Regional ecosystem details for 3.3.60
| Regional ecosystem | 3.3.60 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 9, 6, 7, 4, (5), (2) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 58000 ha; Remnant 2021 58000 ha |
| Short description | Themeda arguens closed tussock grassland on coastal plains |
| Structure code | Closed Tussock Grassland |
| Description | Open tussock grassland of Themeda arguens +/- Fimbristylis spp. and Panicum spp. A Chrysopogon filipes dominated variant occurs on parts of the west coast. Occurs on alluvial plains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 32a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 3.3.60a: Themeda arguens closed tussock grassland to tussock grassland +/- Fimbristylis spp. +/- Dichanthium spp. +/- Capillipedium parviflorum. Occurs on coastal alluvial plains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 32a). 3.3.60b: Chrysopogon filipes tussock grassland to closed tussock grassland +/- Panicum trachyrhachis +/- Fimbristylis spp. +/- Heterachne spp. Occurs on alluvial plains in western Cape York Peninsula. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 32a). 3.3.60x1: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped as 3.3.59. Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum) usually dominates the mid-dense to dense ground layer. Subdominant species vary with locality with Themeda arguens, Eriachne spp. and Pseudopogonatherum contortum recorded as subdominant species. Very scattered Melaleuca viridiflora (broad-leaved paperbark) shrubs and low trees may be present. Occasional taller trees up to 19 metres tall can occur very sparsely. Occurs on alluvial plains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 32b). |
| Protected areas | Rinyirru (Lakefield) NP (CYPAL), Cape Melville NP (CYPAL), Lama Lama NP (CYPAL), Lizard Island NP, Muundhi (Jack River) NP (CYPAL) |
| Special values | 3.3.60: Habitat for the endangered golden-shouldered parrot Psephotus chrysopterygius. |
| 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 | 3.3.60: East and west coast. 3.3.60b: West coast. 3.3.60x1: Careful fire management required to maintain these grasslands. Predominantly in the south-east of bioregion. Significant proportion of this unit has been invaded by Melaleuca viridiflora (3.5.14b & 3.3.50) 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.
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.
