Regional ecosystem details for 8.5.5
| Regional ecosystem | 8.5.5 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 2, 11.14, (3) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 5000 ha; Remnant 2021 2000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus exserta and/or Corymbia clarksoniana and/or E. crebra and/or Melaleuca spp. woodland on Tertiary sand plains |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Eucalyptus exserta and/or Corymbia clarksoniana and/or E. crebra woodland to open forest, or Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora and/or M. nervosa woodland to open forest. Where Melaleuca spp. dominate, E. exserta and/or C. clarksoniana and/or E. crebra may occur as emergents. Where Eucalyptus spp. and/or Corymbia spp. dominate, there is frequently a secondary tree layer dominated by Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora and/or M. nervosa. Other associated species in the lower tree layers may include Corymbia dallachiana, Acacia leptocarpa, Planchonia careya, Petalostigma pubescens, Pandanus cookii, Lophostemon confertus and Acacia simsii. There may be a very sparse shrub layer, with dominant species including Xanthorrhoea johnsonii, Acacia leptocarpa, Melaleuca spp. and Coelospermum reticulatum. The ground layer is very sparse to mid-dense and often dominated by species such as Eremochloa bimaculata, Chrysopogon fallax, Xanthorrhoea johnsonii and Aristida queenslandica var. queenslandica, with other dominant to associated species including Fimbristylis dichotoma and Themeda triandra. Ephemeral species may dominate in the wet season and include Scleria rugosa, and Schizachyrium fragile. Occurs on inactive Quaternary sand plains (possibly Tertiary age) (gently sloping to undulating plains and rises of lowlands). Geology currently mapped as Qf and Qa (Quaternary sand, gravel, clay and silt: flood-out sheets and small fans). Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9e). |
| Protected areas | Broad Sound Islands NP |
| Special values | 8.5.5: Habitat for the locally rare and poorly known species Pseudopogonatherum irritans. Potential habitat for the near threatened species Eulophia bicallosa and Habenaria xanthantha. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Late wet to early dry season, with occasional storm burns (Nov-Dec). Winter burns may be acceptable if conditions have not been appropriate for burning until winter. INTENSITY: Mainly low, but with some moderate and high. INTERVAL: 3-7 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 3. INTERVAL_MAX: 7. STRATEGY: Apply mosaic burns across the landscape at a range of intervals. At a fine scale attempt to create a spatial mosaic with multiple burn patches 20 ha or less; aim for a 30-50% burnt area. At the bioregion scale do not burn more than 20% within the same year. ISSUES: Lack of fire promotes overabundant pioneer rainforest species. Too frequent fire or inappropriately timed fire promotes weeds, including high-biomass grasses that lead to inappropriate fires. At least 7 years between burns is required to permit obligate seeding shrubs to reproduce. |
| Comments | 8.5.5: Most similar to RE 8.5.6, however this is dominated by Melaleuca spp. (with Eucalyptus spp. and Corymbia spp. as emergents). Also similar to regional ecosystems 8.5.3b and 8.5.1b from which it is most easily distinguished by location (8.5.3b and 8.5.1b occur only in northern parts of subregion 2, as far south as Sarina, whilst 8.5.5 is restricted to the Clairview area), but also by the presence of E. exserta which is absent from 8.5.3b and 8.5.1b. The RE 8.5.3a may also be similar but is dominated by Eucalyptus drepanophylla and lacks E. exserta. The RE 8.5.7 occurs only in subregions 4 and 5. Restricted to subregion 2 between Bone Creek (just north of Carmila) and Clairview. Also found as an outlier west of Mount Edward (15km south of Clairview). Threatened by clearing for agricultural and grazing lands. This regional ecosystem is also highly vulnerable to erosion and highly prone to weed invasion and it is possible that over 75% of the remainder is severely degraded. Common weed species include *Sporobolus jacquemontii, *Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, *Stylosanthes spp., and *Digitaria eriantha cv. Pangola. |
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.
