Regional ecosystem details for 8.2.4
| Regional ecosystem | 8.2.4 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 5, (4), (2), (11.14) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 2000 ha; Remnant 2021 2000 ha |
| Short description | Sedgeland or closed heath or Melaleuca spp. open shrubland to open forest on swampy sand plains with peat |
| Structure code | Sedgeland |
| Description | Lepironia articulata and/or Machaerina spp. and/or other Restionaceae and Cyperaceae spp. open sedgeland to closed sedgeland (0.5-1.8m tall), or dwarf shrubland to closed heath (0.5-1.8m tall). Melaleuca quinquenervia or M. viridiflora var. viridiflora (or M. viridiflora var. attenuata) woodland to open shrubland (to open forest) is sometimes associated (often as a narrow border on the edge of the swamp). Typical dominant and associated lower shrub and ground layers include Machaerina teretifolia, B. rubiginosa, Empodisma minus, Gahnia sieberiana, Schoenus calostachyus, Blechnum indicum, Leptospermum polygalifolium, Sprengelia sprengelioides, Banksia robur, Baeckea frutescens, Baloskion pallens and Sowerbaea subtilis. Swampy sand plains and lagoons with a shallow to deep peat layer overlying quartz sands. The geology is mapped as Qr (Quaternary clay, silt, sand, gravel and soil; colluvial and residual deposits) and Qpd (Pleistocene high parabolic quartz sand dunes). Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34c). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 8.2.4a: Lepironia articulata and/or Machaerina spp. and/or other Restionaceae and Cyperaceae spp. open sedgeland to closed sedgeland (0.5-1.8m tall). The dominants are usually one or several of Lepironia articulata, Machaerina teretifolia, M. rubiginosa, Empodisma minus or other Restionaceae spp. Other common species include Gahnia sieberiana, Schoenus calostachyus, Blechnum indicum, Cyperus haspan, Drosera binata, Utricularia biloba, Xyris juncea, Drosera spatulata, Epacris microphylla, Philydrum lanuginosum, Lepidosperma longitudinale, Cassytha sp., and Ceratopteris thalictroides. Emergents of Melaleuca quinquenervia, Gahnia sieberiana or Banksia robur are sometimes present (often around the drier edges of the swamps). Lagoons with a shallow to deep peat layer overlying quartz sands, on coastal sand plains or low parallel dune swales. The geology is mapped as Qr (Quaternary clay, silt, sand, gravel and soil; colluvial and residual deposits). Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34c). 8.2.4b: Dwarf shrubland to closed heath (0.5-1.8m tall). Woody species often dominate, or if sedges are dominant, woody species are a significant component. For sites with a well-defined shrub-layer, dominant species may include Leptospermum polygalifolium, Sprengelia sprengelioides, Banksia robur and Baeckea frutescens (or these may be present as emergents over a ground layer). When the ground layer is the ecologically dominant layer, dominant species may include Schoenus calostachyus, Baloskion pallens, Sprengelia sprengelioides, Sowerbaea subtilis, Empodisma minus, Baumea rubiginosa, Blechnum indicum, Lithomyrtus obtusa, Lepironia articulata, Jacksonia stackhousei, Dapsilanthus ramosus, Schoenus ornithopodioides and Xanthorrhoea fulva. Swamp sand plains with a shallow to deep peat layer overlying quartz sands, on coastal sand plains, or low parallel dune swales. The geology is mapped as Qr (Quaternary clay, silt, sand, gravel and soil; colluvial and residual deposits) and Qpd (Pleistocene high parabolic quartz sand dunes). Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34c). 8.2.4c: Melaleuca quinquenervia or M. viridiflora var. viridiflora or M. viridiflora var. attenuata woodland to open shrubland (to open forest) (1-14m tall). A tree layer is usually present (or may be present as emergents), and includes M. quinquenervia and/or M. viridiflora, with occasional to common associated species including Eucalyptus latisinensis, Corymbia intermedia and Banksia integrifolia. There are occasionally lower tree layers present which are commonly dominated by species such as Melaleuca quinquenervia, Leptospermum polygalifolium and Acacia spp. There is often a shrub layer, with common dominants including Banksia robur, Leptospermum polygalifolium, Persoonia virgata and Leucopogon leptospermoides. The ground layer is dominated by species such as Baloskion pallens, Eriachne sp., Schoenus calostachyus and Baeckea frutescens. Swampy sand plains with a shallow to deep peat layer overlying quartz sands. The geology is mapped as Qr (Quaternary clay, silt, sand, gravel and soil; colluvial and residual deposits) and Qpd (Pleistocene high parabolic quartz sand dunes). Palustrine. (BVG1M: 22a). |
| Supplementary description | Brushe et al. (in prep), c22, c23, c24. |
| Protected areas | Byfield NP |
