Regional ecosystem details for 2.5.11
| Regional ecosystem | 2.5.11 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 8, 1.3, 7, (2), (3) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 83000 ha; Remnant 2021 83000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus leucophloia low open woodland on plains on lateritic podsolic soils |
| Structure code | Low Open Woodland |
| Description | Eucalyptus leucophloia low open woodland, with a sparse to dense shrub understorey of Acacia spp. Scattered Corymbia setosa subsp. setosa and/or Eucalyptus pruinosa subsp. pruinosa may also be present. The ground cover is usually dominated by Triodia pungens. Occurs on gentle slopes on Tertiary surfaces; red earths and lateritic podzolics. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 2.5.11a: Eucalyptus pruinosa and/or E. leucophloia low open woodland to low woodland, occasionally with Corymbia terminalis, C. grandifolia, C. aparrerinja and Atalaya hemiglauca. The ground layer is commonly Triodia spp. Occurs on Tertiary, high-level alluvial deposits of gravel and sand. Gravelly to cobbly sandy loams. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19b). 2.5.11b: Mixed low woodland, including combinations of the species Eucalyptus pruinosa, E. leucophloia, E. chlorophylla, Corymbia terminalis and C. setosa. Occasional canopy species include C. aparrerinja, C. grandifolia and Terminalia canescens. A shrub layer of Acacia spp. commonly occurs. The ground layer is tussock and hummock grasses, including Aristida spp., Schizachyrium fragile and Triodia pungens. Occurs on gravelly, Tertiary outwash deposits (plains and low rises), commonly adjacent to the Northwest Highlands bioregional boundary. Red to brown gravelly and sandy loams. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19c). 2.5.11c: Eucalyptus chlorophylla low woodland, commonly with E. leucophloia, Corymbia terminalis and C. polycarpa. A variable shrub layer may occur, including Acacia spp. and Carissa lanceolata. The ground layer is tussock grasses, including Eulalia aurea and Aristida spp. Occurs on gravelly, outwash deposits overlying Tertiary clay plains adjacent to the Northwest Highlands bioregional boundary. Red to brown gravelly and sandy loams. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19a). |
| Supplementary description | Christian et al. (1954), Westmoreland; Perry et al. (1964), Punchbowl, Normanton, Donaldson |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Burn in the wet season or very soon after. b: Adjust timing according to mix of hummock and tussock grasses. c: 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, although spinifex will naturally burn with high intensity in some areas. b: Low to moderate. c: Low to moderate with occasional high intensity. INTERVAL: 2-7 years. Fire-killed acacias produce seed at 5 years, so some longer unburnt patches need to be retained. b: Adjust interval according to mix of hummock (2-7 years) and tussock (1-5 years) grasses. c: 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: 7. STRATEGY: 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. b: Contains both tussock and hummock grasses; fire interval will need to be adjusted according to the mix of hummock and tussock grasses. c: 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: Spinifex is highly flammable. Green spinifex will also burn readily. b: This community will contain a mixture of spinifex and tussock grasses. c: 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 | 2.5.11c: A rare 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.
