Regional ecosystem details for 9.3.1
| Regional ecosystem | 9.3.1 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Riverine |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 4, 5, (6), (2), (10.3), (11.1), (11.4), (11.3), (11.5), (7.5) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 93000 ha; Remnant 2021 91000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus camaldulensis and/or E. tereticornis +/- Melaleuca spp. +/- Casuarina cunninghamiana fringing woodland on channels and levees |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Fringing woodland to open forest of Eucalyptus camaldulensis (river red gum) and/or E. tereticornis (bluegum) +/- Melaleuca fluviatilis (teatree) and/or M. leucadendra (weeping teatree) +/- Casuarina cunninghamiana (river sheoak) +/- Corymbia tessellaris (Moreton Bay ash). A distinct sub-canopy can occur and contain Ficus spp., Lophostemon spp. and Pleiogynium timorense (Burdekin plum) as well as juvenile canopy species. The shrub layer varies from none to mid-dense and contain Ficus opposita (sandpaper fig), Melaleuca spp. and Acacia crassicarpa (hickory wattle). The dense ground cover commonly includes Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass) and Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) as well as a range of other graminoid and forb species. Occurs on stream and channel banks. Riverine. (BVG1M: 16a). |
| Protected areas | Girringun NP, Paluma Range NP, Pinnacles NP, Dalrymple NP, White Mountains RR, Porcupine Gorge NP, Great Basalt Wall NP, White Mountains NP |
| Special values | 9.3.1: Significant habitat as drought refuge, wildlife corridors and for arboreal animals. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Late wet/early dry season (March to June). INTENSITY: Low. INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Do not burn deliberately. Allowing fires to trickle into fringing community will reduce fuel load, loss of hollow trees and potential for wildfire. ISSUES: Contain fire sensitive species such as river she-oak Casuarina glauca, Melaleuca leucadendra and M. argentea as well as habitat trees. Frequent and high intensity fires remove or inhibit structural complexity of ground, mid and upper strata. Increases risk of weeds and erosion. |
| Comments | 9.3.1: In areas close to the Wet Tropics Bioregion, Syzygium spp., Lophostemon suaveolens (swamp mahogany) and Acacia aulacocarpa (brown salwood) may be present and in the southeast Livistona spp. (cabbage palm) are present. Small areas of Melaleuca sp. aff. viridiflora woodland occur at the tops of drainage lines in the south. In narrow ephemeral drainage lines patches dominated Melaleuca bracteata may occur. Generally on eastern flowing rivers in the south of the bioregion. Vulnerable to invasive weeds Lantana camara, Melinis repens (Red Natal grass), Cryptostegia grandiflora (rubber vine), Xanthium occidentale (thornapple), Sida rhombifolia (Paddy's lucerne), Mesosphaerum suaveolens, Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (snakeweed), Bidens pilosa (cobbler's peg) and Megathyrsus maximus (Guinea grass). Subject to introduction of exotic pasture species such as Cynodon dactylon (couch)* through pasture improvement. |
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.
