Regional ecosystem details for 11.4.11
| Regional ecosystem | 11.4.11 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 7, (6), (10), (5), (10.2) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 74000 ha; Remnant 2021 24000 ha |
| Short description | Dichanthium sericeum and Astrebla spp. grassland with patchy Acacia harpophylla or Eucalyptus coolabah on Cainozoic clay plains |
| Structure code | Tussock Grassland |
| Description | Dichanthium sericeum and Astrebla spp. tussock grassland with patches of low Acacia harpophylla or Eucalyptus coolabah. Grassland dominated by Dichanthium sericeum and forms a mosaic with clumps of Acacia harpophylla, Lysiphyllum hookeri and L. carronii. A wide range of other grass and forb species are usually present, depending on seasonal conditions and management regime. Frequently occurring species include the grasses Aristida leptopoda, A. latifolia, Astrebla lappacea, Bothriochloa erianthoides, Digitaria brownii, D. divaricatissima, Eriochloa crebra, Panicum decompositum, P. queenslandicum, Paspalidium globoideum and the forbs Abelmoschus ficulneus, Boerhavia dominii, Corchorus trilocularis, Cyperus bifax, Glycine latifolia, Hibiscus verdcourtii, Ipomoea lonchophylla, Phyllanthus maderaspatensis, Tribulus micrococcus and Rhynchosia minima. Occurs in shallow open valleys and poorly drained Cainozoic clay plains with deep cracking clay soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 30b). |
| Supplementary description | Gunn et al. (1967), Avon (3); Fensham (1999), Mitchell Grass on alluvium; Gunn and Nix (1977) LU43, LU 44 |
| Protected areas | Mazeppa NP |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Do not burn deliberately. The grasses and forbs of Astrebla spp. dominated communities do not require fire for regeneration. Protection relies on management of fire in the surrounding country to prevent running fires entering Astrebla spp. communities, particularly at times of low soil moisture. ISSUES: Fire can sometimes be used as a tool to control woody thickening and woody weeds in grasslands. Moderate intensity fire is required for a successful kill of the woody species but good moisture levels are required to ensure recovery of the ground layer. Large scale germination of woody species is most likely to occur in high rainfall years. The best management opportunity is usually after storms at the end of the subsequent dry season, although exclusion of grazing pressure may still be required to ensure sufficient fuel loads. |
| Comments | 11.4.11: This regional ecosystem may include low lying areas that occur on alluvium (land zone 3) and is often associated with similar regional ecosystems on gently undulating clay plains (11.4.4) and more low lying areas (11.3.3 and 11.3.21). Subject to very heavy infestation by the exotic species Parthenium hysterophorus which dominates the ground layer in many areas. Naturalised species associated with this regional ecosystem include *Malvastrum americanum. |
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.
