Regional ecosystem details for 9.5.15
| Regional ecosystem | 9.5.15 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 3, (6), (7.8) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 16000 ha; Remnant 2021 12000 ha |
| Short description | Melaleuca monantha +/- M. viridiflora +/- Callitris intratropica mixed low woodland on valley infill |
| Structure code | Low Woodland |
| Description | Mixed low woodland to low open forest of Melaleuca monantha, often codominant with Melaleuca viridiflora (broad-leaved paperbark) Callitris intratropica (cypress pine) and emergent Eucalyptus spp. and Corymbia spp. The sub-canopy and/or shrub layer is open to mid-dense and the ground layer is sparse to mid-dense. Occurs on valley infill. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 9.5.15a: Mixed low woodland to low open forest of Melaleuca monantha, M. viridiflora (broad-leaved paperbark), Callitris intratropica (cypress pine) and Allocasuarina luehmannii +/- Grevillea parallela (silver oak) +/- G. pteridifolia (toothbrush grevillea), often with emergent Eucalyptus cullenii (Cullen's ironbark), E. leptophleba (Molloy red box), Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) or C. dallachiana (Dallachy's gum). An open to mid-dense sub-canopy or shrub layer usually includes canopy species +/- Petalostigma banksii (smooth-leaved quinine), Jacksonia thesioides and Grevillea spp. The mid-dense to dense grassy ground layer is usually dominated by Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass). Occurs on valley infill between metamorphic hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21a). 9.5.15b: Low open forest of Melaleuca monantha +/- Callitris intratropica (cypress pine) +/- Melaleuca spp. with occasional emergent C. intratropica and Corymbia dallachiana (Dallachy's gum). The shrub layer is absent to mid-dense and often includes Petalostigma banksii (smooth-leaved quinine). A sparse to mid-dense grass layer is usually dominated by Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass) and Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass). Occurs on valley infill between metamorphic hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21b). |
| Protected areas | Kuranda West FR |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Burn in association with timeframes of surrounding country. INTENSITY: Do not burn deliberately. Can occasionally tolerate low intensity fire. INTERVAL: Consider broad fire interval such as 4-6 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 4. INTERVAL_MAX: 6. STRATEGY: Apply mosaic across the landscape to create patches of uneven aged regeneration. ISSUES: Melaleuca typically grows amongst open eucalypt woodland communities and should be managed with fire in association with surrounding country. However high intensity fire may slow or prevent regeneration. |
| Comments | 9.5.15: Occurs close to Wet Tropics from Mareeba to Mt. Carbine in the central bioregion. 9.5.15a: Occurs close to Wet Tropics from Mareeba to Mt. Carbine in the central bioregion. Prone to invasion by Lantana camara. 9.5.15b: Occurs west of Mareeba in the central bioregion. |
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 ( https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/plants-animals/plants/ecosystems/remnant-vegetation/ ).
