Regional ecosystem details for 8.12.29
| Regional ecosystem | 8.12.29 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 1, 6, 2, 5, 4, (11.14) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 6000 ha; Remnant 2021 6000 ha |
| Short description | Allocasuarina littoralis and/or Lophostemon confertus and/or Acacia spp. and/or Grevillea banksii open shrubland on islands and headlands on Mesozoic to Proterozoic igneous and Tertiary acid to intermediate rocks |
| Structure code | Open Scrub |
| Description | Allocasuarina littoralis and/or Lophostemon confertus and/or Acacia leptostachya and/or Acacia disparrima subsp. disparrima and/or Acacia julifera subsp. curvinervia and/or Grevillea banksii open shrubland to closed scrub (0.4 -10m tall). The canopy is very variable in species composition and structure. In some areas (for example St. Bees Island) the canopy may be co-dominate with or subdominated by pioneering rainforest species such as Neolitsea brassii and Acronychia laevis. Other associated species sometimes include Eucalyptus exserta, Corymbia intermedia, Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora, C. dallachiana, E. drepanophylla and E. exserta. Lower tree and shrub layers are often dominated by similar species to the canopy, as well as shrubs such as Dodonaea lanceolata var. subsessilifolia, Denhamia disperma, Lithomyrtus obtusa and Xanthorrhoea latifolia subsp. latifolia. The ground layer often includes Xanthorrhoea latifolia subsp. latifolia, Themeda triandra, Dianella caerulea and Gahnia aspera. Occurs on slopes, ridges, crests and small scarps on undulating rises, rolling hills and steep rises of lowlands and foothills of headlands and islands, on Mesozoic to Proterozoic igneous rocks, and minor areas of Tertiary acid volcanics (land zone 8) to intermediate volcanics. Often has shallow soil with rock at the surface. Geologies mapped include Kw (Whitsunday Volcanics), PKg, RKvp (Peninsula Range Volcanics) and Kg. Th (Cape Hillsborough Beds). Early Cretaceous - Late Permian waterlaid acid to intermediate air-fall pyroclastics. Th (Cape Hillsborough Beds). Tertiary acid volcanics. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 28e). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 8.12.29a: Allocasuarina littoralis closed heath to closed forest (to open shrubland to low open forest) (1-7m tall). Other occasional associated species in the canopy may include Corymbia intermedia, Acacia leptostachya, Lophostemon confertus, C. clarksoniana, Eucalyptus exserta and E. drepanophylla. In some areas (for example St. Bees Island) the canopy may be co-dominate with or subdominated by pioneering rainforest species such as Neolitsea brassii and Acronychia laevis, with occasional associated species including Timonius timon var. timon, Ficus rubiginosa forma glabrescens and Macaranga involucrata var. mallotoides. When the canopy is dense, lower strata are absent or consisting of isolated plants. A sparse to mid-dense shrub layer under more open canopies may include Ficus opposita, Diospyros geminata, Tabernaemontana orientalis, Neolitsea brassii and Acronychia laevis. The ground layer ranges from very sparse to dense, and is usually dominated by Xanthorrhoea latifolia subsp. latifolia, with other common species often including Themeda triandra, Dianella caerulea, Eustrephus latifolius, Gahnia aspera, Lepidosperma laterale var. laterale, Lomandra longifolia, Imperata cylindrica and Hibbertia scandens. Occurs on slopes, ridges and crests on rolling low hills, rolling mountains and steep hills of lowlands and foothills on islands and headlands. Geologies mapped include Kw (Whitsunday Volcanics) and Kg. Early Cretaceous waterlaid acid to intermediate air-fall pyroclastics, minor pyroclastic flows and lavas. Th (Cape Hillsborough Beds). Tertiary acid volcanics, conglomerate, shale, argillaceous sandstone and basalt. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 28e). 