Regional ecosystem details for 4.3.13
| Regional ecosystem | 4.3.13 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Short description | Eragrostis setifolia and Marsilea drummondii +/- Chenopodium auricomum open grassland in drainage depressions |
| Structure code | Open Tussock Grassland |
| Description | Eragrostis setifolia (5-25% cover) predominates forming an open tussock grassland. Astrebla elymoides (1-10%) may be codominant in some areas. Chenopodium auricomum is usually present, and may form a sparse shrub layer (1m tall). The perennial grasses Astrebla elymoides and Sporobolus mitchellii occur frequently while Panicum laevinode and other ephemeral grasses may be seasonally abundant. A variety of forbs may be present, many of them ephemerals. Calotis hispidula, Teucrium integrifolium and Trigonella suavissima occurred frequently, while Leiocarpa brevicompta and Polymeria longifolia were locally prominent. Marsilea drummondii is the most frequent forb and may cover up to 20% of the ground surface Marsilea drummondii is the most frequent forb and may cover up to 20% of the ground surface depending on seasonal conditions. Occurs in internal drainage depressions on flat to gently undulating plains. Soils are very deep grey cracking clays usually with a self-mulching surface. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34b). |
| Supplementary description | Neldner (1991), 43d (94); Wilson and Purdie (1990a), F2 (51) |
| Special values | 4.3.13: Provides wetland habitat for a flora and fauna. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Late wet to mid-dry season. INTENSITY: Low to moderate. INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Burn when sufficient fuel. Burn after years of good rainfall in particular. Do not burn during drought years. Patch burn <25% in the same year. Apply mosaic across the landscape at a range of frequencies to create varying stages of post-fire response. ISSUES: Woody thickening becomes more severe where stock grazing is combined with repeated early season burns. Moderate fire may be required when targeting woody species that are starting to become overabundant. Ensure good soil moisture to favour grass regeneration over woody weeds. Removal of grazing pressure can increase fuel loads following periods of high rainfall that may lead to wildfire and homogeneity of the landscape. Fires that are too severe at times of low soil moisture will kill grasses. |
| Comments | 4.3.13: Heavily impacted by total grazing pressure. |
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.
