Regional ecosystem details for 8.12.3
| Regional ecosystem | 8.12.3 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 3, 2, (4), (11.2), (11.14), (6), (5) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 67000 ha; Remnant 2021 62000 ha |
| Short description | Evergreen to semi-evergreen, notophyll to microphyll, vine forest to vine thicket of foothills and uplands on Mesozoic to Proterozoic igneous rocks |
| Structure code | Closed Forest |
| Description | Evergreen to semi-evergreen, notophyll to microphyll, vine forest to vine thicket. Emergents may include Araucaria cunninghamii and Argyrodendron polyandrum. The canopy is typically dominated by Cleistanthus dallachyanus, Argyrodendron trifoliolatum, Argyrodendron polyandrum, Falcataria toona, Harpullia pendula, Alectryon tomentosus, Euroschinus falcatus, Pleiogynium timorense and Cryptocarya hypospodia. Lower tree layers may include Bosistoa medicinalis, Aidia racemosa, Aphananthe philippinensis, Gossia bidwillii, Mallotus philippensis, Amorphospermum antilogum and Aglaia brownii. Shrubs include Bosistoa medicinalis, Alyxia ruscifolia, Capparis arborea and Eugenia reinwardtiana. The ground layer is very sparse, with species such as Adiantum hispidulum, Lastreopsis tenera and Alpinia caerulea. The most common vines are Melodorum leichhardtii, Cissus oblonga and Smilax australis. Epiphytes such as Asplenium australasicum and Dendrobium discolor are sometimes present. Includes cliffs and boulder patches with an open, stunted microphyll tall shrubland dominated by Archidendropsis thozetiana, Strychnos psilosperma, Acacia spirorbis subsp. solandri, Pleiogynium timorense, Diospyros geminata and Ficus rubiginosa. Occurs on slopes, ridges, gullies and crests on undulating low hills to steep mountains of foothills and uplands. Geologies mapped include Pla (Carmila Beds), CKr (Urannah Igneous Complex), Pc/s (Carmila beds/s), Plz (Lizzie Creek Volcanics) and Pc/v (Carmila beds/v). Early Cretaceous - Late Carboniferous undivided acid, intermediate and minor basic plutonic rocks. Includes pyroclastics. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 5b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 8.12.3a: Evergreen notophyll to microphyll vine forest. Emergents may include Araucaria cunninghamii, Argyrodendron polyandrum, Flindersia schottiana, Alstonia scholaris and Falcataria toona. The canopy is dominated by species such as Cleistanthus dallachyanus, Argyrodendron trifoliolatum, Argyrodendron polyandrum, Falcataria toona and Backhousia citriodora. Other canopy species are Pleiogynium timorense, Cryptocarya hypospodia, Cryptocarya triplinervis, Flindersia schottiana, Acmenosperma claviflorum, Dendrocnide photiniphylla, Diospyros hebecarpa and Cordia dichotoma. Lower tree layers may be dominated by Bosistoa medicinalis, Aidia racemosa, Aphananthe philippinensis, Gossia bidwillii, Mallotus philippensis, Amorphospermum antilogum, Neisosperma kilneri, Alangium polyosmoides subsp. Tomentosum and Drypetes deplanchei. Shrubs typically include Bosistoa medicinalis, Alyxia ruscifolia, Capparis arborea, Eugenia reinwardtiana and Memecylon pauciflorum. The ground layer is very sparse, with species such as Adiantum hispidulum, Lastreopsis tenera, Alpinia caerulea and Oplismenus aemulus. The most common vines are Melodorum leichhardtii, Cissus oblonga, Smilax australis and Trophis scandens. Epiphytes such as Asplenium australasicum and Dendrobium discolor are sometimes present. Occurs on slopes, ridges, gullies and crests on undulating low hills to steep mountains of foothills and uplands. Geologies mapped include Pla (Carmila Beds), CKr (Urannah Igneous Complex), Pc/s (Carmila beds/s), Plz (Lizzie Creek Volcanics) and Pc/v (Carmila beds/v). Early Cretaceous - Late Carboniferous undivided acid, intermediate and minor basic plutonic rocks. Includes pyroclastics. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 5b). 