Xylosma ovata, and the usual absence of Cleistanthus dallachyanus, Croton arnhemicus and Eugenia reinwardtiana. Also 8.12.11c occurs in subregion 4 only, whilst 8.12.11a occurs in subregions 1-3. Distinguished from 8.12.18 by being dominated by species such as Sersalisia sericea, Alectryon connatus and Drypetes deplanchei, as opposed to Argyrodendron spp., and Dissiliaria indistincta. The RE 8.12.18 is a better developed rainforest, in slightly more sheltered conditions, whilst 8.12.11a tends to occur on harsher, often more exposed sites. Distinguished from other land zone 12 rainforest regional ecosystems by the combination of occurring on islands (or headlands) and the microphyll dominated leaf composition of the canopy. Present in mainland coastal areas of subregion 5, from the mouth of Island Head Creek to Cape Manifold. Also occurs on a number of islands, including the Percy Island Group, Duke Islands, and a number of others around Shoalwater Bay. Generally in good condition. Threatened by fires in hot conditions, and more open examples are sometimes invaded by *Lantana camara and *Passiflora suberosa, *P. pallida. Vulnerable to cyclone damage. |
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.
