Regional ecosystem details for 9.12.7
| Regional ecosystem | 9.12.7 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 2, 3, (6), (2.6), (5), (2.4), (7.9), (7.8), (7.7), (7.4) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 610000 ha; Remnant 2021 605000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus cullenii +/- Corymbia leichhardtii +/- C. erythrophloia woodland on igneous rocks |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Woodland to low open woodland of Eucalyptus cullenii (Cullen's ironbark) +/- Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) +/- C. leichhardtii (yellowjacket) +/- Corymbia erythrophloia (red bloodwood). The mid-layer is generally absent but a sub-canopy and/or shrub layer can occur. The ground layer is sparse to dense and dominated by Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass) and Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass). Occurs on predominantly felsic volcanic rocks, on rolling to steep hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 9.12.7a: Woodland to open woodland of Eucalyptus cullenii (Cullen's ironbark) +/- Corymbia erythrophloia (red bloodwood) +/- Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) +/- C. dallachiana (Dallachy's gum). An open to mid-dense sub-canopy can occur and includes a variety of species. The shrub layer is absent to open and dominated by Denhamia cunninghamii (yellowberry bush), Alphitonia pomaderroides (soapbush), Petalostigma spp., and Acacia spp. The ground layer is sparse to dense and dominated by Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass), H. triticeus (giant speargrass), Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) and Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum) with a Xanthorrhoea sp. (grasstree) occurring in some areas. Occurs on rhyolite hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13a). 9.12.7b: Woodland to low open woodland of Eucalyptus cullenii (Cullen's ironbark) and/or E. crebra (narrow-leaved ironbark) and Corymbia leichhardtii (yellowjacket) +/- C. erythrophloia (red bloodwood) +/- Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) +/- Eucalyptus shirleyi (silver-leaved ironbark) or E. melanophloia (silver-leaved ironbark) +/- E. pachycalyx (pumpkin gum). An open sub-canopy often occurs with canopy species, Terminalia spp. and Grevillea glauca (bushman's clothes peg). The shrub layer is open with mixed species including Acacia spp., Denhamia cunninghamii, G. glauca, G. pteridifolia (toothbrush grevillea), Planchonia careya (cocky apple) and Petalostigma banksii (smooth-leaved quinine). A lower shrub layer of Jacksonia thesioides and Xanthorrhoea johnsonii (grasstree) can also occur. The mid-dense to sparse ground layer is grassy and dominated by Heteropogon spp. (speargrass). Occurs on steep rocky rhyolite hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13a). 9.12.7c: Woodland to open woodland of Eucalyptus cullenii (Cullen's ironbark) and Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) +/- Corymbia hylandii (Hyland's bloodwood). The very sparse mid layer is dominated by Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood), Terminalia spp. and Petalostigma banksii (smooth-leaved quinine). The mid-dense ground layer is a grassy and dominated by Heteropogon triticeus (giant speargrass), H. contortus (black speargrass), Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) and Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum). Occurs on rolling rhyolite hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13a). |
| Protected areas | Canyon RR, Chillagoe-Mungana Caves NP, Mount Lewis NP, Bulleringa NP, Mount Windsor NP, Forty Mile Scrub NP, Daintree NP (CYPAL), Danbulla NP, Dinden West FR |
| Special values | 9.12.7: Habitat for near threatened and threatened flora species. 9.12.7a: Potential habitat for the vulnerable plant species Cycas platyphylla. |
| 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 | 9.12.7: The southern end of this regional ecosystem may overlap 9.12.1. Occurs extensively through-out the central and northern bioregion. 9.12.7a: Occurs in the central and northern bioregion from the Newcastle Range across to Mareeba and Palmer River. 9.12.7b: Occurs from the Featherbed Range down to Mt. Garnet in the central bioregion. 9.12.7c: Discrete grasslands of Themeda arguens can occur on low rhyolite hills north of Chillagoe. Occurs mainly west of Ngarrabullgan (Mt Mulligan) 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.
