Regional ecosystem details for 9.11.23
| Regional ecosystem | 9.11.23 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 1, 2, (2.6), (2.9), (5), (4) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 257000 ha; Remnant 2021 256000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus microneura +/- Corymbia erythrophloia or C. pocillum low open woodland on rolling metamorphic hills and rises |
| Structure code | Low Open Woodland |
| Description | Low open woodland to woodland of Eucalyptus microneura (Georgetown box) +/- Corymbia spp. (bloodwoods) or Eucalyptus spp. (ironbarks) +/- Melaleuca citrolens (scrub teatree) with M. citrolens sometimes forming a low woodland. A sub-canopy layer is sometimes present and the shrub layer is absent to occasionally mid-dense. The grassy ground layer is generally dominated by Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass). Rocky outcrops dominated by Acacia leptostachya can also occur. Occurs on rolling hills to steep hills often with rocky rises. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 9.11.23a: Low open woodland to low woodland of Eucalyptus microneura (Georgetown box) +/- Corymbia erythrophloia (red bloodwood) or C. pocillum +/- Terminalia spp. +/- Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) +/- Corymbia spp. A sub-canopy layer sometimes occurs and includes Eucalyptus microneura, Terminalia spp. and Acacia leptostachya (slender wattle). The shrub layer is absent to mid-dense and includes Gardenia vilhelmii (breadfruit), Denhamia cunninghamii (yellowberry bush), Carissa lanceolata (currantbush), Petalostigma banksii (smooth-leaved quinine) as well as juvenile canopy spp. The grassy ground layer is generally dominated by Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass), Aristida spp. and Schizachyrium spp. (firegrass). Rocky outcrops occur in some areas. The larger ones may have small areas of Acacia shirleyi (lancewood) and the smaller ones, A. leptostachya (slender wattle). Occurs on rolling metamorphic hills often with rocky outcrops. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13b). 9.11.23b: Low open woodland to woodland of Eucalyptus microneura (Georgetown box) +/- E. cullenii (Cullen's ironbark) or E. crebra (narrow-leaved ironbark) often with Melaleuca citrolens (scrub teatree) and Terminalia platyptera (yellow-wood) in an open sub-canopy. The shrub layer varies from absent to open with Gardenia vilhelmii (breadfruit), Dolichandrone alternifolia, Atalaya hemiglauca (whitewood), Carissa lanceolata (currantbush) and Melaleuca spp. The ground layer is sparse to dense and often dominated by Aristida spp., Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass) and Schizachyrium spp. Occurs on metamorphic hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13b). 9.11.23c: Low woodland of Eucalyptus microneura (Georgetown box) +/- E. whitei (White's ironbark) +/- Corymbia pocillum or low woodland of C. erythrophloia (red bloodwood) +/- C. terminalis (western bloodwood) +/- Terminalia spp. The shrub layer varies from absent to an open shrub layer including Denhamia cunninghamii (yellowberry bush), Gardenia vilhelmii (breadfruit) and Acacia spp. The ground layer is grassy and dominated by Aristida spp. and Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass). Rocky hill tops are dominated by an Acacia leptostachya (slender wattle). Occurs on rolling hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13b). 9.11.23d: Low woodland of Melaleuca citrolens (scrub teatree) +/- Terminalia spp. +/- Eucalyptus microneura (Georgetown box) which is sometimes emergent. The shrub layer is absent to sparse and can include Denhamia cunninghamii (yellowberry bush) and Petalostigma banksii (smooth-leaved quinine). The sparse ground layer is grassy and can include Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass), Aristida spp. and Schizachyrium spp. (firegrasses). Occurs on rolling to undulating metamorphic hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21b). |
| Protected areas | Littleton NP, Blackbraes NP, Rungulla NP, Littleton RR, Bulleringa NP |
| Special values | 9.11.23: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Euphorbia carissoides. |
| 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 | 9.11.23: In the western areas, subdominants in the canopy layer may not be present. Also in the west, smaller rocky rises may have Acacia leptostachya and larger ones may have Acacia shirleyi. Occurs extensively throughout the west of the bioregion. The exotic weed species Malvastrum americanum (spiked Malvastrum) frequently occurs, while Vachellia farnesiana (mimosa) can also occur. 9.11.23a: Occurs extensively in the far west of the bioregion. 9.11.23b: Occurs in the central bioregion from Amber Station down to the Lynd Junction. 9.11.23c: Occurs around Georgetown in the west of the bioregion. 9.11.23d: Closely associated with other vegetation communities within regional ecosystem 9.11.23. Occurs in a restricted area north of the Newcastle Range in the west of the bioregion. |
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.
