Regional ecosystem details for 10.5.7
| Regional ecosystem | 10.5.7 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 1, 2, 4, (3), (4.5), (4.6), (4.4), (9.5), (11.7), (11.26), (9.4) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 297000 ha; Remnant 2021 154000 ha |
| Short description | Mixed low open woodland on sandy soils near clay plains |
| Structure code | Low Open Woodland |
| Description | Mixed low open woodland, including combinations of the species: Grevillea striata, Atalaya hemiglauca, Acacia excelsa, Lysiphyllum carronii, Flindersia maculosa, Alectryon oleifolius and Acacia cambagei. Variable shrub layer dominated by Eremophila mitchellii and Carissa lanceolata. Tussock grass dominated ground layer, occasionally with Fimbristylis dichotoma and Triodia pungens. Occurs on sandsheets overlying clay, mostly adjacent to the Mitchell Grass Downs bioregion. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 27c). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 10.5.7a: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 10.5.7. Grevillea striata, Grevillea parallela and Acacia excelsa usually dominate the very sparse canopy. Grevillea parallela, Acacia sericophylla and A. excelsa are often codominants in the canopy. Owenia acidula and Melaleuca nervosa are often present. Eremophila deserti, Carissa lanceolata, Pittosporum angustifolium and Psydrax oleifolia are often present as scattered shrubs or in the very sparse shrub layer. Triodia pungens usually dominates the very sparse ground layer. Eriachne mucronata is occasionally dominant. Occurs on relict sandplains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 27c). 10.5.7ax1: Variable sparse herbland including: Dactyloctenium radulans, Portulaca spp., Sclerolaena spp., Aristida spp., Sporobolus actinocladus Enneapogon polyphyllus and Salsola australis. Emergent trees and shrubs, including Atalaya hemiglauca, Acacia spp. and Eremophila spp., commonly occur. This community contains substantial bare areas and cover and dominance varies with seasonal conditions. Occurs on saline discharge areas adjacent to lateritic surfaces. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 27c). 10.5.7b: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 10.5.7. Corymbia terminalis open woodland. Corymbia terminalis dominates the very sparse canopy. Eremophila mitchellii dominates the very sparse low tree layer. Carissa lanceolata dominates the very sparse shrub layer. Eriachne mucronata and Tripogon loliiformis can be dominants in the very sparse ground layer. Occurs on relict sandplains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 18a). 10.5.7c: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 11.5.3. Acacia excelsa and A. salicina dominate the very sparse canopy. Lysiphyllum carronii, Ventilago viminalis and Atalaya hemiglauca are frequently present. Carissa lanceolata is present as scattered shrubs. Bothriochloa ewartiana can dominate the ground layer. Occurs on relict sandplains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 27a). 10.5.7x2: Acacia cambagei low woodland to woodland. There is commonly a secondary tree layer dominated Acacia cambagei, Eremophila mitchellii and Atalaya hemiglauca. Variable shrublayer dominated by Eremophila mitchellii. Tussock grass ground layer. Occurs on finer-textured red soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 26a). 10.5.7x3: Acacia harpophylla woodland, occasionally with Acacia argyrodendron and Eucalyptus brownii. A secondary tree layer of Acacia harpophylla and Eremophila mitchellii commonly occurs. Shrub layer of Carissa lanceolata and Eremophila mitchellii. Tussock grass ground layer. Occurs on sandy clay soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 25a). 10.5.7x4: Mixed low open forest including Acacia cambagei, Flindersia maculosa, Ventilago viminalis, Acacia harpophylla and Atalaya hemiglauca. Acacia argyrodendron, Lysiphyllum carronii and Eucalyptus brownii may also be present in the canopy. A second mixed tree layer of canopy species with Archidendropsis basaltica, Geijera parviflora and Eremophila mitchellii is usually present. A variable shrub layer usually occurs. The ground layer is a mix of forbs and tussock grasses. Occurs on shallow red sandy earths. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 27c). 10.5.7x5: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped as 10.5.7. Atalaya hemiglauca low open woodland often with Acacia excelsa, Flindersia maculosa and/or Acacia cambagei. Very sparse mixed ground layer of mostly short annual species. Occurs on hard setting soils derived from outwash of Tertiary plateaus. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 27c). 10.5.7x6: Acacia argyrodendron woodland, occasionally with Atalaya hemiglauca. Secondary tree layer of Acacia argyrodendron, occasionally with Eremophila mitchellii. A variable shrub layer dominated by Acacia argyrodendron usually occurs. Ground layer of tussock grasses and forbs. Occurs on reddish fine textured soils derived from deep weathering. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 27c). |
| Supplementary description | Turner et al. (1993), A2, E6, G4, G5, S1 |
| Protected areas | Moorrinya NP, Forest Den NP, Cudmore (Limited Depth) NP |
| Special values | 10.5.7: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Ptilotus brachyanthus, Solanum adoxum. 10.5.7x5: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Solanum adoxum. |
| 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: These communities generally have sparse ground layer. Will only burn following irregular high rainfall events. 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: Acacias are fire sensitive and may be killed by high intensity or too frequent fire. |
| Comments | 10.5.7: Related regional ecosystems occur in the Mitchell Grass Downs bioregion. Threatening processes include clearing for pasture development, soil erosion, and possible dry land salinity. Generally scalded with little organic matter; moderate degradation - condition requires monitoring. 10.5.7a: Uncommon vegetation community only known from the west of the Desert Uplands. 10.5.7ax1: Occurs mainly in the west of the bioregion between the plateau escarpment and clay plains of the Mitchell Grass Downs with isolated occurences through the rest of the biorgion. 10.5.7b: Restricted vegetation community known from north east of Muttaburra. 10.5.7c: Rare vegetation community only found in the east as an outlier. 10.5.7x2: Threatening processes include clearing for pasture development, soil erosion, and possible dry land salinity. Generally scalded with little organic matter; moderate degradation - condition requires monitoring. 10.5.7x4: Threatening processes include clearing for pasture development, soil erosion, and possible dry land salinity. 10.5.7x5: Related regional ecosystems occur in the Mitchell Grass Downs bioregion. Generally scalded with low biomass and little organic matter in soil. 10.5.7x6: Threatening processes include clearing for pasture development, soil erosion, and possible dry land salinity. |
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.
