Regional ecosystem details for 10.3.22
| Regional ecosystem | 10.3.22 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | Endangered |
| Subregion | 2 |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 12000 ha; Remnant 2021 12000 ha |
| Short description | Clay pans, Fimbristylis buchananensis open sedgeland and spare-tussock grasslands on shallow alluvial plains (Lake Buchanan) |
| Structure code | Open Sedgeland |
| Description | Clay pan, herbfield and low shrublands composed of Fimbristylis buchananensis, Lawrencia buchananensis, Sporobolus virginicus, Tecticornia pergranulata, Eragrostis pergracilis, and other salt-tolerant species. Occurs on low sandplains adjacent to Lake Buchanan. The shallow sand surfaces overlie sodic clays and a calcrete hardpan. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 10.3.22a: Mixed herbland to succulent shrubland including Fimbristylis buchananensis, Tecticornia pergranulata, Sporobolus virginicus and Eragrostis spp. Occurs in treeless saline areas surrounding Lake Buchanan. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34a). 10.3.22b: Mixed herbland including Fimbristylis dichotoma, Dactyloctenium buchananensis and Eragrostis speciosa. This community is highly seasonably variable and may be mostly bare in dry periods. Occurs in dune swales on the margins of Lake Buchanan. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34g). 10.3.22c: Seasonally bare short grassland including Eragrostis elongata, Eragrostis pergracilis, Dactyloctenium spp. and Cynodon dactylon. Grassland to bare clay pan around the margins of Lake Buchanan. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34b). 10.3.22d: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 10.3.22a. Tecticornia pergranulata dominates the very sparse dwarf shrub layer Sporobolus virginicus and Sphaeromorphaea australis are usually present in the ground the layer. RE is defunct. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34b). 10.3.22e: Lawrencia buchananensis dwarf shrubland adjoining Lake Buchanan. Occurs on low dunes on the western edge of Lake buchanan. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34b). 10.3.22f: Acacia salicina low woodland with Sporobolus virginicus dominated ground layer. Occurs on low dunes along the eastern edge of Lake Buchanan. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34b). 10.3.22g: Eleocharis atropurpurea, Diplachne fusca, Marsilea spp. and Pseudoraphis spinescens open herbland with Eucalyptus camaldulensis fringe in swales on perimeter of Lake Buchanan. Closed depressions in swales of dunes surrounding Lake Buchanan. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34a). 10.3.22h: Diplachne fusca tussock grassland with Eragrostis elongata, Nymphoides sp. and Cyperus victoriensis in closed depressions. Occurs in swales of low dunes on the western margin of Lake Buchanan. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34a). |
| Supplementary description | Lorimer (1998), Ql8; Thompson and Turpin (in prep), G13, M13, M14, M16, P1 |
| Special values | 10.3.22: Seasonal feeding and breeding areas for waders and other wetland fauna. This ecosystem is habitat for vulnerable plant species Lawrencia buchananensis (endemic to Lake Buchanan). Other species of biogeographic interest include the recently discovered Dactyloctenium buchananensis. Seasonal feeding and breeding areas for waders and other wetland fauna (Timms 1987). 10.3.22c: Habitat for the vulnerable plant species Lawrencia buchananensis. 10.3.22h: Seasonal feeding and breeding areas for waders and other wetland fauna. This ecosystem is habitat for vulnerable plant species Lawrencia buchananensis (endemic to Lake Buchanan). Other species of biogeographic interest include the recently discovered Dactyloctenium buchananensis. Seasonal feeding and breeding areas for waders and other wetland fauna (Timms 1987). |
| 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 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: Unlikely to burn due to generally sparse nature. Rarely enough fuel load to burn in any case. |
| Comments | 10.3.22: Endemic to Lake Buchanan. Threatening processes include high total grazing pressure. Widespread soil and pasture degradation. The shallow calcrete hardpan limits drainage and water storage capacity and with the sodic nature of the soil profile restrict plant diversity to those that are tolerant of high subsoil pH and high salt levels. Naturalised species associated with this regional ecosystem include *Cynodon dactylon. 10.3.22a: Rare vegetation community surrounding Lake Buchanan. 10.3.22b: Rare vegetation community only known from the western side of Lake Buchanan. 10.3.22c: Fringing Lake Buchanan. Mostly bare clay pan but can include a mosaic of areas of vegetation composed of the other map units described in regional ecosystem 10.3.22. *Generally Cynodon dactylon dominates the very sparse ground layer. 10.3.22d: Rare vegetation community surrounding Lake Buchanan. 10.3.22e: Rare vegetation community occurring as a band on the shores of Lake Buchanan. 10.3.22f: Endemic to Lake Buchanan. Occurs as a narrow band on the edge of the high water level of the lake. 10.3.22g: Rare vegetation community surrounding Lake Buchanan. 10.3.22h: Endemic to Lake Buchanan. |
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.
