Regional ecosystem details for 2.4.4
| Regional ecosystem | 2.4.4 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 2, 3, (8), (1.3), (7), (1.2) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 78000 ha; Remnant 2021 78000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus microtheca +/- Excoecaria parvifolia low open woodland on Tertiary and early Quaternary clay plains |
| Structure code | Low Woodland |
| Description | Eucalyptus microtheca low open woodland to open woodland, commonly with Excoecaria parvifolia. Occasional canopy species include Atalaya hemiglauca, Lysiphyllum cunninghamii and Grevillea striata. The ground layer is dominated by tussock grasses, including Chrysopogon fallax, Dichanthium spp. and Aristida latifolia. Includes areas of Lysiphyllum cunninghamii low open woodland in the south-west of its range. Occurs on Tertiary and early Quaternary clay plains. Grey to brown cracking clay soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 18c). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 2.4.4a: Eucalyptus microtheca low open woodland to open woodland, commonly with Excoecaria parvifolia and Atalaya hemiglauca. Occasional canopy species include Lysiphyllum cunninghamii and Grevillea striata. The ground layer is tussock grasses, including Dichanthium spp., Chrysopogon fallax and Astrebla spp. Occurs on Tertiary to early Pleistocene clay deposits. Grey to brown cracking clay soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 18c). 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 soil. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 27b). |
| Protected areas | Lawn Hill (Creek) RR, Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) NP |
| 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. |
| Comments | 2.4.4: Subject to degradation from high total grazing pressure. 2.4.4a: Was previously mapped as 2.3.11x40a & 2.3.11x40b. Subject to degradation from high total grazing pressure. 2.4.4b: Was previously mapped as 2.3.11x40c. |
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.
