Regional ecosystem details for 11.4.10
| Regional ecosystem | 11.4.10 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Endangered |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Endangered |
| Subregion | 33, 32, (30), (36), (27), (29), (31), (13.3) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 64000 ha; Remnant 2021 7000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus populnea or E. woollsiana, Acacia harpophylla, Casuarina cristata open forest to woodland on margins of Cainozoic clay plains |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Eucalyptus populnea and/or E. woollsiana or sometimes E. moluccana (or the closely related E. microcarpa) open forest to woodland with an understorey of Acacia harpophylla or Casuarina cristata. Associated with the edges of Cainozoic clay plains, on the lower parts of the plain around its dissecting edges and on natural discharge areas where the clay plains meet higher landforms. Occurs on deep, texture contrast soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 25a). |
| Supplementary description | Mullins (1980), Remeura |
| Protected areas | Southwood NP, Bendidee NP |
| Special values | 11.4.10: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Xerothamnella herbacea. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Various, avoiding hottest and driest time of the year. INTENSITY: Various. INTERVAL: 6-10 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 6. INTERVAL_MAX: 10. STRATEGY: Burn less than 10% in any year. Burn in association with surrounding vegetation. Protection relies on broad-scale management of surrounding country with numerous small fires throughout the year so that wildfires will be very limited in extent. Fire exclusion is not necessary. ISSUES: Avoid fires at the hottest and/or driest time of the year, when the extent of fires cannot be controlled. Low intensity fires with good soil moisture will be useful in reducing fuel loads and fire spread in later fires. Moderate fires may assist in regeneration of hard-seeded spp. Brigalow is soft-seeded, so germination is not promoted by fire. Casuarina cristata is fire sensitive, although germination can be good in bare areas. Best protection from wildfires is probably the creation of a multi-aged mosaic and perimeter burning. Fire increases risk from invasion by buffel grass. These REs often make up shade lines in paddocks and are heavily grazed. |
| Comments | 11.4.10: This regional ecosystem occurs on the lower parts of the clay plain around its dissecting edges and on natural discharge areas where the clay plains meet higher landforms (such as land zone 7 and 5). Restricted to southern part of bioregion. Extensively cleared for cropping and pasture. |
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.
