Regional ecosystem details for 8.5.2
| Regional ecosystem | 8.5.2 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Endangered |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Endangered |
| Subregion | 6, (2), (11.2) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 13000 ha; Remnant 2021 4000 ha |
| Short description | Melaleuca viridiflora +/- Allocasuarina luehmannii, or M. viridiflora and M. nervosa woodland on Tertiary sand plains |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora woodland to open forest, often with Allocasuarina luehmannii or Melaleuca nervosa and emergent Corymbia clarksoniana. There is a sparse secondary tree or shrub layer which may include Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora, Acacia julifera, Acacia leptocarpa, Petalostigma pubescens and Melaleuca nervosa. There may be a very sparse shrub layer, with species including Xanthorrhoea johnsonii, Acacia julifera subsp. curvinervia and Acacia simsii. The ground layer is diverse and includes Chrysopogon fallax, Aristida superpendens, Schoenus sparteus, Fimbristylis cinnamometorum, Eremochloa bimaculata, Alloteropsis semialata and Eriachne triseta. Ephemeral dominants frequently include Schizachyrium spp. and Pseudopogonatherum contortum. Occurs on Tertiary sand plains (subregion 6) on flat plains and gently undulating rises, dissected by many incised streams. The geology is primarily To (Tertiary coarse clayey sandstone, sandy claystone, conglomerate, coarse argillaceous sandstone and sandy siltstone) sometimes with the underlying geology mapped as Kh (Hecate Granite) Lower Cretaceous granodiorite, diorite, rhyolite, porphyry, gabbro and microdiorite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 8.5.2a: Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora open woodland to open forest (5-20m tall). Allocasuarina luehmannii is sometimes codominant to subdominant in the canopy. Corymbia clarksoniana is a common emergent and is occasionally co-dominant in the canopy. Eucalyptus drepanophylla, C. dallachiana and E. platyphylla are occasional associated species in the canopy or emergents. Other occasional canopy species are Acacia julifera, Melaleuca nervosa, Pandanus cookii, Grevillea striata, Acacia leptocarpa, Petalostigma pubescens and Allocasuarina littoralis. There is often a very sparse lower tree layer of Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora, Allocasuarina spp., Acacia julifera subsp. curvinervia, A. leptocarpa, Petalostigma pubescens, Grevillea spp. and Melaleuca nervosa. There may occasionally be a very sparse shrub layer of saplings from the upper layers and Xanthorrhoea johnsonii and Acacia julifera subsp. curvinervia. The ground layer is very-sparse to mid-dense, and changes dominance according to the season, with ephemeral species being dominant in the wet season. Perennial dominants may include Chrysopogon fallax, Eriachne pallescens var. pallescens, Aristida spp., Schoenus sparteus, Fimbristylis cinnamometorum, Eremochloa bimaculata, Alloteropsis semialata and Eriachne triseta. Ephemeral dominants frequently include Schizachyrium spp. and Pseudopogonatherum contortum. In the wet season the ground layer is very species rich with many short lived species contributing to the biomass. Occurs on Tertiary sand plains and pediments, in relatively flat locations (gently undulating plains and rises of lowlands). The geology is primarily To (Tertiary coarse clayey sandstone, sandy claystone, conglomerate, coarse argillaceous sandstone and sandy siltstone). Poorly drained, duplex soils with a sandy surface. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21a). 8.5.2c: Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora and M. nervosa open woodland to open forest. Occasional to common associated canopy species or emergents include Corymbia clarksoniana, Eucalyptus platyphylla and Petalostigma pubescens. There may be a very sparse shrub layer consisting of saplings from the canopy and species such as Acacia simsii, Planchonia careya and Coelospermum reticulatum. The ground layer ranges from very sparse to mid-dense and is very species rich. It is frequently dominated by Eremochloa bimaculata. Other common species are Abildgaardia vaginata, Paspalidium distans, Eragrostis brownii, Eriachne rara and Aristida acuta. During the wet season, ephemeral species may be very common and include Panicum seminudum var. cairnsianum and Schizachyrium spp. Occurs on Tertiary sand plains on gently undulating plains of lowlands, dissected by many incised streams. The underlying geology is mapped as Kh (Hecate Granite) Lower Cretaceous granodiorite, diorite, rhyolite, porphyry, gabbro and microdiorite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21a). |
