Regional ecosystem details for 10.3.6
| Regional ecosystem | 10.3.6 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Contains Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 2, 3, 1, (11.7), (11.3), (9.4), (9.5), (4.5) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 390000 ha; Remnant 2021 313000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus brownii woodland on alluvial plains |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Eucalyptus brownii woodland, occasionally with Corymbia dallachiana. A secondary tree layer of Eucalyptus brownii usually occurs. Variable shrub layer dominated by Carissa lanceolata. Tussock grass ground layer, occasionally with Triodia pungens. Occurs on alluvial plains. Contains Palustrine. (BVG1M: 17a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 10.3.6a: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 10.3.6. Eucalyptus brownii dominates the very sparse to sparse canopy. Corymbia dallachiana and E. melanophloia frequently occur in the canopy and sometimes as codominants. Lysiphyllum carronii, Acacia excelsa, Grevillea striata, Atalaya hemiglauca, Eremophila mitchellii, Melaleuca nervosa and Ventilago viminalis frequently occur in the very sparse lower tree layer. There is often a very sparse shrub layer usually dominated by Carissa lanceolata. Other shrubs frequently present include Denhamia cunninghamii, Eremophila mitchellii, Acacia salicina, A. sericophylla and Psydrax oleifolia. The ground layer varies from very sparse to mid-dense with variable dominant graminoids including Bothriochloa ewartiana, Aristida latifolia, Triodia pungens, Aristida calycina, Fimbristylis dichotoma, Chrysopogon fallax, Iseilema vaginiflorum, Dichanthium fecundum, Eragrostis lacunaria, Tripogon loliiformis and Eulalia aurea. Occurs on alluvial plains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 17a). 10.3.6ax1: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 10.3.6. Eucalyptus brownii dominates the very sparse tree layer with scattered shrubs and very sparse ground layer frequently dominated by Aristida contorta. Occurs on flat to gently undulating sandplain. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 17a). 10.3.6ax2: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 10.3.6. Eucalyptus brownii dominates the very sparse tree layer. Scattered shrubs may be present. The sparse to very sparse ground layer is dominated by Dichanthium fecundum and Eulalia aurea. Occurs on flat plain with shallow sandy cover. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 17a). 10.3.6ax3: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 10.3.6. Eucalyptus brownii dominates the very sparse tree layer with very sparse ground layer dominated by Aristida latifolia, Dactyloctenium radulans, Dichanthium fecundum and Fimbristylis dichotoma. Occurs on flat plain with sandy cover. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 17a). 10.3.6ax4: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 10.3.6. Eucalyptus brownii dominates the very sparse tree layer with sometimes scattered understorey trees, very sparse shrub layer and very sparse to sparse ground layer predominated by Enneapogon polyphyllus, Bulbostylis barbata and Sporobolus australasicus. Occurs on undulating terrain with clayey soil. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 17a). 10.3.6b: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 10.3.6. Archidendropsis basaltica dominates the very sparse canopy. Atalaya hemiglauca, Eremophila mitchellii and Grevillea parallela are also present in the canopy. Eucalyptus brownii can be present as an emergent or as scattered small trees. Carissa lanceolata usually dominates the very sparse shrub layer. Themeda triandra, Sporobolus australasicus, and Aristida jerichoensis can be present in the very sparse ground layer. Occurs on alluvial plains (north-eastern). Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 27a). 10.3.6c: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 10.3.6. E. brownii dominates the sparse canopy. Occurs on Cainozoic clay plains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 17a). |
| Supplementary description | Gunn et al. (1967), Al; Lorimer (1998), Qa3, Qa4; Perry et al. (1964), Br; Thompson and Turpin (in prep), E15; Turner et al. (1978), B3, E1, E2, E4, W2, W4; Turner et al. (1993), E1, E2, E3, E5, R1, W2, W2, W4 |
| Protected areas | Moorrinya NP, Forest Den NP, Cudmore (Limited Depth) NP |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Wet to mid-dry season while soil retains moisture. INTENSITY: Low to occasional moderate. INTERVAL: Interval will depend on need for burning, seasonal conditions and grazing pressure. Approximately 5-10 years. Do not burn during drought years. Concentrate burning during wet years. INTERVAL_MIN: 5. INTERVAL_MAX: 10. STRATEGY: Patchy burns are preferred. Mosaic 50-80% of area targeted. Burn under conditions of good soil moisture and when plants are actively growing. Burns during dry periods may leave areas of soil exposed, leading to erosion. ISSUES: Grazing can impact heavily and combined with low rainfall fuel loads will be low making burning difficult. Can be advantageous to burn in year following good rains to manage currant bush and false sandalwood. Eucalypts such as E. dallachiana and E. coolabah germinate and recruit following rainfall; do not burn to thin as attrition will reduce density in drought years. |
| Comments | 10.3.6: Eucalyptus brownii intergrades with Eucalyptus populnea in some areas including near Barcaldine. Threatening processes include clearing for pasture development. This ecosystem is subject to sheet erosion and scalding. The clayey subsoils have a very low permeability are often sodic. It is suggested that ground cover be kept dense to slow the rate of water flow which helps prevent channelling of the flow and thereby minimises erosion. Overgrazing reduces competition from pasture species and tends to increase the cover of false sandalwood and current bush. 10.3.6a: Widespread but does not occur in subregion 4. 10.3.6b: An uncommon ecosystem that usually occurs as small patches in a mosaic with ecosystem 10.3.6a. Archidendropsis basaltica is more commonly found as an occasionally to common occurring understorey tree in Eucalyptus brownii, E. populnea or E. melanophloia woodlands. |
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.
