Regional ecosystem details for 1.5.4
| Regional ecosystem | 1.5.4 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 3, 1, (2.8), (4.7), (2.2), (2), (4.2), (2.3), (2.7), (4.3) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 356000 ha; Remnant 2021 352000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus leucophylla and/or Corymbia terminalis low open woodland on red earths |
| Structure code | Low Open Woodland |
| Description | Eucalyptus leucophylla and/or Corymbia terminalis low open woodland to low woodland over annual grasses with areas of Triodia spp. Occasional Corymbia aparrerinja, Atalaya hemiglauca and Grevillea striata and small areas of Acacia cambagei and Eucalyptus leucophloia. Occurs on plains and valley bottoms; red earths, shallow loams, clays and skeletal soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 1.5.4a: Corymbia terminalis low open woodland, scattered shrub layer of Carissa lanceolata and tussock grass ground layer. Eucalyptus pruinosa is commonly present in the north. Occurs on older alluvial and residual soils with significant clay content. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19b). 1.5.4b: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 1.5.12. Triodia longiceps hummock grassland sometimes with emergent Corymbia terminalis. Occurs on small sandsheets and outwash areas in valley bottoms. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 33b). 1.5.4c: Eucalyptus leucophylla low open mallee woodland often with Eucalyptus gamophylla, Eucalyptus odontocarpa, Corymbia terminalis, Eucalyptus leucophloia and Eucalyptus normantonensis. Mixed shrub layer of Acacia spp., Senna spp. and Eremophila spp. and ground layer of Triodia pungens and tussock grasses. Occurs on small sandsheets and outwash areas in valley bottoms. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19b). 1.5.4d: Eucalyptus leucophylla and Corymbia terminalis low open woodland to low woodland, over annual grasses with areas of Triodia spp. Occasional Corymbia aparrerinja, Atalaya hemiglauca and Grevillea striata and small areas of Acacia cambagei and Eucalyptus leucophloia. Occurs on plains and valley bottoms; red earths, shallow loams, clays and skeletal soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19b). 1.5.4e: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 1.5.4a. Low open woodland of Corymbia terminalis with Eucalyptus leucophloia, Acacia cambagei, Atalaya hemiglauca and Grevillea striata with a sparse to very sparse shrub layer of Acacia chisholmii and Carissa lanceolata often with Eremophila mitchellii and a sparse to very sparse ground layer of Enneapogon spp. and Aristida spp. often with Triodia spp. Can include substantial bare areas. Occurs on undulating plains of colluvial and outwash deposits. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19b). 1.5.4x1: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped as 1.5.13. Eucalyptus pruinosa low open woodland often with Corymbia terminalis, E. leucophylla, Acacia cambagei or Grevillea striata and with a sparse mixed shrub layer and dense tussock grass ground layer dominated by Aristida spp. with Triodia spp. often present. Occurs on older alluvial and residual soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19c). 1.5.4x1a: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 1.5.13. Eucalyptus pruinosa low open woodland often with Corymbia terminalis, C. aparrerinja, E. leucophylla, E. leucophloia, Acacia cambagei and Grevillea striata and with a sparse mixed shrub layer and a mid-dense ground layer dominated by Aristida spp. with some areas of Triodia spp. Occurs on sandsheet. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19c). 1.5.4x1b: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 1.5.13. Eucalyptus pruinosa subsp. pruinosa low open woodland with or without Corymbia terminalis and with a sparse mixed shrub layer dominated by Acacia chisholmii and a sparse to very sparse ground layer dominated by Triodia spp. Occurs on outwash plains on the eastern margins of the Northwest Highlands adjacent the southern Gulf Plains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19c). 1.5.4x2: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 1.5.4a. Low open woodland of Corymbia terminalis with Eucalyptus leucophloia, Acacia cambagei, Atalaya hemiglauca and Grevillea striata with a sparse to very sparse shrub layer of Acacia chisholmii and Carissa lanceolata often with Eremophila mitchellii and a sparse to very sparse ground layer of Enneapogon spp. and Aristida spp. often with Triodia spp. Can include substantial bare areas. Occurs on undulating plains of colluvial and outwash deposits. