Regional ecosystem details for 2.3.42
| Regional ecosystem | 2.3.42 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 5, 7, 4, 2, 3, (8), (1), (6), (1.4), (1.3), (9.1) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 504000 ha; Remnant 2021 503000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus microtheca +/- Excoecaria parvifolia, Lysiphyllum cunninghamii, Melaleuca spp. open woodland on Quaternary alluvial plains with coarse-grained parent material |
| Structure code | Low Open Woodland |
| Description | Eucalyptus microtheca low open woodland to open woodland, commonly with Excoecaria parvifolia and Lysiphyllum cunninghamii. Occasional trees include Melaleuca spp., Atalaya hemiglauca and Grevillea striata. A variable shrub layer may occur. The ground layer includes Eulalia aurea, Eriachne spp., Triodia pungens, Aristida spp. and Chrysopogon fallax. Occurs on active Quaternary alluvial plains with coarse-grained parent material. Silty loam and clay loam soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 16c). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 2.3.42a: Eucalyptus microtheca low open woodland to low 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 sparse tussock grasses. Occurs on active 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). 2.3.42b: Eucalyptus microtheca low open woodland to woodland, commonly with Excoecaria parvifolia and Lysiphyllum cunninghamii. The ground layer includes Triodia pungens and Eriachne spp. Occurs on active 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). 2.3.42c: Eucalyptus microtheca low open woodland to woodland, commonly with Excoecaria parvifolia, Grevillea striata, Lysiphyllum cunninghamii and Atalaya hemiglauca. The ground layer is tussock grasses, including Eulalia aurea, Dichanthium spp., Aristida spp. and Chrysopogon fallax. Occurs on active Quaternary alluvial plains derived from coarse-grained parent materials of the Northwest Highlands bioregion. Red to brown silty loam and clay loam soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 16c). 2.3.42d: Eucalyptus microtheca woodland. Lysiphyllum cunninghamii and Santalum lanceolatum may occur as isolated lower trees. The ground layer is tussock grasses. Occurs on sandy floodout deposits around the Cloncurry River, with many minor distributary channels. Brown loamy soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 16c). 2.3.42e: Eucalyptus microtheca low woodland to woodland, commonly with Excoecaria parvifolia. Occasional canopy species include Grevillea striata and Terminalia spp.. 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) in the north of the bioregion. Brown clay loam soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 16c). |
| Protected areas | Lawn Hill (Widdallion) RR, Lawn Hill (Arthur Creek) RR |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Commence 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. Overgrazing can reduce fuel loads and give woody species a competitive advantage. Spinifex is highly flammable. Green spinifex will also burn readily. |
| Comments | 2.3.42: Subject to degradation from high total grazing pressure. 2.3.42a: Was previously mapped as 2.3.11x4a. Subject to degradation from high total grazing pressure and from scouring during wet season floods. 2.3.42b: Was previously mapped as 2.3.11x4b. Subject to degradation from high total grazing pressure and from scouring during wet season floods. 2.3.42c: Was previously mapped as 2.3.20x3. Subject to degradation from high total grazing pressure. 2.3.42d: A rare ecosystem with limited extent. Was previously mapped as 2.3.17x1. Sedan Dip area. Commonly heavily invaded by exotic Cenchrus spp. Threatening processes associated with potential expansion of intensive agriculture in the area. 2.3.42e: Was previously mapped as 2.3.10d. |
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.
