Regional ecosystem details for 10.3.16
| Regional ecosystem | 10.3.16 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Contains Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | Endangered |
| Subregion | 2, 4, (1), (4.5) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 14000 ha; Remnant 2021 14000 ha |
| Short description | Triodia longiceps hummock grassland, ephemeral open herblands, and Melaleuca bracteata low woodland on alluvial plains |
| Structure code | Hummock Grassland |
| Description | Triodia longiceps dominates the sparse ground layer, ephemeral open herblands, Melaleuca bracteata low woodland and sparsely vegetated saline clay plains. Occurs on saline alluvial complexes below Tertiary plateaus on alluvial sandsheets and sparsely vegetated saline clay plains. Contains Palustrine. (BVG1M: 33b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 10.3.16a: Triodia longiceps hummock grassland. Occurs on clay soils with thin sand cover adjacent to lateritic surfaces on the western margin of the bioregion. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 33b). 10.3.16b: Calocephalus spp. and Sclerolaena tricuspis sparse herbland with emergent Acacia stenophylla and/or Myoporum acuminatum. This community is bare ground for much of the year. Occurs on saline and sodic plains adjoining the western edge of lateritic plateaus in the Alice Tableland subregion. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 31a). 10.3.16c: Melaleuca bracteata low woodland with mixed ground layer including Triodia longiceps, Sclerolaena tricuspis and Trianthema triquetra. Occurs on clay soils with thin sand cover adjacent to lateritic surfaces on the western edge of subregion 2. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 22b). 10.3.16d: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 10.3.8. Open herbland of mixed tussock grasses, Sclerolaena spp. and diverse forbs. This community is highly seasonally variable and is largely bare in dry times. Occurs on infrequently flooded alluvial plains or fringing sandy closed depressions. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34b). 10.3.16e: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 10.3.16b. Bare clay pan or occasionally with scattered Acacia stenophylla. Occurs on fresh to hypo-saline clay plains. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34b). 10.3.16f: Tecticornia spp. and Sclerolaena tricuspis open succulent shrubland, commonly with Diplachne fusca. Occurs on alluvial plains subject to saline discharge. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34g). 10.3.16g: Sporobolus partimpatens open tussock grassland. Associated with artesian springs. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34e). |
| Supplementary description | Thompson and Turpin (in prep), Da3, G5, G7, M10a, M14b, M22, M25, P3; Turner et al. (1978), L1; Turner et al. (1993), A2, G4, S1 |
| Special values | 10.3.16: This ecosystem is habitat for endangered species, Myriophyllum artesium, Sporobolus pamelae, and the vulnerable species Atriplex morrisii. It is habitat for the DEU endemic species, Dissocarpus paradoxus and Gomphrena sp. (Doongmabulla E.J.Thompson+ GAL137). 10.3.16c: Habitat for endangered species Myriophyllum artesium and vulnerable species Hydrocotyle dipleura. Potential habitat for the threatened species: Atriplex morrisii, Chloris circumfontinalis, Eriocaulon aloefolium, Eriocaulon carsonii subsp. carsonii, Eriocaulon carsonii subsp. orientale, Eriocaulon giganticum, Eryngium fontanum, Gunniopsis sp. (Edgbaston R.J.Fensham 5094), and Sporobolus pamelae. 10.3.16g: The endangered species, Dissocarpus paradoxus and Gomphrena sp. (Doongmabulla E.J.Thompson+ GAL137) are only known from this regional ecosystem. Potential habitat for threatened species including Atriplex morrisii, Chloris circumfontinalis, Eriocaulon aloefolium, Eriocaulon carsonii subsp. carsonii, Eriocaulon carsonii subsp. orientale, Eriocaulon giganticum, Eryngium fontanum, Gunniopsis sp. (Edgbaston R.J.Fensham 5094), Hydrocotyle dipleura, Myriophyllum artesium, and Sporobolus pamelae. Provides wetland habitat for a flora and fauna. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Do not target for burning. INTENSITY: Do not target for burning. INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Do not target for burning. Most of the vegetation communities will be difficult to burn. Important habitat for wildlife. Most species are fire sensitive. Burning in adjacent fire adapted communities will reduce risk of wildfire incursion. Ensure fire encroachment is limited. Burns in adjacent vegetation, implemented in late wet to early dry season, may limit fire incursion into sensitive vegetation. ISSUES: Fire exclusion or very low fire frequency will help maintain habitat trees. Melaleucas are fire-adapted, but too high an intensity or frequent fire will slow or prevent regeneration. Fire may occasionally trickle into these ecosystems when there is sufficient ground fuel, but intensity, frequency and extent should be kept low. |
| Comments | 10.3.16: This ecosystem is usually associated with artesian springs, regional ecosystem 10.3.31. Subject to scalding and wind erosion due to salinity and high total grazing pressures. Widespread soil and pasture degradation. 10.3.16a: Mostly occurring along the western boundary of subregion 2 except for an area about 50km south east of Barcaldine. Greater than >70% severely degraded by trampling and wind erosion. 10.3.16b: Clay soils commonly overlain by sand. Restricted to the Lake Huffer area. Soil and pasture degradation. 10.3.16c: Mostly along the western boundary of subregion 2 below tertiary plateaus and often associated with springs. Soil and pasture degradation. 10.3.16d: Soil and pasture degradation. 10.3.16e: Rare ecosystem restricted to near Lake Huffer and Lake Mueller. Soil and pasture degradation. 10.3.16f: Restricted distribution on western margin of Desert Uplands near Aramac and an outlier area near Maynard. Soil and pasture degradation. 10.3.16g: Extremely rare ecosystem associated only known from one location near Doongmabulla. Soil and pasture degradation. |
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.
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.
