Regional ecosystem details for 2.10.5
| Regional ecosystem | 2.10.5 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 9, 6, (5), (3.1), (4), (9.1), (9.2), (9.3), (9.5) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 345000 ha; Remnant 2021 345000 ha |
| Short description | Acacia shirleyi woodland and Triodia pungens hummock grassland on scarps and stony ledges |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Acacia shirleyi woodland over bare ground, annuals and Triodia pungens. Occurs on plateau surfaces and margins on Mesozoic sandstones; skeletal soils and rock outcrop. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 24a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 2.10.5a: Acacia shirleyi low woodland to open forest, commonly with Corymbia serendipita, C. pocillum and Eucalyptus chartaboma. C. gilbertensis, Callitris intratropica, E. similis and E. tetrodonta occasionally occur in the canopy. A shrub layer commonly occurs, including Acacia shirleyi, Gardenia spp. and Grevillea decora. The ground layer is tussock grasses, including Schizachyrium sp. and Cleistochloa subjuncea. Occurs on Mesozoic sandstone plateaus, scarps and steps. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 24a). 2.10.5b: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 2.10.14. Acacia leptostachya and/or Acacia julifera subsp. gilbertensis low woodland, commonly with Corymbia spp. and/or Eucalyptus spp. in the canopy. A shrub layer may occur, including Gardenia vilhelmii, Petalostigma banksii and juvenile Acacia leptostachya. The ground layer is commonly dominated by Schizachyrium sp. and Aristida spp. Occurs on rocky Mesozoic sandstone outcrops, scarps and low hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 24a). 2.10.5c: Callitris intratropica and/or Acacia shirleyi and/or Acacia spp. (such as A. julifera subsp. gilbertensis) woodland. Occurs on Mesozoic sandstone outcrops, exposed by erosion of overlying Tertiary outwash plains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 20a). 2.10.5x1: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped as 2.7.2x3. Mixed woodland, including combinations of the species Corymbia pocillum, Eucalyptus chartaboma, C. gilbertensis, C. polycarpa, Acacia julifera subsp. julifera, C. setosa and Eucalyptus microneura. A shrub layer may occur, including Alphitonia sp., Elaeocarpus obovatus and Psydrax attenuata. The ground layer is dominated by Triodia pungens. Occurs on low Mesozoic sandstone rises. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 12a). 2.10.5x4: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped as 2.7.20. Petalostigma banksii tall shrubland to open scrub, occasionally with Gardenia vilhelmii. Emergent Corymbia spp. and Melaleuca spp. may occur. A secondary shrub layer of juvenile emergent species and Gardenia vilhelmii commonly occurs. The ground layer is dominated by Schizachyrium sp. Occurs on sandstone hillslopes and colluvial deposits at the base of sandstone scarps. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19d). |
| Supplementary description | Galloway et al. (1970), Starcke; Perry et al. (1964), Torwood, Ortona, Strathpark, Boorooman, Hampstead |
| Protected areas | Rungulla NP, Bulleringa NP, Rungulla RR |
| Special values | 2.10.5: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Drummondita calida, Labichea brassii, Leptospermum pallidum. 2.10.5a: Supports plant species with restricted geographic ranges. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: x1: Burn in the wet season or very soon after. INTENSITY: x1: Low to moderate, although spinifex will naturally burn with high intensity in some areas. INTERVAL: x1: 2-7 years. Fire-killed acacias produce seed at 5 years, so some longer unburnt patches need to be retained. INTERVAL_MIN: 2. INTERVAL_MAX: 7. STRATEGY: Do not burn deliberately. Manage surrounding fire-adapted areas to create landscape mosaic of burnt and unburnt to mitigate against impact of wildfires. x1: Apply fire at sufficient intervals such that hummocks do not form a continuous fuel layer across the landscape. Use broad scale mosaic burning. Burn when the soil is moist as it promotes post-fire recovery of spinifex. ISSUES: Vulnerable to repeated, high intensity fires. However, low or discontinuous fuel loads protect these communities. The invasive grass buffel draws fires into Acacia communities to the detriment of these communities. Lancewood is reliant on post-fire regeneration from seed bank; unplanned fire may have a role in persistence of this species. x1: Spinifex is highly flammable. Green spinifex will also burn readily. |
| Comments | 2.10.5c: A rare but poorly surveyed vegetation community. |
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.
