Regional ecosystem details for 8.12.2
| Regional ecosystem | 8.12.2 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 3, (2), (6) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 34000 ha; Remnant 2021 31000 ha |
| Short description | Evergreen notophyll to complex notophyll vine forest of uplands, highlands and foothills on Mesozoic to Proterozoic igneous rocks |
| Structure code | Closed Forest |
| Description | Evergreen notophyll to complex notophyll vine forest. Emergents may include Argyrodendron actinophyllum subsp. diversifolium (or A. polyandrum at lower altitudes) and Toona ciliata. Characteristic species of the canopy are Argyrodendron actinophyllum subsp. diversifolium A. polyandrum, Cryptocarya macdonaldii, Endiandra muelleri subsp. bracteata, Litsea leefeana, Diospyros pentamera, Pleioluma queenslandica, Mischarytera lautereriana and Cinnamomum oliveri. The sub-canopy may contain species such Olea paniculata, Cryptocarya macdonaldii, Dendrocnide photiniphylla, Podocarpus elatus, Diospyros pentamera and Steganthera laxiflora. Lower tree and shrub layers typically include Polyscias australiana, Wilkiea macrophylla, Tapeinosperma pseudojambosa, Cordyline murchisoniae and Psychotria loniceroides. The ground layer is usually very sparse, with scattered Blechnum cartilagineum, Arachniodes aristata and Pollia macrophylla. Vines include Cissus antarctica, Gynochthodes jasminoides, Ripogonum album and Melodinus australis. Epiphytes which may be present are Arthropteris tenella, Platycerium bifurcatum, Davallia pyxidata and Dendrobium speciosum. Occurs on slopes, crests and ridges on rolling hills to very steep mountains of foothills, uplands and highlands. Geologies mapped as CPgfh (Finch Hatton Granite), CKr (Urannah Igneous Complex), CPgpg (Pisgah Igneous Complex), Pc/s (Carmila beds/s) and CPgpl (Palms Lookout Granodiorite). Early Cretaceous - Late Carboniferous acid, intermediate and basic plutonic rocks. Syenogranite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 5b). |
| Supplementary description | McDonald (1995), Group 9 (in part), 10 |
| Protected areas | Eungella NP, Crediton FR, Homevale NP, Bluff Hill NP, Kelvin NP, Connors FR, Pioneer Peaks NP, Mount Martin NP, Mount Ossa NP, Homevale RR, St Helens Gap CP, Andromache CP |
| Special values | 8.12.2: Habitat for threatened plant species Trigonostemon inopinatus and Plectranthus granitico species. Habitat for the near threatened plant species Sarcotoechia heterophylla. Also habitat for plant species at the southern limit of their range such as Mischocarpus stipitatus, Acmena resa and Jasminum dallachii, and at the northern limit of their range such as Elaeocarpus kirtonii, Brunoniella spiciflora and Alyxia magnifolia, also for restricted species such as Cyperus sp. (Eungella NP P.R.Sharpe+ 5052) and poorly known flora species such as Alyxia magnifolia, Dictymia brownii, Dendrobium gracilicaule, Calamus radicalis, Hedraianthera porphyropetala and Carex horsfieldii. Habitat for significant fauna species including Eungella Honeyeater and Eungella Tinker Frog (Liem's Frog) which are both listed as "Near Threatened" under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 and the Eungella Day Frog which is list as "Endangered". |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. ISSUES: Fire sensitive. |
| Comments | 8.12.2: This is a major upland rainforest type which often occurs as a mosaic with the vegetation community 8.12.1a on the main Clarke Range. Tends to occur on slightly lower, less cloudy/misty situations than 8.12.1a, with a much lower proportion of high altitude species such as Acmena resa and Syzygium wesa. Archontophoenix species (though sometimes present), are not as consistently dominant as in 8.12.1a. Differs from 8.12.3a which (occurs at lower altitudes and has correspondingly lower rainfall) by the common dominance of Argyrodendron actinophyllum (A. polyandrum and A. trifoliolatum are more common in 8.12.3a) and species such as Cryptocarya macdonaldii, Endiandra muelleri subsp. bracteata (in 8.12.3a species such as Cleistanthus dallachyanus and Falcataria toona are usually prominent). The vegetation community 8.12.3b is much sparser and occurs on cliffs, and 8.12.3c is a southern (subregion 4) gully community dominated by species such as Harpullia pendula and Alectryon tomentosus. Distinguished from 8.12.19 by the much less prominent presence of Myristica globosa subsp. muelleri, and from 8.12.18 by occurring more inland and lacking species such as Argyrodendron sp. (Whitsundays W.J.McDonald+ 5831) and Dissiliaria indistincta, which are common in 8.12.18. Occurs in subregion 3, along ranges from Mount Quandong (west of Proserpine) in the north, to the Connors Range (west of Clairview) in the south. Found most commonly on Clarke Range in Eungella National Park. The condition of this regional ecosystem is overall poor - many areas have been logged and/or burnt, resulting in a simplification of structure. |
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.
