Mt Zero-Taravale Sanctuary - Ecosystems / Plants
Mt Zero-Taravale Sanctuary - Ecosystems
Mt Zero-Travale Sanctuary
Mt Zero-Taravale contains at least 55 different ecosystems (using the system of ecosystem classification recognised by the Queensland government). Thirty three of these ecosystems are in the Wet Tropics bioregion and 22 are in the Einasleigh Uplands bioregion.
The range of ecosystems on Mt Zero-Taravale includes rainforest and tall wet sclerophyll forests, dry sclerophyll forest, open eucalypt woodlands, shrublands and acacia woodlands with spinifex understory.
This remarkable level of diversity arises from the sanctuary’s strategic position straddling two bioregions – the Wet Tropics bioregion and the Einasleigh Uplands bioregion. It also reflects the fact that within the sanctuary there is a range of topography, a steep rainfall gradient and major changes in geology.
Wet sclerophyll ecosystems are a feature of Mt Zero-Taravale Sanctuary. These tall eucalypt forests are under serious threat across their range as a result of invasion by rainforest species and the impacts associated with timber extraction. Fortunately, Mt Zero is home to significant areas of wet sclerophyll, representing some of the highest quality areas of such habitat in north Queensland. Majestic Rose Gum (Eucalyptus grandis) and Red Stringybark (Eucalyptus resinifera) dominate the forests in the north-eastern section of the sanctuary. Managing these wet sclerophyll forests, and protecting the diversity of threatened fauna which rely upon this community, is a key management challenge for AWC.
Lemon-scented gum woodlands, together with the forests and woodlands of the Star River Valley, provide vital habitat for a range of mammals. Elsewhere, these ecosystems are under intense pressure from cattle grazing, altered fire regimes and weed (lantana) invasion. On Mt Zero-Taravale, they represent some of the best remaining wildlife habitat in the region.
Of considerable botanical as well as scenic interest are the hoop pine woodlands of rocky pavements which occur on both slopes and plateau on Mt Zero-Taravale. Other important ecosystems on the property include two distinctive types of rainforest; complex rainforest and notophyll vine forest.
There are a number of rare and threatened plant species on Mt Zero-Taravale. Mt Zero contains a good population of Corymbia leptoloma, until recently regarded as one of Queensland ’s rarest trees. This species is listed as vulnerable to extinction under Federal biodiversity legislation (TPBC Act).