Regional ecosystem details for 8.12.6
| Regional ecosystem | 8.12.6 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 2, 3, 6, (1), (11.2) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 68000 ha; Remnant 2021 48000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus drepanophylla +/- E. platyphylla +/- Corymbia clarksoniana woodland to open forest on low to medium hills on Mesozoic to Proterozoic igneous rocks |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Eucalyptus drepanophylla woodland to open forest (8-32m tall). Eucalyptus platyphylla is sometimes codominant or present in the canopy. Other very occasional associated canopy species may include Corymbia clarksoniana, Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora, C. dallachiana and Lophostemon suaveolens. Lower tree layers range from isolated plants to a sparse layer, with species often including Corymbia dallachiana, Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora, Acacia julifera subsp. julifera, Planchonia careya, Timonius timon var. timon, E. drepanophylla, C. clarksoniana, Alphitonia excelsa and Melaleuca nervosa. There is sometimes a shrub layer consisting of isolated plants to a sparse layer, and including species such as Cycas media subsp. media, Dodonaea triquetra, Flueggea virosa, Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora, Acacia spirorbis subsp. solandri, Cycas media subsp. media, Hibiscus divaricatus, Acacia holosericea, Acacia leptocarpa, Glochidion lobocarpum and Xanthorrhoea sp. The ground layer is grassy and dense to very sparse, and typical dominant and associated species may include Themeda triandra, Heteropogon triticeus, Sorghum nitidum forma aristatum, Mnesithea rottboellioides, Eriachne spp., Lomandra longifolia, Aristida ingrata, Scleria brownii, Heteropogon contortus and Aristida utilis var. utilis. Includes more open areas on steep exposed hillsides consisting of a shrubland of Flueggea virosa and Jasminum didymum. Occurs on slopes, ridges and crests on undulating rises to rolling hills steep low hills on lowlands, foothills and uplands. Geologies mapped include Pla (Carmila Beds), Kh (Hecate Granite), DCc (Campwyn Beds) and CKr (Urannah Igneous Complex). Early Cretaceous - Late Devonian acid to intermediate flows and pyroclastics. Includes lithic sandstone, siltstone, mudstone and conglomerate. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 8.12.6a: Eucalyptus drepanophylla and E. platyphylla woodland to open forest (15-32m tall). E. platyphylla may sometimes be absent in the canopy but then is always present in the secondary tree layer. Emergents of E. drepanophylla are occasionally present. Other very occasional associated canopy species may include Corymbia clarksoniana, Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora, Eucalyptus tereticornis and Lophostemon suaveolens. Lower tree layers range from isolated plants to a sparse layer, with species often including Corymbia dallachiana, Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora, Planchonia careya, Timonius timon var. timon, E. drepanophylla, C. clarksoniana, Alphitonia excelsa and Melaleuca nervosa. The shrub layer consists of isolated plants to a very sparse layer, and may include Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora, Acacia spirorbis subsp. solandri, Cycas media subsp. media, Hibiscus divaricatus, Acacia holosericea, Acacia leptocarpa and Glochidion lobocarpum. A lower shrub layer is occasionally present, with species sometimes including Xanthorrhoea sp., Coelospermum reticulatum and Wikstroemia indica. The ground layer is grassy and dense to sparse, and typical dominant and associated species may include Themeda triandra, Heteropogon triticeus, Schizachyrium pseudeulalia, Sorghum nitidum forma aristatum, Mnesithea rottboellioides, Heteropogon contortus, Eremochloa bimaculata, Cymbopogon spp. and Imperata cylindrica. Occurs on slopes, ridges and crests on undulating rises to rolling hills on lowlands, foothills and uplands. Geologies mapped include Pla (Carmila Beds), Kh (Hecate Granite), DCc (Campwyn Beds), CKr (Urannah Igneous Complex) and Cud. Early Cretaceous - Late Devonian acid to intermediate flows and pyroclastics. Includes lithic sandstone, siltstone, mudstone and conglomerate. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9b). 8.12.6b: Eucalyptus drepanophylla woodland (8-15m tall). E. drepanophylla is often the only canopy species, or there may occasionally be associated species such as Corymbia clarksoniana and C. dallachiana forming a very minor component of the canopy. There is often a very sparse to sparse secondary tree layer, with typical species including Eucalyptus drepanophylla, Acacia julifera subsp. julifera and A. leptostachya. The shrub layers if present are very sparse to sparse, with typical species often including Flueggea virosa, Alphitonia excelsa, Acacia leptocarpa, Xanthorrhoea sp., Jasminum didymum, Indigofera pratensis and Grewia savannicola. The ground layer is grassy and ranges from very sparse to mid-dense, with dominants often including Eriachne spp., Lomandra longifolia, Aristida ingrata, Scleria brownii, Heteropogon contortus, Heteropogon triticeus, Aristida utilis var. utilis, Panicum larcomianum, Themeda triandra and Mnesithea rottboellioides. Includes more open areas on steep exposed hillsides consisting of a shrubland of Flueggea virosa and Jasminum didymum. Occurs on slopes, ridges and crests on undulating low hills, rolling hills and steep low hills of lowlands and foothills. Many areas have rock close to the surface and rock outcrops. Geologies mapped include PKg, Cle (Edgecumbe Beds), PKd and Pll (Airlie Volcanics). Early Cretaceous - Late Carboniferous acid to intermediate pyroclastics and flows. Includes leucogranite, microgranite, diorite, shale, greywacke, limestone and quartz diorite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13c). |
