Regional ecosystem details for 3.3.59
| Regional ecosystem | 3.3.59 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 6, (7), (8) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 15000 ha; Remnant 2021 15000 ha |
| Short description | Sarga plumosum closed tussock grassland on alluvial plains |
| Structure code | Closed Tussock Grassland |
| Description | Sarga plumosum closed tussock to tussock grassland. Other sub-dominant species that can be present include Fimbristylis spp., Heteropogon triticeus, Scleria spp., Eriachne spp. and Pseudopogonatherum contortum. A range of emergents can include Melaleuca viridiflora as well as Corymbia and Eucalyptus spp. Occurs on alluvial plains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 32b). |
| Supplementary description | Neldner and Clarkson (in prep), 184-3 |
| Protected areas | Rinyirru (Lakefield) NP (CYPAL), Ngaynggarr 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 | 3.3.59: Careful fire management required to maintain these grasslands. RE 3.3.60x1 was amalgamated in to this RE. Predominantly in the south-east of bioregion. Large areas of this unit has been invaded by Melaleuca viridiflora (3.5.41 & 3.3.49) in the last 30 years. |
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.
