Regional ecosystem details for 9.11.4
| Regional ecosystem | 9.11.4 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 4, 6, 3, (7.5), (7.9), (7.7), (7.8) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 41000 ha; Remnant 2021 41000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus crebra, Corymbia clarksoniana, C. citriodora subsp. citriodora +/- E. portuensis open forest on shallow soils on metamorphic hills and ranges |
| Structure code | Open Forest |
| Description | Mixed open forest to woodland of Eucalyptus crebra (narrow-leaved ironbark), Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood), C. citriodora subsp. citriodora (lemon-scented gum) +/- E. portuensis (white mahogany) +/- C. peltata (rustyjacket) +/- E. shirleyi (silver-leaved ironbark). An open sub-canopy can occur. The shrub layer is absent to mid-dense. The mid-dense ground layer is dominated by Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) and Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass). Occurs on hills and mountains on shallow soils derived from metamorphic geologies. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13c). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 9.11.4a: Open forest to open woodland of Eucalyptus granitica, Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) and/or C. intermedia (pink bloodwood), C. citriodora subsp. citriodora (lemon-scented gum) +/- E. portuensis (white mahogany) +/- C. dallachiana (Dallachy's gum) +/- E. tereticornis (bluegum). Other ironbark species may also occur, namely E. crebra, E. drepanophylla (grey ironbark) in the south and E. cullenii (Cullen's ironbark) in the north. An open sub-canopy can occur and include canopy species, Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) and Grevillea glauca (bushman's clothes peg). The mid-dense shrub layer includes Acacia flavescens (yellow wattle), Grevillea glauca, Petalostigma spp., Bursaria incana (prickly pine) and Denhamia cunninghamii (yellowberry bush). Xanthorrhoea johnsonii (grass-tree) may also occur in a lower shrub layer. The mid-dense ground layer is grassy and dominated by Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass) and Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass). Occurs on metamorphic hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13c). 9.11.4b: Woodland of Eucalyptus crebra (narrow-leaved ironbark) or E. drepanophylla (grey ironbark), Corymbia peltata (rustyjacket), E. portuensis (white mahogany) +/- E. shirleyi (silver-leaved ironbark) or E. melanophloia (silver-leaved ironbark) +/- C. citriodora subsp. citriodora (lemon-scented gum) +/- C. dallachiana (Dallachy's gum). An open sub-canopy can include canopy species, Bursaria incana (prickly pine) and Vachellia bidwillii (corkwood wattle). The shrub layer is generally absent. The dense grassy ground layer is dominated by Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass), Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass) and H. triticeus (giant speargrass). Occurs on moderate to steep metamorphic hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13c). |
| Protected areas | Girringun NP, Mount Windsor NP, Dinden West FR, Paluma Range NP, Davies Creek NP, Bare Hill CP |
| 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 | 9.11.4: This unit often forms part of a diffuse boundary between the Einasleigh Uplands bioregion and the Wet Tropics bioregion and may occasionally contain more mesic elements. Occurs close to the Wet Tropics boundary in the east of the bioregion. Subject to timber harvesting. 9.11.4a: Occurs close to the Wet Tropics boundary in the east of the bioregion. 9.11.4b: Occurs in the south-east of the bioregion in the southern Harvey Range. |
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.
