Regional ecosystem details for 8.2.2
| Regional ecosystem | 8.2.2 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Endangered |
| Subregion | 5, 2, 6, (3), (1), (4) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 2000 ha; Remnant 2021 2000 ha |
| Short description | Semi-evergreen microphyll vine thicket to vine forest on coastal dunes |
| Structure code | Closed Forest |
| Description | Semi-evergreen microphyll vine thicket to vine forest. The canopy is sometimes clumped forming an open scrub to tall shrubland with open areas of bare sand or grassland/herbland. Emergents may include Mimusops elengi, Pleiogynium timorense and occasionally Brachychiton australis. Common canopy species are Mimusops elengi, Diospyros geminata, Drypetes deplanchei, Aglaia elaeagnoidea, Polyalthia nitidissima, Ganophyllum falcatum, Planchonella pohlmaniana, Cupaniopsis anacardioides, Sersalisia sericea and Sterculia quadrifida. In some places Argyrodendron polyandrum is common in the canopy or as emergents. There is often a lower tree or shrub layer dominated by species such as Exocarpos latifolius, Aidia racemosa, Diospyros compacta, Diospyros geminata, Miliusa brahei, Chionanthus ramiflorus, Elaeodendron melanocarpum, Cupaniopsis anacardioides, Sersalisia sericea and Micromelum minutum. Eugenia reinwardtiana sometimes forms a lower shrub layer. The ground layer is usually very sparse but may have dense clumps of Drynaria sparsisora, or more scattered occurrences of Crinum pedunculatum, Oplismenus aemulus, Dianella caerulea and Ancistrachne uncinulata. Vines are common, especially Trophis scandens, Jasminum simplicifolium, Cissus oblonga and Jasminum didymum. Epiphytes such as Dendrobium discolor are occasionally present. Coastal sand dunes, or ridges of coral or rock formed by wave action. Geologies mapped as Qhcb (Holocene quartzose to shelly sand beach ridges), Qpd (Pleistocene high parabolic quartz sand dunes), Qhd (Holocene high blow-out quartz dune sand), Qhf (Holocene quartzose foredune sand) and Qhcd (Holocene blow-out frontal quartz dune). Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 3a). |
| Supplementary description | Bailey et al. (2003), CDS-2, 8FS; Bean (1991), Vegetation type 7; Brushe et al. (in prep), Map Unit c7, c8; Batianoff (1992b), Vegetation unit 4; Batianoff 1995, Vegetation type 3; Batianoff (1996) Vegetation type 2c; Batianoff, Dillewaard and Franks (199 |
| Protected areas | Byfield NP, Broad Sound Islands NP, Cape Palmerston NP, Percy Isles NP, Northumberland Islands NP, West Hill NP, Whitsunday Islands NP, Gloucester Island NP, Dryander NP, South Cumberland Islands NP, Holbourne Island NP, Skull Knob CP, Bloomsbury CP |
| Special values | 8.2.2: Habitat for near threatened plant species Xylosma ovata and Brachychiton compactus. Habitat for plant species which are poorly known from the Central Queensland Coast bioregion such as Brachychiton acerifolius, Brachychiton bidwillii, Caesalpinia crista, and a few range-restricted species such as Gossia pubiflora. Habitat for endemic snails and migratory birds - particularly significant for fruit pigeons. |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. ISSUES: Although many plants found within this ecosystem will return after fire (i.e. rainforest pioneers), interim disturbance by fire promotes weed infestation including that by guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus). These weeds alter the structure of the ecosystem, create higher fuel loads and a greater risk of additional fire and higher fire intensities. |
| Comments | 8.2.2: Also known as "beach scrubs". Distinguished from most other regional ecosystems by occurring on sand (or sometimes coral, rocks, or boulders formed into ridges by wave action) along the foredune or hind dunes, and consisting of a closed canopy with rainforest species (or clumps of rainforest spp. with areas of open sand). The only other Central Queensland Coast ecosystem on sand (8.2.5) tends to occur in more mesic situations - usually in "sinkholes" in high parabolic dunes where water is accessible to roots, and where palms (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana) are usually prominent (and/or species such as Elaeocarpus eumundi, Cryptocarya vulgaris and Melicope elleryana). Occurs in small scattered patches and narrow linear sections, along the coastal margin of the entire bioregion. Also occurs on many islands. Ranges from good to poor. Condition reports for numerous locations are provided in Appendix 3 of Cali (2008). This ecosystem is prone to weed invasion (e.g. *Lantana camara, *Catharanthus roseus, *Cenchrus echinatus, *Passiflora suberosa, *P. pallida, *Tridax procumbens, *Psidium guajava) and impacts of coastal development. It receives high use by recreational vehicles and foot traffic where close to urban development, which causes fragmentation and weed invasion. Fire is a threat to this regional ecosystem. |
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.
