Regional ecosystem details for 9.11.3
| Regional ecosystem | 9.11.3 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 3, 2, (6), (5), (2.6), (3.1), (2.4), (3.2), (3.5), (7.9), (4), (7.4) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 924000 ha; Remnant 2021 917000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus cullenii or E. staigeriana +/- Corymbia clarksoniana woodland on skeletal soils on metamorphic hills |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Woodland to open woodland of Eucalyptus cullenii (Cullen's ironbark) or E. staigeriana (lemon-scented ironbark). Subdominant species often include Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood), Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) and C. hylandii (Hyland's bloodwood) Low woodlands dominated by Terminalia spp. and Melaleuca spp. can occur. The shrub layer varies from none to mid-dense. Occurs on flats, hills and ranges of metamorphic geologies and on varying soil types and depths. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 9.11.3a: Woodland to low open woodland of Eucalyptus cullenii (Cullen's ironbark) +/- Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) +/- Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) +/- C. erythrophloia (red bloodwood) +/- C. dallachiana (Dallachy's gum). Eucalyptus crebra (narrow-leaved ironbark) can be dominant in some areas. A variety of other Eucalyptus spp., Corymbia spp. and Melaleuca spp. can occur as subdominants throughout the range of this community. There can be an open sub-canopy containing canopy species, M. stenostachya (teatree), Grevillea glauca (bushman's clothes peg) and other Grevillea spp. The shrub layer can be absent to mid-dense and include Denhamia cunninghamii (yellowberry bush), Gardenia vilhelmii (breadfruit), Petalostigma spp., Persoonia falcata and Grevillea spp. The ground layer is grassy and dominated by Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass), Heteropogon spp. (speargrass), Aristida spp. and Schizachyrium spp. (firegrass). Occurs on flats, hills and ranges of metamorphic ranges. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13a). 9.11.3b: Low open woodland to woodland of Eucalyptus cullenii (Cullen's ironbark) +/- Corymbia hylandii (Hyland's bloodwood) +/- C. clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood). The sub-canopy is generally open with canopy species and Terminalia spp. A sparse to mid-dense shrub layer includes Petalostigma banksii (smooth-leaved quinine), Denhamia cunninghamii (yellowberry bush), Gardenia vilhelmii (breadfruit), Carissa lanceolata (currantbush) and Melaleuca spp. The mid-dense to dense ground layer is dominated by Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass), Aristida spp., Schizachyrium fragile (firegrass) and Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass). On metamorphic hills and ranges. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13a). 9.11.3c: Open woodland to woodland of Eucalyptus staigeriana (lemon-scented ironbark) +/- E. cullenii (Cullen's ironbark) +/- Corymbia hylandii (Hyland's bloodwood) +/- E. tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark). The shrub layer varies from absent to open and can include juveniles of canopy species, Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) and Grevillea dryandri subsp. dryandri (Dryander's grevillea). The ground layer is a sparse to mid-dense and grassy, dominated by Heteropogon triticeus (giant speargrass), Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) and Schizachyrium spp. (firegrass). Occurs on metamorphic hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13a). 9.11.3d: Low woodland to low open woodland of Melaleuca citrolens (scrub teatree) and/or M. stenostachya or Terminalia spp. +/- Eucalyptus cullenii (Cullen's ironbark). Eucalyptus spp. and/or Corymbia spp. can sometimes occur in an emergent layer. The shrub layer is sparse to mid-dense and can include Denhamia cunninghamii (yellowberry bush), Petalostigma banksii (smooth-leaved quinine), Gardenia vilhelmii (breadfruit), Dolichandrone alternifolia (lemonwood) and juvenile canopy species. The grassy ground layer is dominated by Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass), Aristida spp. and Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass). Footslopes and lower slopes of metamorphic hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21b). 9.11.3e: Low open woodland of Corymbia hylandii (Hyland's bloodwood) +/- Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) with a very sparse shrub layer of Petalostigma banksii (smooth-leaved quinine). The ground layer is mid-dense and dominated by Heteropogon triticeus (giant speargrass), H. contortus (black speargrass) and Schizachyrium spp. (firegrass). Occurs on metamorphic hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21b). 9.11.3f: Woodland to low open woodland of Eucalyptus cullenii (Cullen's ironbark) and Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) +/- Corymbia hylandii (Hyland's bloodwood). The shrub layer is absent to sparse shrubs dominated by Erythrophleum chlorostachys, Terminalia spp., Grevillea mimosoides, Dolichandrone alternifolia (lemonwood) and Petalostigma spp. The ground layer is mid-dense and dominated by Heteropogon triticeus (giant speargrass), H. contortus (black speargrass), Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) and Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum). Occurs on metamorphic hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13a). |
| Supplementary description | Neldner and Clarkson (1995): 70 (part), 68 (part) |
| Protected areas | Palmer Goldfield RR, Mount Windsor NP, Ngalba-bulal NP (CYPAL), Mount Lewis NP, Hann Tableland NP, Chillagoe-Mungana Caves NP, Undara Volcanic NP, Bulleringa NP, Daintree NP (CYPAL) |
| Special values | 9.11.3: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Acacia guymeri, Acacia purpureopetala, Cucumis costatus, Dianella incollata, Ehretia microphylla, Euphorbia carissoides, Macropteranthes montana, Panicum chillagoanum, Stenanthemum argenteum. |
| 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 | 9.11.3: The southern distribution of this community may overlap with RE 9.11.2. Occurs extensively in the north of the bioregion. Vulnerable to invasion by weed species Cryptostegia grandiflora (rubber vine), Mesosphaerum suaveolens, Themeda quadrivalvis (grader grass) and Malvastrum americanum (spiked Malvastrum). 9.11.3a: Occurs extensively from Lakeland Downs to Einasleigh in the north of the bioregion. 9.11.3b: Merges into unit 9.11.3d. Occurs from Palmer River to Kondaparinga Station in the north of the bioregion. 9.11.3c: Occurs around Palmerville in the north-west of the bioregion. 9.11.3d: This unit merges into unit 9.11.3a and 9.11.3b. Occurs from Palmer River to Mareeba in the north of the bioregion. 9.11.3e: Restricted to an area south of Palmerville in the north of the bioregion. 9.11.3f: Occurs from Palmerville to Chillagoe in the north 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.
