Regional ecosystem details for 9.11.7
| Regional ecosystem | 9.11.7 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 3, (7.8), (7.9) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 41000 ha; Remnant 2021 39000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus platyphylla and/or E. cullenii +/- Corymbia clarksoniana woodland on texture contrast soils on metamorphic hills |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Woodland to low open woodland of Eucalyptus platyphylla (poplar gum) and/or E. cullenii (Cullen's ironbark). A low open forest to shrubland of Melaleuca monantha can also occur on lower slopes. Occurs on rolling to steep metamorphic hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 9.11.7a: Woodland to low open woodland of Eucalyptus platyphylla (poplar gum) and/or E. cullenii (Cullen's ironbark) +/- Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) +/- C. dallachiana (Dallachy's gum) +/- Lophostemon suaveolens (swamp mahogany) +/- E. leptophleba (Molloy red box). In some areas the subdominant species may be codominant. A low sparse sub-canopy layer with Petalostigma pubescens (quinine), Melaleuca spp. and Acacia spp. can occur. The shrub layer is very sparse and includes Melaleuca viridiflora (broad-leaved paperbark), Grevillea parallela (silver oak), other Grevillea spp. and Acacia spp. and Grewia savannicola (dysentery bush). The sparse to mid-dense ground layer is grassy and dominated by Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass), Heteropogon spp. (speargrasses) and Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum). Occurs on rolling to steep metamorphic hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9b). 9.11.7b: Low open forest to tall shrubland of Melaleuca monantha +/- Petalostigma spp. with occasional emergent Eucalyptus cullenii (Cullen's ironbark) or Corymbia dallachiana (Dallachy's gum) or Eucalyptus chlorophylla. The shrub layer is absent to sparse and the ground layer can vary from bare to mid-grassy and is usually dominated by Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) or Schizachyrium fragile (firegrass). Occurs on footslopes and low metamorphic hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21a). |
| Supplementary description | Neldner and Clarkson (1995): 81; Galloway et al. (1970): Maytown Unit 2; Tracey (1982): 16j; Tracey and Webb (1975): 16j |
| Protected areas | Kuranda West FR, Mount Windsor NP, Hann Tableland NP, Mount Lewis NP, Kuranda 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 | 9.11.7: Occurs north of Mareeba close to the Wet Tropics boundary in the north of the bioregion. Subject to minor clearing. 9.11.7a: Occurs close to the Wet Tropics boundary from Mt. Molloy to Mareeba in the north of the bioregion.. Subject to minor clearing. 9.11.7b: Occurs in patches north of Mareeba in the central 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.
