Regional ecosystem details for 2.7.4
| Regional ecosystem | 2.7.4 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 8, 7, (2), (1.4), (3), (1.3), (1), (10), (6) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 190000 ha; Remnant 2021 189000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus leucophloia and/or Eucalyptus pruinosa subsp. pruinosa and/or Corymbia setosa low open woodland on surfaces, margins and residuals of Tertiary lateritic plateaus. |
| Structure code | Low Open Woodland |
| Description | Eucalyptus leucophloia and/or Eucalyptus pruinosa subsp. pruinosa and/or Corymbia setosa low open woodland. Other canopy species include C. capricornia, Terminalia canescens, Atalaya hemiglauca, Lysiphyllum cunninghamii and Grevillea striata. A sparse shrub layer may occur, including Acacia spp., Petalostigma spp. and Denhamia cunninghamii. The ground layer is dominated by Triodia pungens and Aristida spp. Occurs on surfaces, margins and degraded residuals of Tertiary lateritic plateaus. Red to brown skeletal sandy soils over ferricrete. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 2.7.4x1: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped as 2.7.14. Corymbia capricornia and/or Eucalyptus miniata low open woodland, occasionally with C. setosa, Eucalyptus herbertiana, Eucalyptus leucophloia, Erythrophleum chlorostachys, C. curtipes, Corymbia grandifolia subsp. grandifolia. A sparse shrub layer may occur, including Acacia lysiphloia and A. colei. The ground layer is tussock grasses and Triodia pungens. Occurs on margins of broad, Tertiary lateritic surfaces. Red-brown skeletal sandy soils over ferricrete. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14a). 2.7.4x2: Rock outcrops (fire refuges). Tree species include Corymbia spp. and Acacia umbellata. Shrubs may occur, including Abrus precatorius and Clerodendrum floribundum. The ground layer is variable, with forbs and tussock grasses. Occurs on laterite breakaways and in small gorges at the northern margins of the Donors Plateau (particularly around Bang Bang Jump-up). Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 12b). 2.7.4x3: Corymbia pocillum and/or Eucalyptus tetrodonta low open woodland to woodland, commonly with Corymbia polycarpa. Corymbia grandifolia subsp. grandifolia, C. capricornia and E. leucophloia may occur in the canopy. A shrub layer commonly occurs, including Petalostigma banksii, E. tetrodonta and Acacia spp. The ground layer is commonly Schizachyrium fragile, Triodia pungens and Sarga plumosum. Small areas of Petalostigma banksii tall shrubland with emergent Corymbia pocillum and/or Eucalyptus tetrodonta may occur. Occurs on Tertiary lateritic plateau surfaces. Shallow red to brown loams overlying ferricrete. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14b). |
| Supplementary description | Christian et al. (1954), Westmoreland |
| Special values | 2.7.4x2: Provincial refuge for flora and fauna. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Burn in the wet season or very soon after. INTENSITY: Low to moderate, although spinifex will naturally burn with high intensity in some areas. INTERVAL: 2-7 years. Fire-killed acacias produce seed at 5 years, so some longer unburnt patches need to be retained. INTERVAL_MIN: 2. 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. ISSUES: Spinifex is highly flammable. Green spinifex will also burn readily. |
| Comments | 2.7.4: Previously mapped as 2.7.3x3a and 2.7.3x3b. 2.7.4x2: A rare ecosystem. Previously mapped as 2.7.3x6. 2.7.4x3: Previously mapped as 2.7.3x1. |
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.
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.
