Regional ecosystem details for 8.3.2
| Regional ecosystem | 8.3.2 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Endangered |
| Wetlands | Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | Endangered |
| Subregion | 2, 4, (6), (3), (5), (1) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 45000 ha; Remnant 2021 8000 ha |
| Short description | Melaleuca viridiflora woodland on seasonally inundated alluvial plains with impeded drainage |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora open forest to woodland (to low open forest to low open woodland) (5-14m tall). Occasional associated canopy species or emergents include Corymbia clarksoniana, Eucalyptus platyphylla, Lophostemon suaveolens, C. dallachiana, C. intermedia, E. exserta, Pandanus cookii and E. drepanophylla. There is frequently a very sparse lower tree or shrub layer which may include juvenile Melaleuca spp., Acacia leptocarpa, Planchonia careya, juvenile eucalypts and Allocasuarina spp. The ground layer is often mid-dense and varies according to the duration of inundation in the wet season. Wetter sites are frequently dominated by Ischaemum australe and/or I. fragile. Less frequently inundated areas are commonly dominated by species such as Eremochloa bimaculata, Themeda triandra and Chrysopogon fallax. Other associated species include Imperata cylindrica, Fimbristylis dichotoma, Heteropogon triticeus, Alloteropsis semialata, Abildgaardia spp., Sorghum nitidum forma aristatum, Flemingia parviflora, Murdannia graminea and M. gigantea. Some sites are sandy, and dominant species may include Xanthorrhoea johnsonii, Ischaemum spp., Schoenus sparteus, Chrysopogon fallax and Scleria novae-hollandiae. At the height of the wet season, in any of these ground layer variations, a variety of ephemeral species may dominate. Seasonally inundated, level to sloping alluvial plains of lowlands and foothills. Geology is primarily Qf, Qa, Qf>Pc/v and Qr (Quaternary sand, gravel, clay, rubble and silt; flood-out sheets, small fans, some colluvial and residual deposits). Soils are duplex, with surface ranging from clays to sands. Often has a debil-debil surface soil formation. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 21a). |
| Supplementary description | Batianoff, Dillewaard and Franks (1997), Vegetation unit 11; Brushe et al. (in prep), c48-3, c48-3c, c111; Cumming (1997), Vegetation type 18; Nexus Environmental Studies Pty Ltd (1998), Vegetation mapping unit 3d; Pollock and Champion (1994), Vegetation |
| Protected areas | Cape Palmerston NP, Sandringham Bay CP, Newry Islands NP, Skull Knob CP, Lindeman Islands NP, West Hill NP |
| Special values | 8.3.2: Habitat for the near threatened species Habenaria xanthantha and Eulophia bicallosa. Habitat for a number of poorly known species, or species at the edge of their range, including Pheidochloa gracilis, Cartonema brachyantherum, Platostoma longicorne, Cyperus sanguinolentus, Hibbertia sp. (Barakula V.Hando 122), Eleocharis setifolia, Fimbristylis aestivalis, Fimbristylis depauperata, Fimbristylis tristachya, Haloragis heterophylla, Murdannia gigantea, Phyllanthus simplex, Scleria caricina, Salomonia ciliata, Mitrasacme paludosa, Byblis liniflora, Fimbristylis furva and Drosera burmanni. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Early winter to winter. INTENSITY: Moderate. INTERVAL: 5-8 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 5. INTERVAL_MAX: 8. STRATEGY: At least 50% should be left unburnt. ISSUES: Seasonal inundation probably results in high litter decomposition rates and consequent low rates of fuel accumulation. Such inundation is probably a major functional component of this ecosystem. |
| Comments | 8.3.2: Distinguished from all other land zone 3 Melaleuca spp. dominated communities by the clear dominance of M. viridiflora var. viridiflora. If any confusion exists between the identification of this and M. viridiflora var. attenuata (8.3.11), these regional ecosystems can be distinguished by 8.3.11 always occurring in swamps which are inundated for several months of the year and have a much more aquatic species dominated ground stratum (8.3.2 is usually only inundated from a few days to up to a few weeks at a time). Mainly across subregions 2 and 3 from east of Ben Lomond in the north to Mosquito Creek (south of Elalie). Also found in Subregion 4 within the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area. Extensively cleared for sugar cane. Most remnants are south of Sarina, but these are currently subject to clearing for coastal development and expansion of sugar. Intense grazing pressure causes soil compaction, damages natural debil-debil formations and increases the fertility of the soil, encouraging weed establishment. Weeds that threaten this RE include *Sporobolus jacquemontii, *Sporobolus fertilis, *Sporobolus pyramidalis, *Stachytarpheta jamaicensis and *Stylosanthes scabra. |
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.