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19a). 1.5.4x3: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped as 1.5.15. Open tussock grassland of Aristida contorta, A. ingrata, A. inaequiglumis, Enneapogon spp., Eulalia aurea often with Triodia pungens wooded with low trees including Atalaya hemiglauca, Eucalyptus pruinosa subsp. pruinosa, Lysiphyllum spp., Acacia cambagei, E. leucophylla and Corymbia aparrerinja. Includes substantial areas of bare ground. Occurs on gravelly red plains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 31b). 1.5.4x4: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped as 1.5.3. Eucalyptus leucophloia low open woodland often with Corymbia terminalis, Eucalyptus pruinosa subsp. pruinosa or Acacia cambagei to low open woodland with a sparse to mid-dense ground layer dominated by Triodia spp. and/or Eulalia aurea. Occurs on valley floors and flats amongst low metamorphic hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19a). 1.5.4x6: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped as 1.6.1. Low open woodland of Corymbia terminalis, C. aparrerinja and Ventilago viminalis with a scattered to dense shrub layer dominated by Acacia stipuligera and diverse ground layer. Occasional treeless E-W linear dunes. Occurs on relict sand dunes and associated aeolian sandplains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19b). 1.5.4x6a: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 1.6.1. Mixed forbland dominated by Crotalaria novae-hollandiae, Trianthema pilosa, Aristida holathera, Eriachne sp., Corynotheca micrantha var. divaricata and Distimake davenportii on linear dunes. Occurs on relict sand dunes. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19b). 1.5.4x6b: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 1.5.17. Low open woodland to woodland of Corymbia aparrerinja and/or Corymbia terminalis, often with Ventilago viminalis. A mid-dense shrub layer dominated by Acacia stipuligera may be present at times. Diverse ground layer usually dominated by Triodia pungens. In places trees are absent. Occurs aeolian sandplains associated with relict sand dunes. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19b). 1.5.4x7: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 1.5.14b. Corymbia aparrerinja open woodland often with Grevillea striata, Corymbia terminalis and Eucalyptus leucophylla. Sparse mixed shrub layer and ground layer of Triodia pungens and tussock grasses. Occurs on red sandy and loamy soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19b). |
| Supplementary description | Christian et al. (1954), Waverley; Neldner (1991), 15, 19; Perry et al. (1964), Quamby, Kuridala |
| Protected areas | Wiliyan-ngurru NP, Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) NP |
| Special values | 1.5.4: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Ipomoea antonschmidii. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Storm season to early dry season. INTENSITY: Low to moderate. INTERVAL: 4 - 10 years. Ensure some areas are long (10-20 years) unburnt. Adjust intervals/frequency according to rainfall-drought cycles, fuel accumulation and previous fire history. INTERVAL_MIN: 4. INTERVAL_MAX: 20. STRATEGY: Ensure burns are undertaken across the landscape at a range of frequencies to create a mosaic of times since fire. Apply numerous small burns every year to achieve a mosaic and reduce risks of wildfire across vast areas of the landscape. Maintain burnt areas < 20%. ISSUES: Too frequent fire can promote annual grasses over perennial. Rainfall is a major factor affecting spinifex growth, such that a very wet year or a series of wet years may boost the spinifex fuel load leading to the possibility of extensive wildfire in subsequent years. |
| Comments | 1.5.4: *Cenchrus pennisetiformis (Cloncurry buffel grass) is invading the ecosystem and changing its floristics and structure. |
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.
2 Superseded: Revision of the regional ecosystem classification removed this regional ecosystem code from use. It is included in the regional ecosystem description database because the RE code may appear in older versions of RE mapping and the Vegetation Management regulation.
