Regional ecosystem details for 4.3.12
| Regional ecosystem | 4.3.12 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 7, 2, 5, 1, (4), (5.3), (3), (1.1), (5.4), (5.5), (1.2), (1.3), (5.1) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 48000 ha; Remnant 2021 48000 ha |
| Short description | Seasonal swamps. Chenopodium auricomum dwarf shrubland in closed depressions on clay plains |
| Structure code | Open Shrubland |
| Description | Seasonal swamps. Chenopodium auricomum dwarf shrubland to open shrubland. The ground layer is a combination of tussock grasses, sedges and forbs, including Eragrostis setifolia, Sporobolus mitchellii, Eleocharis pallens, Cullen cinereum and Marsilea hirsuta. Occurs in closed depressions on clay plains. Soils are very deep, moderate to strongly alkaline, grey cracking clays with self-mulching surface. Soils have strong coarse structure and crack widely. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 4.3.12a: Seasonal swamps. Chenopodium auricomum dwarf open shrubland, commonly with Eragrostis spp. and Astrebla elymoides. A wooded fringe of Eucalyptus coolabah commonly occurs. Occurs in closed depressions on broad clay plains overlying limestones. Cracking clay soils. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34b). 4.3.12b: Seasonal swamps. Chenopodium auricomum dwarf open shrubland. Occurs in closed depressions on clay pans between dunes and associated with sandplains. Soils are very deep, moderate to strongly alkaline, grey cracking clays with self-mulching or curst surface. Weak to moderate gilgai micro relief is common. Soils have strong coarse structure and crack widely. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34b). 4.3.12c: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 4.3.12a and 4.3.12b. Eucalyptus coolabah low open woodland. Occurs on closed depressions. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34b). 4.3.12d: Ephemeral swamps. Mixed herbland, including combinations of the species Astrebla elymoides, Streptoglossa spp., Panicum laevinode, Cullen cinereum, Ipomoea spp. and Alternanthera spp. Isolated Chenopodium auricomum may occur. A scattered fringe of Eucalyptus coolabah may occur. Occurs in closed depressions on plains of wind-blown clay sediments (parna) overlying Tertiary limestones in the south-west of the bioregion. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34b). 4.3.12x1: Seasonal swamps (wooded). Eucalyptus coolabah and/or E. microtheca low open woodland. A shrub layer of Chenopodium auricomum may occur. The ground layer is sparse forbs and tussock grasses. Occurs in closed depressions on broad Tertiary plains (Barkly Tableland). Cracking clay soils. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34b). 4.3.12x2: Seasonal swamps (wooded). Duma florulenta open shrubland. A lower shrub layer may occur, including Corchorus spp., Cullen cinereum and Chenopodium auricomum. The ground layer is variable, including forbs and tussock grasses. Occurs in large closed depressions on broad Tertiary clay plains. Cracking clay soils. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34b). |
| Supplementary description | Neldner (1991), 35a (76); Wilson and Purdie (1990a), C1 (75, 79), C3 (79), F2 (79) |
| Protected areas | Diamantina NP, Astrebla Downs NP |
| Special values | 4.3.12: Associated with ephemeral lake systems which are important habitat for water birds. Habitat for threatened fauna species including freckled duck Stictonetta naevosa. 4.3.12b: Associated with ephemeral lake systems which are important habitat for water birds. Habitat for threatened fauna species including freckled duck Stictonetta naevosa. |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Exclude fire. ISSUES: Fire is unlikely to carry in herb fields and ephemeral herblands because of a lack of fuel. Chenopodium auricomum is a basal resprouter that can survive leaf scorch. |
| Comments | 4.3.12a: 4.3.12c has been amalgamated into this vegetation community. 4.3.12b: Swamps in closed depressions. Generally in the far west of the bioregion e.g. on the Barkley Tableland. 4.3.12c has been amalgamated into this vegetation community. 4.3.12d: Occurs in small groups from Old Cork station to Daimantina Lakes. |
1 Estimated extent is from version 13 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.
