Regional ecosystem details for 11.5.13
| Regional ecosystem | 11.5.13 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 29, 34, 26, (35), (33), (38), (22), (6.2), (6.4), (37), (4.4), (36) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 584000 ha; Remnant 2021 100000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus populnea +/- Acacia aneura +/- E. melanophloia woodland on Cainozoic sand plains and/or remnant surfaces |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Eucalyptus populnea predominates forming a distinct but discontinuous canopy (14-20m high). E. melanophloia may be present, and may codominate or dominate localised areas. A low tree layer (8-10m high) may be present and dominated by a range of species such as Callitris glaucophylla with scattered Acacia excelsa and A. aneura (western parts of subregion 29). There is generally a low tree/tall shrub layer (4-8m high) dominated by Eremophila mitchellii and Geijera parviflora. Shrubs are absent or very sparse. The ground cover is moderately dense to dense, and dominated by perennial grasses. Bothriochloa decipiens, Themeda triandra, Aristida ramosa and Enteropogon acicularis are the most frequent dominant grasses. Occurs on gently undulating plains formed from unconsolidated Cainozoic deposits. Usually associated with shallow to moderately deep, loamy duplex soils or shallow to moderately deep, uniform, clay loam to deep red earth soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 17a). |
| Supplementary description | Galloway et al. (1974), LU26; Neldner (1984), 23, 24 (43), 19d |
| Protected areas | Alton NP, Chesterton Range NP |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Late wet to early dry season when there is good soil moisture. Early storm season or after good spring rains. INTENSITY: Various. INTERVAL: Fire return interval flexible. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Burn when possible. Burn under conditions of good soil moisture and when plants are actively growing. Burning is usually very difficult as leaf litter and grasses are typically sparse. ISSUES: Mulga has low tolerance to fire. Moderate fires kill seedlings and mature trees. Fire can stimulate mulga germination but intense or repeated fires without follow-up rain will deplete the seed bank. It would be unusual to get repeated fires in this RE. Planned burns have traditionally been carried out in the winter dry season; further research required. |
| Comments | 11.5.13: Areas of E. melanophloia woodland that are larger than 5 ha are classified as 11.5.5. Mainly occurs on south-western margins of bioregion. |
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.
