Regional ecosystem details for 9.11.26
| Regional ecosystem | 9.11.26 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 3, (5), (6), (2), (3.1), (2.4), (3.2), (2.6), (7.9), (7.8) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 67000 ha; Remnant 2021 66000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus leptophleba and/or E. cullenii and/or Corymbia clarksoniana +/- E. platyphylla woodland on undulating terrain to rolling hills |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Woodland of Eucalyptus leptophleba (Molloy red box) and/or E. cullenii (Cullen's ironbark) and/or Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) +/- E. platyphylla (poplar gum). A very sparse sub-canopy layer may be present and the shrub layer is also very sparse to sparse. Occurs on rolling hills to steep hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 9.11.26a: Woodland of Eucalyptus leptophleba (Molloy red box) and/or E. cullenii (Cullen's ironbark) and/or Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) +/- C. tessellaris (Moreton Bay ash). A very sparse sub-canopy tree layer of Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) and Terminalia platyptera (yellow-wood) may be present. The very sparse to open shrub layer includes Melaleuca spp., Grevillea glauca (bushman's clothes peg), Terminalia platyptera (yellow-wood) and juvenile canopy species. The grassy ground layer is mid-dense and dominated by Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass), Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) and Heteropogon triticeus (giant speargrass). Occurs on rolling hills to steep hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13a). 9.11.26b: Woodland of Eucalyptus leptophleba and E. platyphylla (poplar gum) +/- Corymbia tessellaris (Moreton Bay ash). The sub-canopy tree layer is very sparse and includes canopy species and Melaleuca spp. The very sparse shrub layer includes Melaleuca spp., juvenile canopy species and Planchonia careya (cocky apple). The grassy ground layer is mid-dense and dominated by Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass), H. triticeus (giant speargrass), Mnesithea rottboellioides (northern canegrass) and Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass). Occurs on low rolling hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9b). |
| Protected areas | Palmer Goldfield RR, Mount Windsor NP, Ngalba-bulal NP (CYPAL), Mount Lewis NP |
| 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 | 9.11.26: Occurs extensively in the north of the bioregion. Alien forbs such as Crotalaria goreensis and Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, and grasses such as Themeda quadrivalvis occur at high densities in many of these sites. 9.11.26a: Occurs in the north of the bioregion from Chillagoe to Lakeland Downs. 9.11.26b: Occurs close to Cape York Peninsula Bioregion in the far north 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.
