Regional ecosystem details for 2.3.11
| Regional ecosystem | 2.3.11 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 3, 4, 2, 8, (5), (6), (7), (1), (4.5), (1.3), (1.4), (3.8), (4.6) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 658000 ha; Remnant 2021 654000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus microtheca +/- Excoecaria parvifolia, Atalaya hemiglauca, Grevillea striata low woodland on active Quaternary alluvial plains with cracking clay soils |
| Structure code | Low Woodland |
| Description | Eucalyptus microtheca low woodland to open woodland. Occasional canopy species include Excoecaria parvifolia, Atalaya hemiglauca and Grevillea striata. A sparse lower tree or shrub layer may occur, including canopy species, Melaleuca spp. and Carissa lanceolata. The ground layer is tussock grasses, including Eulalia aurea, Astrebla spp. and Oryza australiensis. Occurs on active Quaternary alluvial plains. Calcareous cracking clays. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 16c). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 2.3.11j: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 2.3.47. Vachellia ditricha low open woodland. Emergent Eucalyptus spp. or Corymbia spp. may occur. A sparse shrub layer, dominated by Vachellia ditricha, commonly occurs. The ground layer is tussock grasses, including Themeda arguens, Sarga plumosum and Brachyachne convergens. Occurs on Quaternary alluvial plains of the Mitchell River delta. Brown silty clay loams and non-cracking clays. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 27a). 2.3.11x2a: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 2.3.34d. Sedgelands and grasslands, commonly with Eleocharis spp., Pseudoraphis spinescens and Marsilea spp. A narrow fringe of Eucalyptus microtheca (occasionally E. camaldulensis) commonly occurs. Occurs in closed depression on Quaternary alluvial plains (not associated with river deltas). Cracking clay soils. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34d). 2.3.11x2b: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 2.3.34e. Mixed sedgelands, grasslands and forblands, including combinations of the species Eleocharis spp., Ludwigia peploides, Pseudoraphis spinescens, and Persicaria spp. Nymphaea spp. and Nymphoides indica may occur in deeper water. A narrow wooded fringe may occur, including Corymbia polycarpa, C. bella and Eucalyptus microtheca. Occurs in closed depressions on Quaternary alluvial plains (inner zones of river deltas). Cracking clay soils. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34d). 2.3.11x2c: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 2.3.34f. Mixed sedgelands and grasslands, including combinations of the species Eleocharis spp., Oryza australiensis and Pseudoraphis spinescens. A narrow wooded fringe may occur, including Eucalyptus microtheca and Corymbia bella. Occurs in closed depressions on Quaternary alluvial plains (outer zones of river deltas). Cracking clay soils. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34d). 2.3.11x2d: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community has been amalgamated into 2.3.55b. Mixed sedgelands and grasslands, with combinations of the species Eleocharis spp., Oryza australiensis and Pseudoraphis spinescens. Nymphaea spp. may occur in deeper water. A narrow wooded fringe may occur, including Eucalyptus microtheca, Corymbia polycarpa and Melaleuca viridiflora. Occurs in closed depressions on old alluvial plains (recent Pleistocene surface). Cracking clay soils. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34d). 2.3.11x3: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped as 2.3.61a. Eucalyptus microtheca woodland. The ground layer is commonly Eleocharis spp., Pseudoraphis spinescens and Marsilea sp. Occurs on backplain swamps (wooded) on Quaternary alluvial plains. Cracking clay soils. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34d). 2.3.11x40a: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 2.4.4a. Eucalyptus microtheca low woodland to open woodland, commonly with Excoecaria parvifolia, Atalaya hemiglauca, Lysiphyllum cunninghamii and Grevillea striata. The ground layer is dominated by tussock grasses, including Chrysopogon fallax, Dichanthium spp., Aristida latifolia and Astrebla spp. Occurs on Tertiary clay plains. Grey to brown cracking clay soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 18c). 