| Supplementary description | Batianoff, Dillewaard and Franks (1997), Vegetation unit 26 (in part); Forster and Barton (1995), Glassford; PM64; Pollock (1996), Vegetation type Ede and Gsd; Warrien and Lavarack (in prep), Vegetation unit 5h |
| Protected areas | Dryander NP, Gloucester Island NP, Andromache CP, Eungella NP, Skull Knob CP |
| Special values | 8.12.6: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Glossocardia orthochaeta, Solanum graniticum. 8.12.6a: Habitat for several species which are poorly known in the Central Queensland Coast bioregion, or locally rare, including Mitrasacme connata, Alysicarpus schomburgkii, Haloragis aspera, Murdannia gigantea, Ophioglossum reticulatum and Polygala exsquarrosa. 8.12.6b: Habitat for the endangered Solanum graniticum. Also habitat for several species which are poorly known from the Central Queensland Coast bioregion, including Vigna sp. (Station Creek R.J.Lawn CQ3284), Aristida ingrata, Cajanus scarabaeoides var. scarabaeoides and Digitaria nematostachya. Habitat for the Northern Quoll (Pollock, 1995) which is listed as "Endangered" in the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Any time providing sufficient soil moisture is available. INTENSITY: Moderate. INTERVAL: 4-6 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 4. INTERVAL_MAX: 6. STRATEGY: Retain at least 20% unburnt in any given year. ISSUES: The location of this ecosystem within the landscape makes it susceptible to widespread fire (both planned and wild). Emphasis should be placed on the general principles of mosaic burning, and diversity of fire types. Progressive burning may be a useful tool in some circumstances. |
| Comments | 8.12.6a: Distinguished from 8.12.6b by the co-dominance or subdominance of Eucalyptus platyphylla (which is rare or absent in 8.12.6b). The 8.12.12 series may sometimes be similar, but other species (beside E. drepanophylla and E. platyphylla) tend to co-dominate. The 8.12.20 series is similar in species composition but occurs in low lying areas bordering on land zone 3 (as opposed to definite hills). The 8.12.29 and 8.12.14 series are occasionally similar but tend to have other species co-dominating besides E. drepanophylla and E. platyphylla, tend to be lower/more windswept, and occur mainly on islands and near coastal headlands (8.12.6a occurs on the mainland). Occurs in subregion 2, 3 and 6. Mapped from Yeates Creek (20km south-east of Bowen), south to the Proserpine Dam area, and then south-east to Sand Bay, (north-west of Mackay). Many areas are heavily invaded by *Lantana camara, which may form a dense shrub layer. Also *Themeda quadrivalvis is very common in some places. Weed invasions may have been exacerbated by cattle grazing. Other problem weeds include *Stylosanthes scabra, *Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, *Sida rhombifolia, *Melinis repens, *Passiflora suberosa, *P. pallida, *Sporobolus jacquemontii, *Triumfetta rhomboidea, *Ageratum conyzoides subsp. conyzoides, *Passiflora foetida, *Centrosema pubescens, *Hyparrhenia rufa, *Mimosa pudica and *Sporobolus natalensis. 8.12.6b: Distinguished from 8.12.6a by the lack of E. platyphylla (which is dominant or co-dominant in 8.12.6b). The 8.12.12 series may sometimes be similar, but other species (beside E. drepanophylla) tend to co-dominate. The 8.12.20 series is sometimes similar but occurs in low lying areas bordering on land zone 3 (as opposed to definite hills). The 8.12.29 and 8.12.14 series are sometimes similar but tend to have other species co-dominating besides E. drepanophylla, tend to be lower/more windswept, and occur mainly on islands and near coastal headlands (8.12.6b occurs on the mainland). Occurs from the southern side of the mountains on Cape Gloucester, east to George Point and south to Gregory River (east of Mt Dryander). Also found on the east side of Gloucester Island and on Saddleback Island. Relatively poor - many areas are suffering from severe weed invasion, in particular by *Lantana camara (especially thick at the northern end of the Dryander Range), *Bothriochloa pertusa and *Stachytarpheta jamaicensis. Other common weed species include *Melinis repens, *Sida cordifolia, *Passiflora suberosa, *P. pallida, *Stylosanthes scabra, *Triumfetta rhomboidea, *Sida rhombifolia, *Sporobolus jacquemontii, *Bidens bipinnata and *Stylosanthes hamata. Weed invasion and spread has probably been exacerbated by cattle grazing. |
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.
