Regional ecosystem details for 9.3.13
| Regional ecosystem | 9.3.13 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Riverine |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 2, 1, 4, 3, (2.9), (5), (2.6), (6), (2.5), (2.4), (3.1), (7.8) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 95000 ha; Remnant 2021 93000 ha |
| Short description | Melaleuca spp., Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Casuarina cunninghamiana fringing open forest on streams and channels |
| Structure code | Open Forest |
| Description | Fringing open forest to low woodland containing any combination of Melaleuca argentea (silver-leafed paperbark), M. fluviatilis (teatree) or M. leucadendra (weeping teatree), Eucalyptus camaldulensis (river red gum), Casuarina cunninghamiana (river sheoak), Lophostemon grandiflorus (Northern swamp box), +/- Corymbia spp. In eastern areas E. tereticornis (bluegum) may replace E. camaldulensis (river red gum). There can be an open sub-canopy, which can include canopy species, M. linariifolia (Snow-in-summer) and/or M. bracteata (black teatree), Lysiphyllum sp., Ficus opposita (sandpaper fig) and Acacia spp. Low woodlands of M. bracteata with emergent Eucalyptus spp. can also occur. The shrub layer can vary from none to scattered juvenile canopy spp., Acacia holosericea (velvet wattle) and/or other Acacia spp. and Planchonia careya (cocky apple). The ground layer on the steep banks can be grassy and include Heteropogon spp. (speargrasses), Arundinella spp., Eragrostis spp. and Cyperus spp. (sedges) but its presence is seasonally dependent. Occurs on stream and channel banks. Riverine. (BVG1M: 22c). |
| Protected areas | Littleton NP, Canyon RR, Bulleringa NP, Rungulla NP, Chillagoe-Mungana Caves NP, Rungulla RR, Dinden West FR, Littleton RR, Danbulla NP, Kuranda West FR, Hann Tableland NP |
| Special values | 9.3.13: 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 | 9.3.13: Often only one crown width wide. Casuarina cunninghamiana occurs in small areas of rocky river beds. Generally occurs on western flowing rivers on the western side of the bioregion. This site is vulnerable to weed infestation and the ground layer particularly was heavily infested with weeds, including Cryptostegia grandiflora (rubber vine), Vulnerable to invasion by exotic weeds, including Cryptostegia grandiflora (rubber vine), Mesosphaerum suaveolens, Megathyrsus maximus (Guinea grass), Melinis repens (Red Natal grass), and Themeda quadrivalvis (grader grass). |
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.
