Regional ecosystem details for 3.12.30
| Regional ecosystem | 3.12.30 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 1, 3, (6) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 4000 ha; Remnant 2021 4000 ha |
| Short description | Imperata cylindrica +/- Heteropogon contortus +/- Mnesithea rottboellioides closed tussock grassland on steep slopes of igneous hills |
| Structure code | Closed Tussock Grassland |
| Description | Closed tussock grassland of Imperata cylindrica (blady grass) +/- Mnesithea rottboellioides (northern cane grass) +/- Heteropogon contortus (black spear grass) +/- Cymbopogon refractus (barbed wire grass). Occurs on steep granite hills and crests. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 32b). |
| Supplementary description | Neldner and Clarkson (in prep), 182a; Stanton, Fell & Gooding (2008), G17f |
| Protected areas | KULLA (McIlwraith Range) NP (CYPAL), Oyala Thumotang NP (CYPAL) |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Commence planned burns early in the dry season, after the wet season when dry enough to burn. Use occasional storm burns but generally avoid periods of extremely hot, dry conditions. INTENSITY: Low to moderate with occasional high intensity fire, particularly where seedlings or saplings are overabundant. INTERVAL: 1-3 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 1. INTERVAL_MAX: 3. STRATEGY: Apply a mosaic across the landscape at a range of intervals to create varying stages of post-fire response. Burn 30-60% at the property level. ISSUES: A significant issue to the retention of open grasslands is invasion of trees and shrubs following long periods of fire absence, low frequency of fire or fire applied repeatedly too early in the burning season. Woody thickening is exacerbated by stock grazing combined with repeated early season burns. To mitigate against the impact of late dry season fires, commence burning early in the season and continue through the dry to break up continuity of fuels across the landscape. Invasive high biomass grasses can promote fire and increase severity. Variation in burn seasons and short fire frequencies promote bird diversity. |
| Comments | 3.12.30: In the TSI occurs in a complex with Welchidendron longivalve closed forest communities (3.12.4). Fire dependent system. Occurs mainly in the northern McIlwraith Range, but also near Temple Bay and on some Torres Strait Islands. Can contain the exotic grass species Rottboellia cochinchinensis*. |
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.
