Regional ecosystem details for 8.12.25
| Regional ecosystem | 8.12.25 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 2, 1 |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 500 ha; Remnant 2021 500 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus tereticornis +/- E. tereticornis x E. platyphylla woodland on hillslopes of islands on Mesozoic to Proterozoic igneous rocks |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Eucalyptus tereticornis woodland to open forest. E. tereticornis x platyphylla is a common associated species in the canopy. Other occasional species in the canopy may include Allocasuarina littoralis, Corymbia clarksoniana, E. platyphylla and C. tessellaris. Occasionally pioneering rainforest species may be co-dominants in the canopy. A secondary tree layer may be present, ranging from a mid-dense layer of Allocasuarina littoralis and/or Lophostemon confertus, to isolated plants of these species and others such as pioneering rainforest species. Occasionally there is a well-developed mid-dense pioneering rainforest layer. There may be a shrub layer of isolated plants mainly consisting of rainforest pioneering species. The ground layer is dominated by species such as Imperata cylindrica, Heteropogon contortus, Xanthorrhoea latifolia subsp. latifolia, Sorghum nitidum forma aristatum, Gahnia aspera, Lomandra longifolia, Sehima nervosum and Themeda triandra. Occurs slopes, ridges and crests of islands, on undulating to rolling hills of lowlands and foothills. Mesozoic to Proterozoic igneous rocks with geologies mapped including Kg, Kw (Whitsunday Volcanics) and DCc (Campwyn Beds). Early Cretaceous - Late Devonian waterlaid acid to intermediate air-fall pyroclastics, minor pyroclastic flows and lavas. Includes leucocratic alkali granite, granophyre and quartz syenite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9c). |
| Supplementary description | Batianoff (1996), Vegetation unit 6Eh, 6Et; Kemp (2009), Etf, Etfv, Etw, Etfvp; Warrien and Lavarack (in prep), Vegetation unit 5d (in part), 5e (in part), 6i (in part) |
| Protected areas | South Cumberland Islands NP, Newry Islands NP, Smith Islands NP |
| Special values | 8.12.25: A rare (< 1000ha) regional ecosystem. Habitat for the poorly known orchid Nervilia plicata. Habitat for Koalas on St Bees island where they have been introduced, but where they are considered to be a valuable population of an animal which is threatened elsewhere in Queensland. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Winter or storm burning season. INTENSITY: Low to moderate, in areas of vine forest emergence; high. INTERVAL: 3 - 6 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 3. INTERVAL_MAX: 6. STRATEGY: Retain at least 30 % unburnt in any given year. ISSUES: In some areas associated with grasslands (regional ecosystem 8.12.13a and b), frequent fire has reduced recruitment of canopy species with a consequent alteration of the layered woodland structure. |
| Comments | 8.12.25: Most closely related to vegetation community 8.12.12d from which it is distinguished by the clear dominance of Eucalyptus tereticornis or E. tereticornis x platyphylla. Also closely related to 8.12.26 but Corymbia tessellaris is never a prominent feature of the canopy, and 8.12.25 tends to have a lower, more open canopy than 8.12.26. Distinguished from 8.12.9 by the occurrence on islands instead of upland mountains, and 8.12.20a and 8.12.20c by the occurrence on islands on definite hillslopes (as opposed to mainland in gently undulating areas), and 8.12.27a and 8.12.27b by the occurrence on islands instead of the mainland and the usual absence of Livistona decora. Occurs on Hayman Island in the north, Goldsmith Island, Rabbit Island, Keswick Island and St Bees Island in the south. Damaged by goats and possums on Hayman Island. Damaged by goats on St. Bees Island where the natural ground layer has been modified and Aristida spp. (Especially A. personata) have become very prominent. Grazing on these islands by domesticated animals as well as some species of native fauna that were introduced to the islands (animals that were not present at European arrival) has caused a substantial impact by changing the composition of lower tree, shrub and ground layers and by assisting the spread of weeds. Weeds that are commonly a problem in this ecosystem include *Lantana camara, *Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, *Passiflora suberosa, *P. pallida, *Triumfetta rhomboidea, *Melinis repens, *Ageratum conyzoides subsp. conyzoides, *Bidens bipinnata, *Megathyrsus maximus and *Passiflora foetida. |
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.