| Special values | 8.2.4: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Sowerbaea subtilis. 8.2.4a: The presence of a shallow to very deep peat layer is significant due to its rarity - particularly in the Central Queensland Coast Bioregion. Habitat for the vulnerable plant pecies Sowerbaea subtilis, which is known only from the Shoalwater area. Habitat for several species at the northern limit of their range, including Empodisma minus, Baloskion pallens, Drosera binata, Epacris microphylla, Lepidosperma longitudinale and Utricularia biloba. 8.2.4b: The presence of a shallow to very deep peat layer is significant due to its rarity - particularly in the Central Queensland Coast Bioregion. Habitat for the vulnerable plant species Sowerbaea subtilis which is known only from the Shoalwater area. Habitat for a large number of species at the northern limit of their range, including Baloskion pallens, Patersonia sericea, Patersonia fragilis, Empodisma minus, Sprengelia sprengelioides, Aotus lanigera, Mirbelia rubiifolia, Phyllota phylicoides, Baumea muelleri, Brachyloma daphnoides, Caustis recurvata, Drosera binata, Epacris microphylla, Hibbertia salicifolia, Homoranthus virgatus, Jacksonia stackhousei, Patersonia fragilis, Platysace linearifolia, Persoonia virgata, Pseudanthus orientalis, Utricularia biloba, Zieria laxiflora, Cassytha glabella, Ochrosperma lineare, Patersonia sericea, Phebalium woombye, Schoenus paludosus, Sporadanthus interruptus and Xanthorrhoea fulva. 8.2.4c: The presence of a shallow to very deep peat layer is significant due to its rarity - particularly in the Central Queensland Coast Bioregion. Habitat for the vulnerable plant species Sowerbaea subtilis which is known only from the Shoalwater area. Habitat for a large number of species at the northern limit of their range, including Baloskion pallens, Platysace linearifolia, Pseudanthus orientalis, Aotus lanigera, Caustis recurvata, Ochrosperma lineare, Phyllota phylicoides, Xanthorrhoea fulva, Brachyloma daphnoides, Empodisma minus, Homoranthus virgatus, Hovea clavata, Marsdenia fraseri, Mirbelia rubiifolia, Sprengelia sprengelioides and Zieria laxiflora. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Avoid late winter periods, ideally burn from April to June. Spring burns acceptable providing sufficient rainfall is received to avoid high fire intensities. INTENSITY: Moderate. INTERVAL: 8.2.4a: 8 - 15 years (a minimum of 4-6 years could be acceptable in Wildfire Mitigation Zones). 8.2.4b: No less than 8 years, 8-15 years is preferred. INTERVAL_MIN: 4. INTERVAL_MAX: 15. STRATEGY: 8.2.4a: Create a mosaic of burn ages across the broader landscape and as far as possible within individual patches of this ecosystem. 8.2.4b: Do not burn all patches of this ecosystem in any given year. ISSUES: 8.2.4b: needs careful fire management and is subject to harvesting of Sprengelia and other heath species for the cut flower market. These ecosystems are based on well developed areas of peat and as such it is critical that fire management does not remove organic material from the substrate. |
| Comments | 8.2.4a: The community 8.2.4b is closely related and also occurs on peat but occurs on slightly drier sites and is dominated by shrubs such as Sprengelia sprengelioides. Small occurrences of sedgelands within other Land Zone 2 regional ecosystems (e.g. the 8.2.7 series and 8.2.11) may be similar in species composition but are considered a part of the ecosystem which surrounds them. Other sedgeland dominated regional ecosystems in the bioregion occur on different land zones. Occurs in subregion 5 within the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area in the Island Head Creek and Port Clinton areas. Many years of drought has possibly caused a drying out of these swamps to the point where shrub species (such as Banksia robur) are invading, and the peat layer is possibly being damaged though long-term drying or fire. This ecosystem is naturally resistant to weed invasion (providing it is not heavily affected by drought) and currently there are few weeds. 8.2.4b: The community 8.2.4a is closely related and also occurs on peat but occurs on slightly wetter sites and is always dominated by sedges, with a low proportion of woody species. Small occurrences of similar vegetation within other Land Zone 2 regional ecosystems (e.g. the 8.2.7 series and 8.2.11) may be similar in species composition but are considered a part of the ecosystem which surrounds them. Occurs in subregion 5 on Townshend Island, Clinton Low Lands, and in an area from Cliff Point inland and south to Corio Bay. Many years of drought has possibly caused a drying out of these swamps to the point where shrub species (such as Banksia robur) are invading, and the peat layer is possibly being damaged though long-term drying or fire. This ecosystem is naturally resistant to weed invasion (providing it is not heavily affected by drought) and currently there are few weeds. 8.2.4c: The community 8.2.4a and 8.2.4b are closely related and also occur on peat but they lack a Melaleuca canopy. Can generally be distinguished from most other regional ecosystems by its wet heath ground stratum on peat and its strong association with 8.2.4a and 8.2.4b (at least one of which is usually adjacent). Occurs only within subregion 5 in the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area. Mapped in the Island Head Creek and Port Clinton areas. Also occurs in an area to the south of Port Clinton, about 10km west of Cape Manifold. Many years of drought has possibly caused a drying out of these swamps to the point where shrub species (such as Banksia robur) are invading, and the peat layer is possibly being damaged though long-term drying or fire. This ecosystem is naturally resistant to weed invasion (providing it is not heavily affected by drought) and currently there are few weeds. |
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.
