Regional ecosystem details for 8.12.27
| Regional ecosystem | 8.12.27 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Endangered |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Endangered |
| Subregion | 2, 3 |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 13000 ha; Remnant 2021 3000 ha |
| Short description | Corymbia tessellaris and/or Eucalyptus tereticornis +/- C. intermedia +/- C. clarksoniana open forest with a secondary tree layer of Livistona decora on low hills on Mesozoic to Proterozoic igneous rocks |
| Structure code | Open Forest |
| Description | Corymbia tessellaris and/or Eucalyptus tereticornis open forest. Common associated to codominant species in the canopy include C. intermedia and C. clarksoniana. Other occasional associated species may include Livistona decora, Albizia procera, E. drepanophylla, Lophostemon suaveolens, E. platyphylla, C. intermedia x C. clarksoniana, E. exserta, and various rainforest pioneering species. Livistona decora is dominant to subdominant in the secondary tree layer. A minimal shrub layer consisting of isolated plants may be present. The ground layer is sparse to mid-dense, and dominant and associated species may include Imperata cylindrica, Gahnia aspera, Digitaria sp., Mnesithea rottboellioides, Heteropogon contortus and Scleria mackaviensis. Occurs on low hills on Mesozoic to Proterozoic igneous rocks. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9c). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 8.12.27a: Corymbia tessellaris open forest. Eucalyptus tereticornis is a common associated species in the canopy. Other occasional to common canopy species include Livistona decora, Corymbia clarksoniana and Albizia procera. Secondary tree layers are most commonly dominated by Livistona decora, with other common to occasional species including Corymbia tessellaris, Timonius timon var. timon, Jagera pseudorhus var. pseudorhus and various rainforest pioneering species. A minimal shrub layer consisting of isolated plants may be present, with species sometimes including Glochidion lobocarpum, Mallotus philippensis, Planchonia careya and various juvenile rainforest pioneering species. The ground layer may include Imperata cylindrica, Gahnia aspera, Scleria mackaviensis, Eustrephus latifolius and Flemingia parviflora. Occurs on slopes and crests on rolling low hills of foothills and isolated small hills in alluvial plains. Geologies mapped include Pc/s (Carmila beds/s), Pc/v (Carmila beds/v), DCc (Campwyn Volcanics), Kgwu (Wundaru Granodiorite) and Kg/d. Early Cretaceous - Late Devonian siltstone and mudstone, volcanilithic sandstone, conglomerate and rhyolitic to dacitic volcaniclastic rocks. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9c). 8.12.27b: Corymbia intermedia or C. clarksoniana open forest. Common associated canopy species may include C. tessellaris and Eucalyptus tereticornis. Sometimes C. intermedia (or C. clarksoniana) are subdominants with dominant C. tessellaris and/or E. tereticornis. Other occasional associated species in the canopy may include E. drepanophylla, Livistona decora, Lophostemon suaveolens, Albizia procera, E. platyphylla, C. intermedia x C. clarksoniana and E. exserta. The lower tree layers are mid-dense to very sparse, and dominated or co dominated by Livistona decora, with associated species sometimes including Lophostemon suaveolens, Albizia procera, Timonius timon var. timon, Acacia spirorbis subsp. solandri, Bursaria incana, Planchonia careya, Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora and various pioneering rainforest species. A minimal shrub layer consisting of isolated plants may be present, with species sometimes including Hibiscus heterophyllus, Livistona decora, Glochidion apodogynum, Bursaria incana, Cycas media subsp. media and Planchonia careya. The ground layer is sparse to mid-dense, and dominant and associated species may include Digitaria sp., Mnesithea rottboellioides, Heteropogon contortus, Scleria mackaviensis, Gahnia aspera and Oplismenus burmanni. Occurs on slopes, ridges and crests on rolling low hills to rolling hills of lowlands and foothills. Geologies mapped include DCc (Campwyn Volcanics), Cvm (Mountain View Volcanics), CKgu/g (Urannah Batholith), Pc/s (Carmila beds/s) and Cvm/b (Mountain View Volcanics/b). Early Cretaceous - Late Devonian siltstone, mudstone and volcanilithic and pebbly sandstone. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9c). |
| Supplementary description | Batianoff, Dillewaard and Franks (1997), Vegetation unit 27 (Et and Ct); Champion (1994), Unit A and Unit C |
| Protected areas | Cape Palmerston NP, Kelvin NP |
| Special values | 8.12.27a: A naturally restricted ecosystem. 8.12.27b: A naturally restricted ecosystem. |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. ISSUES: A geographically restricted ecosystem with remaining remnants largely modified by weed species including penny leaf (Dalbergia sissoo). Canopy trees provide important tree hollows. |
| Comments | 8.12.27a: Distinguished from 8.12.27b by the lack of Corymbia intermedia forming a co-dominant species in the canopy. Otherwise most closely related to RE 8.12.26 from which it can be distinguished by the prominent presence of Livistona decora. Also related to vegetation community 8.12.12d from which it is distinguished by the clear dominance of Eucalyptus tereticornis and C. tessellaris and the prominent Livistona decora layer. Also related to 8.12.25 but C. tessellaris is a much more prominent feature of the canopy and 8.12.25 lacks a prominent Livistona decora layer. Distinguished from 8.12.9 by the occurrence in near coastal low hills instead of upland mountains, and 8.12.20a and 8.12.20c by the occurrence on definite hillslopes (as opposed to low lying gently undulating areas). Occurs around Mackay, from Shoal Point south to the Pioneer River and west to Sugarloaf Peak. The total area has been greatly reduced since pre-clearing time, with only small scattered patches remaining in 2006. Very poor, with most remnant areas being small isolated fragments in a cleared landscape. Lack of burning could be a problem, though burning now probably accelerates weed invasion. Many remnants have been selectively cleared or have regrown from very old clearing. Many sites are almost completely dominated by introduced species in the ground layer. The worst weeds are currently *Megathyrsus maximus and *Lantana camara, with other common weeds including *Passiflora suberosa, *P. pallida, *Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, *Triumfetta rhomboidea, *Centrosema molle, *Hyparrhenia rufa, *Melinis minutiflora and *Mimosa pudica. 8.12.27b: Distinguished from 8.12.27a by the dominance or sub-dominance of Corymbia intermedia (or C. clarksoniana). Otherwise most closely related to RE 8.12.26 from which it can be distinguished by the prominent presence of Livistona decora. Also related to vegetation community 8.12.12d from which it can also be distinguished by the Livistona decora layer. Also related to 8.12.25 but 8.12.25 lacks a prominent Livistona decora layer. Distinguished from 8.12.9 by the occurrence in near coastal low hills instead of upland mountains, and 8.12.20a and 8.12.20c by the occurrence on definite hillslopes (as opposed to low lying gently undulating areas). Scattered from Eimeo in North Mackay south to the eastern side of Connors Range 10km west of Carmila. In the past there was an extensive area between Sarina and Hay Point, this has been reduced to smaller scattered patches in the present day. Relatively poor, with past habitat fragmentation resulting in weed incursion. Some remnants have been selectively cleared or have regrown from very old clearing. Problem weeds include *Lantana camara, *Melinis repens, *Melinis minutiflora, *Megathyrsus maximus, *Ageratum conyzoides subsp. conyzoides, *Passiflora suberosa, *P. pallida, *Hyparrhenia rufa and *Tridax procumbens. |
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.
