Regional ecosystem details for 2.9.1
| Regional ecosystem | 2.9.1 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 8, 5, 3, (4.5) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 121000 ha; Remnant 2021 120000 ha |
| Short description | Astrebla spp. and Iseilema vaginiflorum tussock grassland on gently undulating plains on fine-grained Cretaceous sediments. |
| Structure code | Tussock Grassland |
| Description | Astrebla spp. and Iseilema vaginiflorum tussock grassland, occasionally with Sarga timorense. Other species include Eulalia aurea and Dichanthium fecundum. Emergents may include Vachellia farnesiana and Atalaya hemiglauca. Occurs on gently undulating plains on fine-grained Cretaceous sediments. Calcareous cracking clays. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 30b). |
| Supplementary description | Neldner (1991), 42; Perry et al. (1964), Julia, Donaldson, Donors, Cowan, Percol |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Do not burn deliberately. The grasses and forbs of Astrebla spp. dominated communities do not require fire for regeneration. Protection relies on management of fire in the surrounding country to prevent running fires entering Astrebla spp. communities, particularly at times of low soil moisture. ISSUES: Fire can sometimes be used as a tool to control woody thickening and woody weeds in grasslands. Moderate intensity fire is required for a successful kill of the woody species but good moisture levels are required to ensure recovery of the ground layer. Large scale germination of woody species is most likely to occur in high rainfall years. The best management opportunity is usually after storms at the end of the subsequent dry season, although exclusion of grazing pressure may still be required to ensure sufficient fuel loads. |
| Comments | 2.9.1: Similar communities are extensive in the adjacent Mitchell Grass Downs bioregion. |
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.
