Regional ecosystem details for 9.11.15
| Regional ecosystem | 9.11.15 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 2, 1, (5), (4) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 175000 ha; Remnant 2021 174000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus crebra and/or E. cullenii and/or E. whitei +/- Corymbia pocillum or C. erythrophloia woodland on metamorphic hills |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Woodland to low open woodland of Eucalyptus crebra (narrow-leaved ironbark) and/or E. cullenii (Cullen's ironbark) and/or E. whitei (White's ironbark) +/- E. microneura (Georgetown box) +/- Corymbia pocillum or C. erythrophloia (red bloodwood). The shrub layer varies from absent to open. The ground layer is grassy and dominated by Heteropogon contortus and Themeda triandra. Occurs on rolling metamorphic hills and rises. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13c). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 9.11.15a: Woodland to low open woodland of Eucalyptus crebra (narrow-leaved ironbark) or E. cullenii (Cullen's ironbark) +/- Corymbia erythrophloia (red bloodwood) or C. pocillum +/- C. dallachiana (Dallachy's gum) +/- Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) +/- Eucalyptus microneura (Georgetown box). An open sub-canopy layer of C. erythrophloia or C. pocillum can occur. The shrub layer varies from absent to isolated plants including Denhamia cunninghamii (yellowberry bush), Vachellia bidwillii (corkwood wattle), Gardenia vilhelmii (breadfruit), Hakea arborescens and Carissa lanceolata (currantbush). The ground layer is grassy and dominated by Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass) and Dichanthium spp. Occurs on low hills and rises with moderately deep soils derived from metamorphic geologies. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13c). 9.11.15b: Open woodland to woodland of Eucalyptus whitei (White's ironbark) +/- Corymbia pocillum +/- E. microneura (Georgetown box) +/- Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) +/- Corymbia spp. A sparse sub-canopy containing canopy species, Terminalia aridicola (arid peach), Dolichandrone alternifolia (lemonwood) or Acacia leptostachya (slender wattle) can occur. The mixed shrub layer is scattered to open and can include canopy species, Denhamia cunninghamii (yellowberry bush), Gardenia vilhelmii (breadfruit), Petalostigma banksii (smooth-leaved quinine), T. aridicola, and Acacia spp. The dense grassy ground layer is dominated by Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass), Aristida spp. and Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass). Occurs on highly dissected hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13a). |
| Protected areas | Canyon RR, Undara Volcanic NP |
| Special values | 9.11.15: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Cycas cairnsiana, Solanum carduiforme. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Early dry season and storm time. Timing of early dry season burns will vary depending on seasonal conditions; it may sometimes commence as early as March. INTENSITY: Low, with occasional moderate. INTERVAL: 2-5 year intervals with longer unburnt patches. Fuel loads tend to reach a maximum after 2-3 years. Ensure burn programs occur after big wet season as fuel loads will be higher than average. INTERVAL_MIN: 2. INTERVAL_MAX: 5. STRATEGY: Burn less than 40% across the landscape in any year. Burning through the early dry season will produce a network of burns that will contain later fires. Fires will only gain in intensity as the dry season progresses. Grass composition can be affected by timing and intensity of fire. Occasional moderate fire will help to reduce overabundant trees that could potentially suppress ground layer vegetation. ISSUES: Leave areas of long unburnt vegetation to maintain a diversity of habitat for wildlife. |
| Comments | 9.11.15: Occurs from Georgetown to the Lynd Junction in the west of the bioregion. 9.11.15a: This vegetation community is distinguished from 9.11.16 by occurring on plains, rises and lower hills. Occurs mainly east of the Newcastle Range in the west of the bioregion. 9.11.15b: This vegetation community is distinguished from 9.11.16 by the frequent presence of Eucalyptus microneura. Occurs between Georgetown and Cobbold Gorge in the west of the bioregion. |
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.
