Regional ecosystem details for 3.9.8
| Regional ecosystem | 3.9.8 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 7, 6, (4) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 5000 ha; Remnant 2021 5000 ha |
| Short description | Heteropogon triticeus and/or Sarga plumosum closed tussock grassland on clay plains |
| Structure code | Closed Tussock Grassland |
| Description | Open tussock grassland of Heteropogon triticeus (giant speargrass) and/or Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum). Scattered emergent shrubs or trees can occur. Occurs on clay plains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 32b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 3.9.8a: Heteropogon triticeus (giant speargrass) and Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum) closed tussock grassland. Capillipedium parviflorum (scented top), Themeda arguens and Dichanthium sericeum (Queensland bluegrass) also occur in high densities. Flemingia parviflora (flemingia) is a commonly encountered scrambling legume in this grassland. Very occasionally emergent shrubs of Grewia savannicola (dog's balls) and Piliostigma malabaricum (bean tree) may be present. Occurs on clay plains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 32b). 3.9.8b: Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum) closed tussock grassland, commonly with subdominant species including Themeda arguens, Eriachne spp. (wanderrie grass) and Pseudopogonatherum contortum. Very scattered Melaleuca viridiflora shrubs and low trees may be present. Occasional taller trees up to 19 metres tall can occur very sparsely. Occurs on clay plains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 32b). |
| Protected areas | Rinyirru (Lakefield) 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 | 3.9.8: Restricted to small area in the central & southern Peninsula. Threatening processes are overgrazing and the establishment of exotic plant species. 3.9.8a: Restricted to small area in central Peninsula. 3.9.8b: South-east of 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.
