Regional ecosystem details for 2.3.10
| Regional ecosystem | 2.3.10 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 4, 6, (3.1), (1), (3.8), (9.3), (3.6) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 539000 ha; Remnant 2021 537000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus chlorophylla +/- Melaleuca spp., Eucalyptus microtheca and Corymbia polycarpa low open woodland on Quaternary alluvial deposits |
| Structure code | Low Open Woodland |
| Description | Eucalyptus chlorophylla low open woodland to woodland, occasionally with Melaleuca spp., Eucalyptus microtheca and Corymbia polycarpa. A lower tree or shrub layer may occur, including canopy species, Gardenia vilhelmii and Dolichandrone heterophylla. The ground layer is tussock grasses, including Eriachne burkittii, Sarga plumosum, Aristida spp., Schizachyrium spp. and Chrysopogon fallax. Occurs on Quaternary alluvial deposits; partly flooded. Leached grey and brown massive earths, soloths, solodised solonetz and cracking clay soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 16c). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 2.3.10a: Eucalyptus chlorophylla open woodland to woodland, occasionally with E. microtheca. A sparse lower tree or shrub layer may occur, including Melaleuca spp., Grevillea striata, Lysiphyllum cunninghamii, Dolichandrone heterophylla and Carissa lanceolata. The ground layer is tussock grasses, including Eriachne spp. and Themeda arguens. Occurs on active Quaternary alluvial plains, commonly associated with major watercourses. Silty clays and texture contrast soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 16c). 2.3.10b: Eucalyptus chlorophylla woodland, occasionally with E. leptophleba and Corymbia confertiflora. A sparse shrub layer may occur, including Melaleuca citrolens, M. viridiflora, Gardenia vilhelmii and Carissa lanceolata. The ground layer is tussock grasses, including Heteropogon contortus, Eriachne spp., Aristida spp. and Schizachyrium fragile. Occurs on active Quaternary alluvial plains, commonly associated with the upper reaches of major watercourses. Silty clay loams and texture contrast soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 16c). 2.3.10c: Eucalyptus chlorophylla open woodland to woodland, commonly with Corymbia spp., Melaleuca spp. and Grevillea spp. A shrub layer commonly occurs, including Melaleuca spp. and Petalostigma banksii. The ground layer is tussock grasses, including Aristida spp., Bothriochloa spp. and Schizachyrium fragile. Occurs on old alluvial plains (recent Pleistocene surface). Yellow-brown clay loam soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 16c). 2.3.10d: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 2.3.42e. Eucalyptus microtheca low open woodland, commonly with Excoecaria parvifolia. Grevillea striata and Terminalia spp. may occur in the canopy. A variable shrub layer may occur, including canopy species, Flueggea virosa subsp. melanthesoides and Atalaya hemiglauca. The ground layer is tussock grasses, including Eriachne glauca var. glauca, Aristida latifolia and Dichanthium spp. Occurs on old alluvial plains (recent Pleistocene surface). Brown clay loam soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 16c). 2.3.10e: Eucalyptus chlorophylla and Corymbia polycarpa woodland. A lower tree layer commonly occurs, including Melaleuca spp. and Grevillea striata. The ground layer is tussock grasses, including fallax and Panicum sp. Occurs on old alluvial plains (recent Pleistocene surface). Yellow-brown clay loam soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 16c). 2.3.10f: Mixed low woodland to open woodland, including combinations of the species Corymbia confertiflora, Lysiphyllum cunninghamii, Eucalyptus chlorophylla and E. leptophleba. The ground layer is tussock grasses, including Heteropogon contortus, Aristida dominii and Eragrostis sp. Small patches of tussock grassland commonly occur. Occurs on active Quaternary alluvial plains of major watercourses. Silty loams and texture contrast soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 16c). 2.3.10x12: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped as 2.3.45. Eucalyptus microtheca or Eucalyptus chlorophylla low open woodland, occasionally with Excoecaria parvifolia, Corymbia confertiflora and Terminalia spp. A shrub layer, dominated by Carissa lanceolata commonly occurs. The ground layer is sparse tussock grasses, including Aristida spp. And Brachyachne convergens. Areas of bare ground commonly occur. Occurs on breakaways and erosional surfaces of major watercourses. Orange to brown silty clay and clay loam soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 16c). |
| Supplementary description | Galloway et al. (1970), Dunbar, Radnor, Cumbulla; Neldner and Clarkson (1995), 113, 151 |
| Protected areas | Staaten River NP, Errk Oykangand NP (CYPAL) |
| Special values | 2.3.10: Includes seasonal wetlands significant as feeding sites for water birds. 2.3.10e: Potential habitat for the golden-shouldered parrot (Psephotus chrysopterygius). |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Commence burning early in dry season as soon as ground fuels can carry fire with fire extinguishing early evening. Continue to mid-dry season. INTENSITY: Low to moderate with occasional high intensity. INTERVAL: 1-5 years, but do not burn the same patches annually. Landscape mosaic should consist of patches with different times since burning. INTERVAL_MIN: 1. INTERVAL_MAX: 5. STRATEGY: Break up continuity of fuel across the landscape so that impact of late-season wildfire is minimised. Wildfire due to dry storms late in the dry season or in the early wet are natural occurrences, but they can burn over a wide area of the landscape with unwanted intensity and frequency. Use broad scale mosaic burning. ISSUES: Overabundant seedlings and saplings can lead to woody thickening if unchecked by fire. A long absence of fire or low intensity fire too early in the season may lead to overabundant seedlings and saplings. If ground fuels are sparse spell pastures prior to planned burns. Weeds such as buffel grass and rubbervine may be an issue for some tussock grass communities because weeds increase fuel loads leading to high intensity fires. |
| Comments | 2.3.10: Subject to degradation from high total grazing pressure. 2.3.10a: Along the Mitchell River west of Bellevue Homestead. Subject to degradation from high total grazing pressure. 2.3.10b: Western edge of the Mareeba Mining Field and south of Hurricane Station. Cryptostegia grandiflora is common on some sites. 2.3.10f: A rare vegetation community. Was previously mapped as 2.3.9b. 2.3.10x12: Subject to high total grazing pressure and highly susceptible to erosion. |
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.