8.12.29b: Lophostemon confertus and/or Acacia leptostachya closed scrub to open forest (0.7 - 8m tall). Common codominant or associated species in the canopy are Allocasuarina littoralis, Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora, Corymbia dallachiana, Eucalyptus drepanophylla and E. exserta. Other less common associated canopy species may include Alphitonia excelsa and Corymbia intermedia. Occasional emergents may include Araucaria cunninghamii, Corymbia tessellaris and Eucalyptus drepanophylla. One or more very sparse to sparse lower tree or shrub layers are often present, and dominants and associated species may include Corymbia dallachiana, Eucalyptus drepanophylla, Acacia leptostachya, Lophostemon confertus, Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora, Allocasuarina littoralis, Sersalisia sericea, Alphitonia excelsa, Alyxia spicata, Dodonaea lanceolata var. subsessilifolia, Denhamia disperma, Acacia multisiliqua, Acacia simsii, Melaleuca nervosa, Glochidion lobocarpum, Lithomyrtus obtusa, Acacia multisiliqua, Pseudanthus ligulatus subsp. ligulatus, Exocarpos latifolius and Coelospermum reticulatum. The ground layer varies from very sparse to mid-dense, and dominant species may include Xanthorrhoea latifolia subsp. latifolia, Eriachne pallescens var. pallescens, Gahnia aspera, Themeda triandra, Eustrephus latifolius, Jasminum didymum and Dianella caerulea. Occurs on slopes, ridges, crests and small scarps on undulating low hills to steep hills of lowlands and foothills of islands and headlands (often with abundant rock at the surface). Geologies mapped include PKg, Kw (Whitsunday Volcanics), Kg and DCc (Campwyn Beds). Early Cretaceous - Late Devonian waterlaid acid to intermediate air-fall pyroclastics, minor pyroclastic flows and lavas. Includes leucogranite, microgranite and leucocratic alkali granite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 28e). 8.12.29c: Allocasuarina littoralis and/or Lophostemon confertus and/or Grevillea banksii and/or Acacia disparrima subsp. disparrima and/or Acacia julifera subsp. curvinervia open shrubland to low closed forest (0.4-10m tall). The canopy is very variable in species composition and structure. Associated species may include Banksia integrifolia subsp. compar, Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora, Eucalyptus exserta, E. crebra, Leptospermum neglectum and L. polygalifolium. Where the canopy consists of trees there are sometimes very sparse to mid-dense lower tree and shrub layers consisting of similar species to the canopy as well as species such as Dodonaea lanceolata var. subsessilifolia, Petalostigma pubescens, Xanthorrhoea latifolia subsp. latifolia, Alyxia ruscifolia, Pomaderris canescens, Hovea clavata and Lithomyrtus obtusa. The ground layer ranges from very sparse to sparse and may include species such as Xanthorrhoea latifolia subsp. latifolia, Themeda triandra, Dianella caerulea, Gahnia aspera, Hibbertia stricta, Patersonia sericea and Pimelea linifolia. Occurs on slopes, ridges, crests and small scarps on undulating rises, rolling hills and steep rises of lowlands and foothills of headlands and islands, on Mesozoic to Proterozoic igneous rocks. Often has shallow soil with rock at the surface. Geologies mapped include RKvp (Peninsula Range Volcanics), Ki, Ccs (Shoalwater Formation) and SDh (Mount Holly beds). Early Cretaceous - Late Silurian pyroclastic crystal tuff, rhyolite flows, agglomerate, gabbro, leuco-diorite and quartz hornblende diorite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 28e). |
| Supplementary description | Batianoff, Dillewaard and Franks (1997), Vegetation unit 23b (in part), and 25 (in part); Bean (1991), Vegetation type 5; Cumming (1997), Vegetation type 20; Kemp (2009), All, Allc, Avs; Ryan et al. (2003), Vegetation unit 8H; Queensland Herbarium (2008), |
| Protected areas | Whitsunday Islands NP, Lindeman Islands NP, Gloucester Island NP, Percy Isles NP, Cape Hillsborough NP, South Cumberland Islands NP, Brampton Islands NP, Keppel Bay Islands NP (S), Northumberland Islands NP, Broad Sound Islands NP, Repulse Islands NP, New |
| Special values | 8.12.29: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Croton magneticus, Ozothamnus eriocephalus, Solanum graniticum. 8.12.29a: Habitat for Leptospermum anfractum which is uncommon in the Central Queensland Coast bioregion and here occurs near the southern limit of its range. 8.12.29b: Habitat for threatened plant species Solanum graniticum, Ozothamnus eriocephalus and Croton magneticus. Also habitat for several plant species that are locally uncommon including Ricinocarpos pinifolius, Leptosema oxylobioides, Pseudanthus ligulatus subsp. ligulatus and Tephrosia purpurea var. sericea. Habitat for Leptospermum anfractum which is uncommon in the Central Queensland Coast bioregion and here occurs near the southern limit of its range. 8.12.29c: Habitat for the near threatened plant species Xylosma ovata. Also habitat for plant species at the northern limit of their range including Phebalium woombye, Pseudanthus orientalis, Hovea clavata, Patersonia sericea, Brachyloma daphnoides, Hibbertia vestita, Mirbelia rubiifolia and Mitrasacme alsinoides, and for poorly known species including Patersonia glabrata, Acianthus fornicatus, Caladenia catenata, Pomax umbellata and Pterostylis ophioglossa. