Technical descriptions
Technical descriptions provide a detailed description of the normal range in structure and floristic composition of remnant regional ecosystems (e.g. 11.3.1) and their component vegetation communities (e.g. 11.3.1a, 11.3.1b).
The descriptions are compiled using survey data from the Queensland Herbarium Queensland Biodiversity and Ecology Information System (QBEIS) database. Distribution maps, representative images (if available) and the pre-clearing and remnant area (hectares) of each vegetation community derived from the regional ecosystem mapping (spatial) data are included. The technical descriptions should be used in conjunction with the fields from the Regional Ecosystem Description Database (REDD) for a normal description of the regional ecosystem.
Quantitative site data from relatively undisturbed sites are extracted from QBEIS and summarised to provide information specific to each vegetation community.
Technical descriptions include the attributes of tree canopy height,cover, abundance and plant species composition of the predominant layer, which are used to assess the remnant status of vegetation under the Vegetation Management Act 1999.
However, as technical descriptions reflect the normal range in structure and floristic composition across the climatic, natural disturbance and geographic range of the regional ecosystem, local reference sites should be used where possible (refer to section 3.3 of the methodology for mapping regional ecosystems).
The technical descriptions are subject to review and are updated as additional data becomes available.
When conducting a BioCondition assessment, these technical descriptions should be used in conjunction with BioCondition benchmarks for the specific regional ecosystem, or component vegetation community.
Field definitions
More details appear in the glossary for technical descriptions document available below.
Description | Description of the species, structural formation and habitat of the vegetation community (this is not the regulation description) |
|---|---|
Area of pre-clearing regional ecosystem | The area of the regional ecosystem vegetation community before clearing, in hectares |
Area of remnant regional ecosystem (RE) and percentage remaining | The area of the remnant regional ecosystem vegetation community in hectares and as a percentage of pre-clearing extent |
Species recorded | Total number; number of woody species; number in the ground layer (some species can be both woody and occur in the ground layer); average number of species per site (using only sites where a completed species list was recorded); standard deviation; number of sites used to calculate the average species number |
Structural formation | Percentage of sites by structural formation. For example: 39% woodland, 39% open forest, 22% open woodland, 21 site(s) |
Basal area | Site average, range and standard deviation (m2/hectare) |
For each strata present:
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Dominant species (relative cover, frequency) | Relative cover (mean of cover of species / total cover of all species in that stratum for all values > zero) and frequency (per cent of total sites) ordered by decreasing relative abundance. Up to five most dominant species with frequency > 20% listed for each stratum. For example: Abutilon albescens (78, 46%), means this species occurs in 46% of all sites and when it occurs comprises 78% of total cover (of the stratum) |
Frequent species (cover, frequency) | Frequent species: Cover (mean of all values > zero) and frequency (per cent of total sites) of all species occurring in more than 5% of sites ordered by decreasing frequency. For example: Abutilon albescens (10, 46%), means this species occurs in 46% of all sites and when it occurs has a mean cover of 10%. Ground layer species are listed as either graminoid or forbs. Naturalised species have an asterisk (*) after the scientific name. indet. after listed name = indeterminate species or genus |
Representative sites | A list of CORVEG SITE ID numbers used in the description |
View a list of bioregions in regional ecosystems (under the Regional Ecosystem Description Database heading).
Download technical descriptions
Regional ecosystems technical descriptions are available to download for regions where adequate site data are available.
- Northwest Highlands
- Brigalow Belt
- Einasleigh Uplands
- Central Queensland Coast (non-rainforest)
- South East Queensland
- Capricornia Cays
Glossary and technical reports
- Glossary for technical descriptions
- Batianoff, G.N., Neldner, V.J., Naylor, G.C. and Olds, J.A. (2012). Mapping and evaluating Capricornia Cays vegetation and regional ecosystems (Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, Queensland Government).
Conditions of use
Technical descriptions have been developed from information published by the State of Queensland (acting through the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation) and remain the property of the State of Queensland. Technical descriptions are not to be included on internet sites other than the departmental website.
Users should reference information contained in the technical descriptions as: Queensland Herbarium (2018) Technical Descriptions of Regional Ecosystems, (2018) (Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation: Brisbane).
While every effort has been made to ensure the information presented is as reliable as possible, the State of Queensland accepts no liability and gives no assurance in respect of its accuracy and shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from its use.
Technical descriptions are based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative information and should be used as a guide only. Technical descriptions are not to be used as a substitute for reference sites. Descriptions are subject to review and are updated as additional data becomes available.