8.12.3b: Semi-evergreen microphyll vine thicket. The canopy is broken due to areas of bare rock and rocky cliff. Upper stratum species include Archidendropsis thozetiana, Strychnos psilosperma, Acacia spirorbis subsp. solandri, Pleiogynium timorense, Diospyros geminata and Ficus rubiginosa. A shrub layer is present, consisting of species such as Strychnos psilosperma, Atalaya rigida, Actephila sessilifolia, Myrsine variabilis and Psydrax odorata. The ground layer is sparse but diverse given the range of microhabitats (open areas, boulder crevices, cliffs, sheltered shady areas etc.) and includes Cyperus enervis, Drynaria sparsisora, Ancistrachne uncinulata, Cheilanthes sieberi subsp. sieberi, Coleus diversus, Dinebra decipiens, Paspalidium gracile and Dianella caerulea. Vines such as Cissus oblonga, Jasminum didymum, Melodorum leichhardtii and Trophis scandens are usually present. Epiphytes and lithophytes such as Pyrrosia confluens var. dielsii and Dockrillia spp. are usually present. Occurs on exposed, often north-east facing, cliffs and slopes, on steep mountains of foothills and uplands, on Mesozoic to Proterozoic igneous rocks. Geologies mapped are Mainly CKr (Urannah Igneous Complex), Kgbm/g (Ben Mohr Igneous Complex/g) and Pla (Carmila Beds). Early Cretaceous - Late Carboniferous acid, intermediate and basic plutonic rocks. Numerous dykes. Includes monzogranite, lithic sandstone and siltstone. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 7a). 8.12.3c: Evergreen to semi-evergreen, notophyll to microphyll vine forest to vine thicket. Emergents are sometimes present, such as Cryptocarya hypospodia, Ficus rubiginosa and Ficus virens. The canopy is dominated by species such as Harpullia pendula, Alectryon tomentosus, Euroschinus falcatus, Mallotus philippensis, Planchonella pohlmaniana and Aphananthe philippinensis. Archontophoenix spp. may be common in gullies. The sub-canopy may include Aglaia brownii, Acronychia laevis, Elaeodendron melanocarpum, Gossia bidwillii, Arytera divaricata, Aidia racemosa, Chionanthus ramiflorus, Drypetes deplanchei, Alangium polyosmoides subsp. tomentosum and Sterculia quadrifida. There may be a very sparse shrub or lower tree layer including species such as Cordyline murchisoniae, Pipturus argenteus, Alpinia caerulea, Alyxia ruscifolia, Psydrax lamprophylla and Psydrax odorata. The ground layer is very sparse and typically includes Adiantum hispidulum, Gymnostachys anceps, Adiantum aethiopicum and Microsorum punctatum. The most common vines are Cissus oblonga, Parsonsia velutina, Smilax australis and Flagellaria indica. Epiphytes such as Drynaria rigidula and Dendrobium discolor are sometimes present. Occurs in gullies and on exposed ridges, crests and upper slopes. Geologies mapped as PKg, RKvp (Peninsula Range Volcanics), PKgb (Bayfield Granite), PKgp (Pyri Pyri Granite) and PKdm (Double Mountain Volcanics). Early Cretaceous - Late Permian quartz diorite, granite, pyroclastic crystal tuff, rhyolite flows, agglomerate and adamellite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 5b). |
| Protected areas | Eungella NP, Crediton FR, Kelvin NP, Bluff Hill NP, Pioneer Peaks NP, Mount Martin NP, Kelvin FR, Mount Ossa NP, Cape Hillsborough NP, West Hill NP, Homevale NP, Connors FR, Andromache CP, Homevale RR, Mount Abbot NP (S), Mount Blarney CP, Skull Knob CP, |
| Special values | 8.12.3: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Actephila bella, Callicarpa thozetii, Graptophyllum excelsum, Graptophyllum ilicifolium, Hernandia bivalvis, Neisosperma kilneri, Parsonsia larcomensis, Coleus eungellaensis, Rhodamnia glabrescens, Ristantia waterhousei, Trigonostemon inopinatus, Xylosma ovata. 