2.3.11x40b: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 2.4.4a. Eucalyptus microtheca low woodland to open woodland, commonly with Excoecaria parvifolia and Atalaya hemiglauca. The ground layer is dominated by tussock grasses, including Dichanthium spp., Eulalia aurea and Astrebla spp. Occurs on old alluvial plain (early Pleistocene surface) derived from fine-grained parent material. Brown cracking clay soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 18c). 2.3.11x40c: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 2.4.4b. Lysiphyllum cunninghamii low open woodland, occasionally with Corymbia terminalis, Atalaya hemiglauca and Acacia victoriae. The ground layer is dominated by tussock grasses. Occurs on old alluvial plains derived from fine-grained parent material. Brown cracking clay soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 27b). 2.3.11x4a: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 2.3.42a. Eucalyptus microtheca open woodland to woodland. A lower tree or shrub layer commonly occurs, including Melaleuca citrolens, Melaleuca viridiflora, Asteromyrtus symphyocarpa, Atalaya hemiglauca, Lysiphyllum cunninghamii and Excoecaria parvifolia. The ground layer is dominated by tussock grasses. Occurs on Quaternary alluvial plains with coarse-grained parent material associated with the Yappar River - Belmore Creek alluvial system. Silty loams and texture-contrast soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 16c). 2.3.11x4b: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 2.3.42b. Eucalyptus microtheca open woodland to woodland, commonly with Excoecaria parvifolia and Lysiphyllum cunninghamii. The ground layer is commonly dominated by Triodia pungens. Occurs on Quaternary alluvial plains with coarse-grained parent material associated with the Yappar River - Belmore Creek alluvial system. Silty loams and texture-contrast soils. Soils may be shallow, overlying a layer of ferruginous gravel. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 16c). |
| Supplementary description | Galloway et al. (1970), Radnor, Cumbulla; Neldner (1991), 17; Neldner and Clarkson (1995), 152, 199; Perry et al. (1964), Balbarini, Armraynald, Gregory, Georgina, Gilbert, Glenore, Miranda, Punchbowl, Normanton |
| Protected areas | Staaten River NP, Errk Oykangand NP (CYPAL), Lawn Hill (Widdallion) RR, Mutton Hole Wetlands CP |
| Special values | 2.3.11: Seasonal wetland. Important feeding and moulting sites for water birds. 2.3.11x2a: Seasonal wetland. Important feeding and moulting sites for water birds. 2.3.11x2b: Seasonal wetland. Important feeding and moulting sites for water birds. 2.3.11x2c: Seasonal wetland. Important feeding and moulting sites for water birds. 2.3.11x2d: Seasonal wetland. Important feeding and moulting sites for water birds. 2.3.11x3: Seasonal wetland. Important feeding and moulting sites for water birds. |
| 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 | 2.3.11: Includes a variety of seasonal wetlands requiring further classification. Subject to degradation from high total grazing pressure. 2.3.11j: A rare vegetation community. 2.3.11x2a: Eleocharis spp. are commonly excavated by feral pigs. Subject to degradation from high total grazing pressure during dry season. May be converted to dams for livestock water. 2.3.11x2b: Eleocharis spp. are commonly excavated by feral pigs. Subject to degradation from high total grazing pressure during dry season. 2.3.11x2c: Eleocharis spp. are commonly excavated by feral pigs. Subject to degradation from high total grazing pressure during dry season. 2.3.11x2d: Eleocharis spp. are commonly excavated by feral pigs. Subject to degradation from high total grazing pressure during dry season. 2.3.11x3: A rare ecosystem. Eleocharis spp. are commonly excavated by feral pigs. 2.3.11x40a: Subject to degradation from high total grazing pressure. 2.3.11x40b: Subject to degradation from high total grazing pressure. 2.3.11x4a: Subject to degradation from high total grazing pressure and from scouring during wet season floods. 2.3.11x4b: Subject to degradation from high total grazing pressure and from scouring during wet season floods. |
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.