| Supplementary description | Batianoff, Dillewaard and Franks (1997), Vegetation unit 10 |
| Protected areas | Dryander NP |
| Special values | 8.5.2a: Potential habitat for the near threatened species Habenaria xanthantha and Eulophia bicallosa. The ground layer is very species rich, and includes many species which are poorly known in the Central Queensland Coast, such as Mnesithea formosa, Panicum seminudum var. cairnsianum, Pseudopogonatherum contortum, Buchnera gracilis, Phyllanthus simplex, Phyllanthus sulcatus, Polygala wightiana, Schizachyrium dolosum, Polygala exsquarrosa, Byblis liniflora, Centrolepis exserta, Centrolepis banksii, Cyperus cristulatus, Fimbristylis acuminata, Fimbristylis pterigosperma, Habenaria propinquior, Heliotropium vagum, Hybanthus monopetalus, Mitrasacme laricifolia, Mitrasacme multicaulis, Mitrasacme brachystemonea, Polygala longifolia, Rhynchospora pterochaeta, Sarga angustum, Schizachyrium dolosum, Thaumastochloa major, Thysanotus banksii, Xyris indica, Cartonema brachyantherum, and Rotala occultiflora. 8.5.2c: Potential habitat for the near threatened species Habenaria xanthantha and Eulophia bicallosa. The ground layer is very species rich, and includes many species which are poorly known in the Central Queensland Coast bioregion, such as Aristida acuta, Alysicarpus schomburgkii, Cyperus castaneus, Cyperus nervulosus, Eriocaulon nanum, Mnesithea formosa, Panicum seminudum var. cairnsianum, Buchnera gracilis, Phyllanthus simplex, Byblis liniflora, Mitrasacme laricifolia, Mitrasacme multicaulis, Mitrasacme brachystemonea, Polygala longifolia, Rhynchospora pterochaeta, Sarga angustum, Schizachyrium dolosum, Thaumastochloa major, Thysanotus banksii, Xyris indica and Rotala occultiflora. |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. ISSUES: Generally, drier climate and low fertility precludes large fuel accumulations. Any fire applied should be considered experimental. Probably not able to be burnt. |
| Comments | 8.5.2a: The RE 8.5.2a is not protected in any reserves, and occurs in an area that is being targeted for sugar cane expansion. This RE is similar to 8.5.2c but is not co dominated by Melaleuca nervosa, and occurs in slightly wetter, more coastal areas (8.5.2c is restricted to the drier areas to the west of the Proserpine Dam). Can be distinguished from RE 8.5.6 by its location (8.5.6 occurs in the Cape Palmerston area, 8.5.2a occurs in the Debella area) and 8.5.6 never has Allocasuarina luehmannii. When Corymbia clarksoniana is common in 8.5.2a it can appear similar to 8.5.3a, however 8.5.3a will also have Eucalyptus drepanophylla (and often E. platyphylla) present. Otherwise distinguished from all other regional ecosystems by the dominance of Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora in the canopy (or secondary tree layer but forming the greatest biomass) and its occurrence on a Tertiary age substrate. Coastal lowlands, mainly in subregions 2 and 6, from White Cliffs on Edgecumbe Bay (20km south-east of Bowen) to Dingo Beach (south-east of Cape Gloucester) and south to the O'Connell River near Lethebrook. This regional ecosystem has already been substantially reduced in area, and the remnants are dissected. This ecosystem is highly vulnerable to erosion, and prone to weed invasion, and it is possible that over 75% of the remainder is severely degraded. The most serious weed species are *Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, *Stylosanthes spp. and *Sporobolus jacquemontii. 8.5.2c: This RE is similar to 8.5.2a but is co dominated by Melaleuca nervosa, and occurs in drier, more inland areas. Can be distinguished from RE 8.5.6 by its location (8.5.6 occurs in the Cape Palmerston area, 8.5.2a occurs in the Debella area). Otherwise distinguished from all other regional ecosystems by the dominance of Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora in the canopy (or secondary tree layer but forming the greatest biomass) and the occurrence on a Tertiary age substrate. Occurs only in subregion 6 between the Don River and Proserpine Rivers, west of the Proserpine Dam. Extensively cleared and the remnants are in poor condition. It is possible that over 75% of the remainder is severely degraded. Suffering from severe infestations of *Lantana camara, *Bothriochloa pertusa (Indian Couch), *Urochloa subquadripara and *Chamaecrista rotundifolia. Other problem weeds include *Mitracarpus hirtus, *Sporobolus spp., *Sida rhombifolia, *Sida cordifolia and *Stylosanthes spp. This vegetation community is highly vulnerable to erosion. |
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.
