Regional ecosystem details for 10.3.31
| Regional ecosystem | 10.3.31 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | Endangered |
| Subregion | 2 |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 40 ha; Remnant 2021 40 ha |
| Short description | Artesian springs emerging on alluvial plains |
| Structure code | Tussock Grassland |
| Description | Spring-fed Sporobolus pamelae dominates the sparse ground layer. Melaleuca leucadendra in some patches dominates the canopy. Occurs on springs fed by the Great Artesian Basin. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34e). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 10.3.31a: Sporobolus pamelae dominates the sparse to mid-dense ground layer. Occurs adjacent to springs fed from the Great Artesian Basin. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34e). 10.3.31b: Melaleuca leucadendra dominates the sparse canopy. The ground layer is dominated by Machaerina rubiginosa and Cyperus spp. Occurs adjacent to springs fed from the Great Artesian Basin. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 22b). 10.3.31c: Paspalum distichum, Cyperus spp., Marsilea hirsuta, Diplachne fusca and Melaleuca bracteata are commonly present. Occurs adjacent to springs fed from the Great Artesian Basin. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34e). |
| Supplementary description | Habermehl (1982); Turner et al. (1993) (Land system: A2); Fairfax and Fensham (2002), Fensham and Fairfax (2002), Fensham et al. (2004) |
| Special values | 10.3.31: Habitat of threatened species associated with Great Artesian Basin discharge springs including the plant species Eriocaulon aloefolium, E. carsonii, E. giganticum, Eryngium fontanum, Myriophyllum artesium, and Sporobolus pamelae. It is habitat for spring endemic and restricted species, Lobelia fenshamii and Peplidium sp. (Edgbaston R.J.Fensham 3341); the endangered red-finned blue-eye (Scaturiginichthys vermeilipinnis) and Edgbaston goby (Chlamydogobius squamigenus); and numerous endemic invertebrates. 10.3.31 is known at 114 locations in the DEU. 10.3.31a: Provides wetland habitat for a flora and fauna. 10.3.31c: Habitat for poorly known species Peplidium sp. (Edgbaston R.J.Fensham 3341). |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Wet to mid-dry season. Avoid late dry (August -September) as intensity will be too high (August -September). INTENSITY: Low. INTERVAL: 6-10 years, but will depend on seasonal conditions and grazing pressure. INTERVAL_MIN: 6. INTERVAL_MAX: 10. STRATEGY: Fire is not generally applied directly to acacia dominated communities, but to surrounding fire-adapted communities in order to create a landscape mosaic of burnt/unburnt areas to mitigate against wildfire. Ensure fires are patchy. ISSUES: Some blackwood communities on sandy soils need fire to maintain diverse grass layer. There is rarely enough fuel load to burn in these ecosystems. Buffel may lead to high fire intensities where ecosystem is heavily infested, with negative consequences for fire sensitive acacias. Blackwood is soft-seeded and fire has no role to play in its germination and regeneration. |
| Comments | 10.3.31: All the springs in this regional ecosystem are within Great Artesian Basin discharge areas. Threatening processes include excavation for dams, pig rooting, trampling by domestic stock and the introduction of ponded pastures. Grazing should be excluded from these areas. 10.3.31b: Rare ecosystem only known from one location near Doongmabulla. Further survey required for comprehensive floristic description. 10.3.31c: This vegetation community is not mappable at 1:100 000 scale although its distribution is mapped by the known point locations (Fensham and Fairfax, 2002). Naturalised species associated with this regional ecosystem include *Cynodon dactylon, which is commonly present. |
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.