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: 8.12.29a and b: Early winter, or storm burning seasons. INTENSITY: 8.12.29a and c: Low to moderate. INTERVAL: 8.12.29a and b: 4 - 7 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 4. INTERVAL_MAX: 7. STRATEGY: 8.12.29a and b: Aim to retain at least 25 % unburnt in any given year. ISSUES: 8.12.29a and b: Fire ecology of this regional ecosystem is poorly known. Monitoring the impact of fire and recover of the ecosystems component species would be highly desirable. |
| Comments | 8.12.29a: Closely related to 8.12.29b and 8.12.29c from which it can be distinguished by the dominance of Allocasuarina littoralis. The only other RE on land zone 12 dominated by Allocasuarina littoralis is 8.12.31b which occurs inland on mountainous ranges. May have a similar structure and species composition to the 8.12.10 series, however these occur on mountain tops, a little way inland from the sea, whereas 8.12.29a occurs on coastal windswept headlands and islands. Occurs at Cape Hillsborough on the mainland and on islands from Hook Island in the north to Keswick and St Bees Island in the south. Also found on South Percy Island in the Northumberland Island Group. Relatively good except on those islands which have been heavily grazed by goats - for example on St. Bees island grazing has reduced Imperata cylindrica and Themeda triandra cover, and has encouraged the dominance of Aristida spp. Weeds are also more common on heavily grazed islands, and problem species include *Lantana camara, *Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, *Ageratum conyzoides subsp. conyzoides and *Passiflora suberosa, *P. pallida. 8.12.29b: Very closely related to 8.12.29c and most easily distinguished by occurring in subregions 1 and 2 only (8.12.29c occurs in subregions 4 and 5). Distinguished from 8.12.29a by not being dominated by Allocasuarina littoralis (though it may be an associated species). Similar to 8.12.14c, but in 8.12.29b Lophostemon confertus ranges from an associated to a co-dominant species, whereas in 8.12.14c Lophostemon confertus is strongly dominant. Can be similar to 8.12.14a, but 8.12.14a is taller and strongly eucalypt dominated, whereas 8.12.29b is shrubbier and a more even mixture of eucalypts and non-eucalypts. May have a similar structure and species composition to the 8.12.10 series, however these occur on mountain tops, a little way inland from the sea, whereas 8.12.29b occurs on coastal windswept headlands and islands. Occurs from Cape Gloucester south to Ben Lomond on the mainland. Also mapped on many islands from Gloucester Island and Border Island in the Whitsunday Islands group south to Tern Island in Broad Sound Islands group. Generally good condition, though some areas have minor weed invasion. Problem species include *Lantana camara, *Melinis repens, *Passiflora foetida, *Ageratum conyzoides subsp. conyzoides, *Passiflora suberosa, *P. pallida and *Stachytarpheta jamaicensis. 8.12.29c: Can be very similar to 8.12.29a and 8.12.29b but occurs in subregions 4 and 5 only (8.12.29a and 8.12.29b occur only in the northern subregions) and also by the frequent presence of lower-stratum species which occur at the northern limit of their range which therefore do not occur in 8.12.29a or 8.12.29b. Distinguished from heath dominated examples of 8.12.13a by having a canopy > 0.4m tall. Can be similar to the 8.12.14 and 8.12.12 series which differ by being dominated by Eucalyptus spp. or Corymbia spp (except for 8.12.14c which occurs only in subregions 1 and 2). May have a similar structure and species composition to the 8.12.10 series, however, these occur on mountain tops a little way inland from the sea, whereas 8.12.29c occurs on coastal windswept headlands and islands. Occurs in subregion 5 from Cliff Point (5km north of Cape Manifold), to the headlands west of Island head Creeks mouth. Also near Stanage Bay and the northern end of Quail Island at the far north-west of Shoalwater Bay. Often in relatively good condition given the harsh nature of the habitat, which inhibits weed invasion. However *Lantana camara can be a problem in some sites. Herbaceous weeds which are sometimes present include *Passiflora suberosa, *P. pallida, *Stylosanthes scabra and *Opuntia stricta. |
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.
