Regional ecosystem details for 4.3.14
| Regional ecosystem | 4.3.14 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 5, 4, (6), (5.4), (5.5), (11.26), (9.5), (6.9), (10.1), (6.6), (10.4) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 825000 ha; Remnant 2021 806000 ha |
| Short description | Astrebla lappacea +/- Astrebla squarrosa, Aristida latifolia tussock grassland on alluvial plains |
| Structure code | Tussock Grassland |
| Description | Astrebla lappacea tussock grassland to closed tussock grassland, commonly with A. squarrosa. Other species include Aristida latifolia, Iseilema vaginiflorum, Panicum spp. A number of forbs are present and increase in density after winter rainfall. Emergent trees are rare, including Acacia cambagei and Eucalyptus coolabah. Occurs on alluvial plains in clay landscapes dominated by Astrebla spp. tussock grasslands. Soils are predominately deep, red, brown or grey, cracking clays. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 30a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 4.3.14a: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 4.3.14. Astrebla lappacea and/or A. pectinata predominates usually in association with Iseilema vaginiflorum and form a cover of 10-30%. A. squarrosa (1-5%) is usually present, and A. elymoides and Aristida latifolia frequently form part of the tussock grassland. Occurs on alluvia and drainage lines. Soils are predominately deep to very deep, brown and grey cracking clays with self-mulching surfaces. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 30a). 4.3.14b: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 4.3.14. Astrebla lappacea predominates sometimes in association with Aristida latifolia frequently form part of the tussock grassland. Other commonly present species include Iseilema vaginiflorum, Panicum spp. And Dichanthium sericeum. A number of forbs are present and increase in density after winter rainfall. Sparsely scattered shrubs may occur, including Chenopodium auricomum. Occurs on seasonally flooded alluvial plains associated with drainage lines. Soils are predominately deep, grey and brown cracking clays often with a thin surface crust. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 30a). |
| Supplementary description | Neldner (1991), 42b (86); Turner et al. (1993), A1 (20), A3 (25) |
| Protected areas | Bladensburg NP, Lochern NP, Idalia NP |
| Special values | 4.3.14: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Calotis suffruticosa, Dolichocarpa spathulata. |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Do not burn deliberately. The grasses and forbs of Astrebla spp. dominated communities do not require fire for regeneration. Protection relies on management of fire in the surrounding country to prevent running fires entering Astrebla spp. communities, particularly at times of low soil moisture. ISSUES: Fire can sometimes be used as a tool to control woody thickening and woody weeds in grasslands. Moderate intensity fire is required for a successful kill of the woody species but good moisture levels are required to ensure recovery of the ground layer. Large scale germination of woody species is most likely to occur in high rainfall years. The best management opportunity is usually after storms at the end of the subsequent dry season, although exclusion of grazing pressure may still be required to ensure sufficient fuel loads. |
| Comments | 4.3.14: Unmapped areas of Eucalyptus coolabah (4.3.3) sometimes present on the drainage channels. Vegetation communities 4.3.14a and 4.3.14b have been amalgamated into this regional ecosystem. This regional ecosystem occurs in more easterly higher rainfall parts of the bioregion compared to the similar regional ecosystem 4.3.17. Being degraded by weed infestation, e.g. prickly acacia *Acacia nilotica, parkinsonia *Parkinsonia aculeata. 4.3.14a: Unmapped areas of Eucalyptus coolabah (4.3.3) sometimes present on the drainage channels. This regional ecosystem occurs in more easterly higher rainfall parts of the bioregion compared to the similar regional ecosystem 4.3.17. Being degraded by weed infestation, e.g. prickly acacia *Acacia nilotica, parkinsonia *Parkinsonia aculeata. 4.3.14b: Unmapped areas of Eucalyptus coolabah (4.3.3) sometimes present on the drainage channels. This regional ecosystem occurs in more easterly higher rainfall parts of the bioregion compared to the similar regional ecosystem 4.3.17. Being degraded by weed infestation, e.g. prickly acacia *Acacia nilotica, parkinsonia *Parkinsonia aculeata. |
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.
