Regional ecosystem details for 4.3.17
| Regional ecosystem | 4.3.17 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 2, 7, 3, (5), (1), (1.1), (1.3), (5.5), (5.2), (1.2), (5.4), (5.3), (2.8), (5.1) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 490000 ha; Remnant 2021 490000 ha |
| Short description | Astrebla pectinata +/- Astrebla spp. tussock grassland on alluvial plains |
| Structure code | Tussock Grassland |
| Description | Astrebla pectinata tussock grassland to open tussock grassland, commonly A. lappacea or A. elymoides. Other tussock grasses include Iseilema vaginiflorum, Enneapogon avenaceus, Brachyachne convergens, Dactyloctenium radulans, Dichanthium sericeum spp. humilius, and Panicum spp. The forbs Abutilon malvifolium, Crotalaria dissitiflora, Goodenia fascicularis, Ipomoea lonchophylla, *Portulaca oleracea, and Sida spenceriana occur frequently. Occurs on alluvial plains. Soils predominately Very deep, neutral to very strongly alkaline, red, brown and grey-brown cracking clays with a crusted or self-mulching surface. Gypsum may be present at depth. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 30a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 4.3.17a: Astrebla pectinata tussock grassland, commonly with Astrebla spp., Iseilema spp., Eulalia aurea, Aristida latifolia. Emergent Eucalyptus coolabah, Acacia georginae, A. cambagei and A. victoriae may occur. Occurs on level, Quaternary alluvial plains, often restricted by higher surfaces. Cracking clay soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 30a). 4.3.17b: Astrebla spp. tussock grassland (commonly A. elymoides or A. pectinata), commonly with Eulalia aurea, Aristida latifolia, Bothriochloa spp., Iseilema spp. Emergent Eucalyptus coolabah may occur. Occurs on active Quaternary alluvial plains, commonly within braided alluvial systems. Cracking clay soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 30a). |
| Supplementary description | Neldner (1991), 43b (86); Turner et al. (1993), F5, A3; Wilson and Purdie (1990a), A1, A2, W1 (81) |
| Protected areas | Astrebla Downs NP, Diamantina NP, Wiliyan-ngurru NP, Combo CP 1 |
| Special values | 4.3.17: Potential habitat for threatened fauna species including bilby Macrotis lagotis. |
| 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 | 4.3.17: This regional ecosystem occurs in more westerly, lower rainfall parts of the bioregion compared to the similar regional ecosystem 4.3.14. |
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.
