Regional ecosystem details for 8.12.4
| Regional ecosystem | 8.12.4 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 3 |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 4000 ha; Remnant 2021 3000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus grandis open forest of wet uplands on Mesozoic to Proterozoic igneous rocks (predominantly granite) |
| Structure code | Open Forest |
| Description | Eucalyptus grandis open forest (25-40m tall). Corymbia intermedia is a common associated species in the canopy, and Eucalyptus portuensis is also occasionally present. Other species sometimes present may include E. resinifera, C. trachyphloia and E. tereticornis. The secondary tree layer may be sclerophyll dominated with species such as Allocasuarina littoralis, A. torulosa, Banksia integrifolia subsp. compar, Lophostemon suaveolens and Acacia melanoxylon. Alternatively many areas have a secondary tree layer with a high proportion of rainforest species including Glochidion ferdinandi, Cassinia subtropica, Mackinlaya macrosciadea, Rhodomyrtus trineura, Polyalthia nitidissima, Scolopia braunii, and Livistona australis. A tertiary tree layer is often present consisting of species similar to the secondary tree layer. A very sparse to sparse shrub layer is often present, with species such as Glochidion ferdinandi, Pteridium esculentum, Acacia melanoxylon and Rhodomyrtus trineura subsp. trineura. The ground layer is usually mid-dense, consisting of a diverse array of grasses, herbs and ferns, often including Imperata cylindrica, Ottochloa nodosa, Calochlaena dubia, Panicum simile, Pteridium esculentum, Oplismenus burmanni, Desmodium rhytidophyllum, Hibbertia scandens, Dianella caerulea, Hardenbergia violacea, Sorghum nitidum forma aristatum, Gahnia aspera, Blechnum cartilagineum, Microlaena stipoides, Themeda triandra and Veronica plebeia. Occurs slopes, ridges and crests on rolling hills to steep mountains, mainly above 600m. Geologies mapped include CKr (Urannah Igneous Complex), CPgpl (Palms Lookout Granodiorite), Cpgu (Urannah Batholith), CPgsc (Stony Creek Granite) and CPn. Early Cretaceous - Late Carboniferous acid, intermediate and basic plutonic rocks. Includes granodiorite to tonalite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 8a). |
| Supplementary description | Bean (1992b), Vegetation type e.g. - Wet sclerophyll forest |
| Protected areas | Eungella NP, Crediton FR |
| Special values | 8.12.4: Habitat for the threatened plant species Ozothamnus eriocephalus. Habitat for a number of species restricted to the narrow, high-altitude zone on the Clarke Range, which otherwise only occur in south-eastern Queensland and high altitudes of the Wet Tropics. These include Eucalyptus grandis, Glossodia major, Livistona australis, Desmodium gunnii, Glycine microphylla, Hardenbergia violacea, Veronica plebeia, Caladenia fuscata, Pterostylis taurus, Pterostylis nutans, Pterostylis baptistii, Desmodium varians, Geranium homeanum, Marsdenia lloydii, Microlaena stipoides, Plantago debilis, Senecio prenanthoides, Microtis parviflora and Viola hederacea. Eucalypt forest with rainforest understorey are an important ecotonal habitat for fauna. Significant habitat for Powerful Owl listed as "Vulnerable" in the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Winter to spring. INTENSITY: High. INTERVAL: 10+ years. INTERVAL_MIN: 10. INTERVAL_MAX: 50. STRATEGY: Fire will be high intensity and only likely to occur at long intervals (at least 10+ years) during prolonged dry periods and possibly following cyclone events. Given this requirement it is unlikely that mosaic burns will be achievable. As such, different localities containing this ecosystem should be burnt rotationally to ensure a continuum of habitat availability across the broader landscape. ISSUES: Evidence suggests that low to moderate intensity fires within wetter sclerophyll forests can promote rainforest emergence. Wherever practical, consideration should be given to introducing high intensity fire at long intervals. |
| Comments | 8.12.4: A naturally restricted regional ecosystem, some of which has been cleared from the Crediton area. Tends to develop a rainforest understorey in the absence of fire, although fire impacts are poorly understood. Distinguished from all other ecosystems in the Central Queensland Coast bioregion by the dominance or co-dominance of Eucalyptus grandis. Occurs only in subregion 3 as a fairly narrow broken band in the Eungella National Park from Urannah Creek, south to Mt Bruce near Credition. Also found at Blue Mountains, 30km south-west of Sarina. Ranges from moderately good to poor. Almost all examples have been logged with resulting reduction in size and form of canopy trees. Logging and grazing has exacerbated weed invasion, with current problem weeds including *Lantana camara, *Triumfetta pilosa and *Sporobolus jacquemontii. |
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.
