Regional ecosystem details for 3.5.29
| Regional ecosystem | 3.5.29 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Endangered |
| Subregion | 4, 3 |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 500 ha; Remnant 2021 500 ha |
| Short description | Themeda triandra and Heteropogon contortus closed tussock grasslands on erosional plains |
| Structure code | Closed Tussock Grassland |
| Description | Closed tussock grassland of Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) and Heteropogon contortus (black spear grass). A range of scattered emergent shrubs can include Planchonia careya (cocky apple), Cycas badensis, Parinari nonda (nonda plum) and Cochlospermum gillivraei (kapok). Where mapped on the mainland and east coast islands grasslands of Imperata cylindrica (blady grass) +/- Mnesithea rottboellioides (northern cane grass) can also occur. Occurs on erosional plains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 32b). |
| Supplementary description | Neldner and Clarkson (in prep), 182-5, 189-5; Stanton, Fell & Gooding (2008), AS17d, L17d. |
| Protected areas | Apudthama 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 | 3.5.29: Proposed new REs 3.5.30x1, 3.5.30x3 were amalgamated in to this RE. The grassland is a fire climax community, with scattered vine forest remnants clumped on low granite mounds which protrude above the undulating sand plain, offering some protection from fire. Moa Island in the Torres Strait and also on coastal areas and islands in the north-east of the 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.
