Regional ecosystem details for 3.1.6
| Regional ecosystem | 3.1.6 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Intertidal |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 9, 7, 4, 2, 6, (3), (1), (8), (5), (2.1), (2.4) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 88000 ha; Remnant 2021 87000 ha |
| Short description | Sparse herbland or bare saltpans on salt plains and saline flats |
| Structure code | Sparse Forbland |
| Description | Bare saltpans with scattered patches dominated by Sporobolus virginicus (marine couch) and Tecticornia spp. (samphire), particularly on raised areas and margins. Occurs on salt plains and saline flats. Intertidal. (BVG1M: 35b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 3.1.6a: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.1.6. Bare saltpans with scattered patches dominated by Sporobolus virginicus (marine couch) and Tecticornia spp. (samphire), particularly on raised areas and margins. Occurs on salt plains and saline flats. Intertidal. (BVG1M: 35b). 3.1.6b: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.1.7. Intermittent seasonal saltflats or freshwater swamps. In the dry season this regional ecosystem is dominated by bare saltpans with scattered patches dominated by halophytic shrubs such as Tecticornia spp. (samphire). During the wet season this regional ecosystem is dominated by a sedgeland to tall sedgeland of Schoenoplectus subulatus and Eleocharis dulcis (water chestnut). Occurs in the mouth of drainage depressions which are low enough to be inundated by salt water at high tides in the dry season, but are inundated with freshwater in the wet season. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 35b). 3.1.6x1: Batis argillicola dwarf shrubland usually with other halophitic species like Sesuvium portulacastrum and Tecticornia indica. Mangrove species such as Avicennia marina and Aegialitis annulata may also appear as juveniles as well as scattered emergents. The ground layer is generally bare mud though clumps of Sporobolus virginicus often occurs. Occurs on salt pans and saline flats. Intertidal. (BVG1M: 35b). |
| Supplementary description | Neldner and Clarkson (in prep), 194; Stanton, Fell & Gooding (2008), E25a, E25b. |
| Protected areas | Rinyirru (Lakefield) NP (CYPAL), Cape Melville NP (CYPAL), Lama Lama NP (CYPAL), Wuthathi (Shelburne Bay) NP (CYPAL), Apudthama NP (CYPAL), Annan River (Yuku Baja-Muliku) NP, Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) NP (CYPAL), Endeavour River NP, Bromley (Ampulin) NP |
| Special values | 3.1.6: Provides estuarine wetland habitat. 3.1.6a: Provides estuarine wetland habitat. |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Do not target for burning. ISSUES: Non-flammable vegetation. Does not require fire. Low fuel loads and sparse vegetation limits fire spread. |
| Comments | 3.1.6: Two island variants are Sesuvium portulacastrum closed herblands +/- Pemphis acidula emergents, which may dominate some rock platforms ( Stoddart and Fosberg 1991) and a woody forbland dominated by Suriana maritima with Myoporum acuminatum and Capparis sp. found on some shingle beaches. 3.1.6a has been amalgamated into this RE. Occurs across the bioregion on marine flats. 3.1.6a: Two island variants are Sesuvium portulacastrum closed herblands +/- Pemphis acidula emergents, which may dominate some rock platforms ( Stoddart and Fosberg 1991) and a woody forbland dominated by Suriana maritima with Myoporum acuminatum and Capparis sp. found on some shingle beaches. Occurs across the bioregion on marine flats. 3.1.6x1: Occurs across the bioregion on marine flats, though often too small in area to be mappable. |
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.
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.
