Regional ecosystem details for 9.5.5
| Regional ecosystem | 9.5.5 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 6, (4), (2), (5), (7.6), (7.5) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 210000 ha; Remnant 2021 201000 ha |
| Short description | Corymbia clarksoniana, Eucalyptus portuensis, E. crebra and C. citriodora subsp. citriodora in mixed open forests on red kandosols on Tertiary surfaces |
| Structure code | Open Forest |
| Description | Mixed open forest to woodland including combinations of the species Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood), Eucalyptus portuensis (white mahogany), E. crebra (sens. lat.) (narrow-leaved ironbark), C. citriodora subsp. citriodora (lemon-scented gum) and E. moluccana (gum-topped box). The sub-canopy varies from absent to a distinct layer of Callitris intratropica (cypress pine). The shrub layer is sparse to dense with a mixture of species. The ground layer is grassy. Occurs on red kandosols on undulating Tertiary surfaces in the central east of the bioregion. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9e). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 9.5.5a: Mixed woodland to open forest of Eucalyptus crebra (narrow-leaved ironbark), Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) and C. citriodora subsp. citriodora (lemon-scented gum) +/- E. portuensis (white mahogany) with a generally open sub-canopy of canopy species +/- Callitris intratropica (cypress pine) and Acacia spp. The open shrub layer often contains juvenile canopy species, Petalostigma pubescens (quinine), Acacia flavescens (powder puff wattle) and other Acacia spp. Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) is the dominant species in a dense grassy ground layer. Occurs on Tertiary plateaus and remnants. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 10b). 9.5.5b: Woodland of Eucalyptus crebra (narrow-leaved ironbark) or E. granitica +/- Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) +/- C. dallachiana (Dallachy's gum) +/- C. erythrophloia (red bloodwood) with a usually open sub-canopy and shrub layer including juvenile canopy species, Grevillea glauca (bushman's clothes peg), G. parallela (silver oak), Acacia flavescens (powder puff wattle), Petalostigma pubescens (quinine), Melaleuca viridiflora (broad-leaved paperbark) and Denhamia cunninghamii (yellow-berry). The grassy ground layer is dominated by Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass). Occurs on Tertiary plateaus and remnants. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 18b). 9.5.5c: Woodland to open woodland of Eucalyptus moluccana (gum-topped box) or E. tereticornis (bluegum) +/- Lophostemon suaveolens (swamp mahogany) +/- Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood). The distinct sub-canopy usually contains canopy species +/- Melaleuca viridiflora (broad-leaved paperbark). Scattered M. viridiflora, Petalostigma pubescens (quinine) and Acacia spp. may be found in the shrub layer. The dense grassy ground layer is often dominated by Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) and Chrysopogon fallax (golden beard grass). Occurs on Tertiary sandplains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13d). 9.5.5d: Low woodland to tall shrubland of Callitris intratropica (cypress pine) +/- Melaleuca viridiflora (broad-leaved paperbark) +/- Petalostigma pubescens (quinine). A number of Eucalyptus spp. and/or Corymbia spp. can occur in the dominant layer including Eucalyptus crebra (narrow-leaved ironbark), Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) and Corymbia citriodora subsp. citriodora (lemon-scented gum), or occur as emergents. A dense lower canopy layer can occur and include Callitris intratropica and other canopy species. The lower mid-layer is generally open and usually contains canopy juvenile species +/- Acacia spp. The ground layer is mid-dense grassy and usually dominated by Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) or Chrysopogon fallax (golden beard grass). This description can include Eucalyptus spp. and/or Corymbia spp. woodlands with a dense understory of Callitris intratropica. Occurs on Tertiary plateaus and remnants. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 20a). 9.5.5e: Woodland to open forest of Corymbia intermedia (pink bloodwood), Eucalyptus crebra (narrow-leaved ironbark) +/- E. portuensis (white mahogany) +/- C. citriodora subsp. citriodora (lemon-scented gum) +/- C. dallachiana (Dallachy's gum). A sub-canopy is generally absent, but a tall shrub layer containing juvenile canopy species and Acacia flavescens (powder puff wattle) +/- Grevillea glauca (bushman's clothes peg) +/- Persoonia falcata often occurs. The dense grassy ground layer is dominated by Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) +/- Heteropogon triticeus (giant speargrass). Occurs on Tertiary sandplains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9e). 9.5.5f: Woodland to open forest of Corymbia intermedia (pink bloodwood) +/- Eucalyptus portuensis (white mahogany) +/- E. tereticornis (bluegum) +/- Lophostemon suaveolens (swamp mahogany). A sub-canopy layer and shrub layer often occurs and contain canopy species as well as Acacia flavescens (powder puff wattle), Grevillea glauca (bushman's clothes peg) and Melaleuca viridiflora (broad-leaved paperbark). The moderate to dense grassy cover is usually dominated by Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) or Mnesithea rottboellioides (northern canegrass). Occurs on Tertiary sandplains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 9e). 9.5.5g: Open woodland to woodland of Eucalyptus exserta (Queensland peppermint), E. crebra (narrow-leaved ironbark) and Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) +/- Callitris intratropica (cypress pine). In some cases the upper stratum can be emergent E. exserta and/or E. crebra over a low woodland dominated by Callitris intratropica. The open shrub layer usually contains juvenile canopy species and Melaleuca viridiflora (broad-leaved paperbark) and Petalostigma pubescens (quinine). A range of grasses and sedges can be found in the ground layer including Abildgaardia spp., Fimbristylis cinnamometorum and Ectrosia leporina. Occurs on Tertiary plains and remnants. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 18b). |
| Protected areas | Girringun NP, Girringun CP, Forty Mile Scrub NP, Girringun RR |
| Special values | 9.5.5: Old growth stands of this regional ecosystem are particularly significant for arboreal mammals. Further survey required to verify faunal values. |
| 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. Cypress is fire sensitive; adults can die if crown is scorched. Protect from fires until plants old enough to replace seed pool. However, cypress can cause vegetation thickening in absence of fire or in heavily grazed areas. |
| Comments | 9.5.5: This regional ecosystem is made of a complex of seven major vegetation communities which at a finer scale of mapping may be separated. In this landscape it is closely associated with RE 9.3.8 and RE 9.5.6. Further survey required to verify faunal values. Occurs close to the Wet Tropics in the central east of the bioregion. 9.5.5a: Occurs close to the Wet Tropics in the central eastern part of the bioregion. 9.5.5b: Occurs close to the Wet Tropics in the central eastern part of the bioregion. Prone to invasion by Praxelis clematidea. 9.5.5c: Occurs in the central eastern part of the bioregion. Prone to invasion by weeds Praxelis clematidea and Sporobolus jacquemontii. 9.5.5d: This vegetation community is characterised by the presence of Callitris intratropica in the dominant layer. Occurs on Tertiary remnants south of Ravenshoe in the central bioregion. 9.5.5e: This vegetation community has drier elements than 9.5.5f. Restricted to area south of Yourka in the east of the bioregion. 9.5.5f: This vegetation community has wetter elements than 9.5.5e. Occurs around the Herbert River near the Wet Tropics in the east of the bioregion. 9.5.5g: This community is often associated with areas where there has been some partial stripping of the sandy surface and the duricrust layer is closer to the surface and there-fore has some similarities to the Regional Ecosystem 9.7.4 or 9.7.1c. Occurs on Yourka Station and adjacent to 40 Mile Scrub NP 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.
