Regional ecosystem details for 4.9.20
| Regional ecosystem | 4.9.20 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 5, 4, 3, (2), (5.4), (10.2), (10.4), (5.5), (11.26), (10.1), (6.6) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 1279000 ha; Remnant 2021 1270000 ha |
| Short description | Astrebla lappacea +/- Aristida latifolia +/- Panicum decompositum tussock grassland on Cretaceous sediments with ashy soils |
| Structure code | Tussock Grassland |
| Description | Astrebla lappacea tussock grassland, commonly with Aristida latifolia and Panicum decompositum. Sparsely scattered low shrubs and low trees may occur. Short-lived grasses such as Iseilema spp. and Dichanthium spp. and ephemeral forbs vary in abundance with seasonal conditions. Winter rain favours the forbs, while summer rainfall promotes the growth of grasses. Occurs on flat to gently undulating plains formed from fine grained sediments. Soils generally deep grey and brown, strongly self-mulching cracking clays with ashy surface soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 30b). |
| Supplementary description | Turner et al. (1978), F1 F2; Wilson and Purdie (1990a), F1; Neldner (1991), 42a; Turner et al. (1993), F1, F2, F6 |
| Protected areas | Diamantina NP |
| Special values | 4.9.20: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Picris barbarorum. |
| 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 | 4.9.20: This vegetation association is known locally as 'ashy downs'. |
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.