8.12.3a: Habitat for endangered plant species Callicarpa thozetii and the vulnerable plant species Actephila championiae, Actephila bella, Graptophyllum ilicifolium, Neisosperma kilneri, Ristantia waterhousei, Trigonostemon inopinatus. Habitat for the near threatened plant species Brachychiton compactus, Hernandia bivalvis, Rhodamnia glabrescens, Xylosma ovata and Graptophyllum excelsum. Habitat for Gossia pubiflora which is endemic to the Conway Range and Proserpine area, and Larsenaikia jardinei which is also of very limited distribution. Also habitat for poorly known species including Ehretia sp. (Whitfield Range R.Jago 17) and Heterostemma acuminatum. Habitat for threatened fauna include Rufous Owl, endemic leaf-tail Geckos and Proserpine Rock Wallaby which is listed as "Endangered" in the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992. Callicarpa thozetii listed as "Endangered" in the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992. 8.12.3b: Habitat for vulnerable plant species Parsonsia larcomensis and near threatened plant species Xylosma ovata. Also the northern range limit of Brachychiton discolor. 8.12.3c: Habitat for the vulnerable plant species Parsonsia larcomensis and the near threatened plant species Xylosma ovata. Also habitat for plant species with a restricted distribution such as Bowenia serrulata, and species poorly known in the Central Queensland Coast bioregion such as Cupaniopsis simulata and Gynochthodes canthoides. Also northern limit of Bouchardatia neurococca. |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. ISSUES: 8.12.3a: Fire sensitive. 8.12.3b: These areas are likely to be largely self protecting from fire due to their location within the landscape. |
| Comments | 8.12.3a: This is a major rainforest type which occurs mainly on the lower and mid-slopes of the main ranges and tends to occur downslope, or in slightly drier/less cloudy situations than 8.12.2, and subsequently lacks (or is not dominated by) the wetter species such as Argyrodendron actinophyllum, Cryptocarya macdonaldii and Endiandra muelleri subsp. bracteata (instead more likely to be dominated by Argyrodendron polyandrum, A. trifoliolatum, Cleistanthus dallachyanus and Falcataria toona). 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 on the ranges to the north of Lake Proserpine, south to the Broadsound Range (30km south-east of St Lawrence). Also on the Polygon Range, in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area, subregion 4 and an outliner on Mount Abbott (50km south-west of Bowen). Condition ranges from very good to poor. Some areas have been subject to weed invasion by *Lantana camara and *Passiflora suberosa. 8.12.3b: Readily distinguished from all other land zone 12 ecosystems by the occurrence on cliffs with large open areas of rock, and by the dominance of stunted or shrubby rainforest species, often including Archidendropsis thozetiana and/or Strychnos psilosperma. Occurs in subregion 3 on Pine Mountain (25km west of Bloomsbury), from Mt Millar south to Mt Omega (west of the Bruce Highway between Bloomsbury and Calen), and at Ben Mohr (10km south of Mirani). Moderate condition. This ecosystem is vulnerable to weed invasion because it is very open. Common weeds include *Lantana camara, *Solanum seaforthianum and *Ageratum conyzoides. 8.12.3c: Distinguished from other closed forest ecosystems on land zone 12 by a combination of occurring in subregion 4 only, and by being dominated by species other than Argyrodendron spp., such as Harpullia pendula, Alectryon tomentosus and Euroschinus falcatus. The most similar vegetation community in subregion 4 is 8.12.3a which is dominated by Argyrodendron spp. The other related vegetation community is 8.12.11 which occurs further east, in lower rainfall areas on islands and coastal headlands (and tends to be dominated more by Sersalisia sericea, Alectryon connatus and Drypetes deplanchei). Occurs in subregion 4 in the Peninsula Range and the Polygon Range areas, within the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area. It is also found in the Coast Range area, west of Corio Bay. *Lantana camara is present in many areas. |
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.
