Regional ecosystem details for 5.3.13
| Regional ecosystem | 5.3.13 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 5, 3, (2), (8), (4), (10), (4.1), (11), (9), (7), (1), (6.10), (4.2) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 388000 ha; Remnant 2021 388000 ha |
| Short description | Duma florulenta open shrubland in depressions on flood plains, interdune flats, clay pans and clay plains |
| Structure code | Open Shrubland |
| Description | Duma florulenta open shrubland commonly with Chenopodium auricomum, Maireana aphylla and occasional low trees and tall shrubs including Acacia stenophylla, Acacia victoriae, Eremophila bignoniiflora, Eucalyptus coolabah. The ground layer composition and density varies in response to incidence of flooding and may be dominated by perennial grasses, sedges and/or ephemeral forbs including Eragrostis setifolia, Sporobolus mitchellii, Eleocharis pallens, Cyperus spp., Eleocharis plana, Echinochloa turneriana, Eriochloa pseudoacrotricha and Panicum laevinode, Cullen cinereum, Marsilea drummondii, Ipomoea diamantinensis, Alternanthera nodiflora, Senecio depressicola and Ethuliopsis cunninghamii. Forbs commonly dominate after inundation in cooler months and legumes/grasses including Aeschynomene indica and/or Sesbania cannabina +/- Echinochloa turneriana commonly dominate after inundation in hotter months. Occurs in intermittently inundated depressions or fringing braided channels on alluvial plains, interdune flats, larger clay pans and occasionally clay plains. Associated soils are very deep, neutral to moderately alkaline, crusted, grey cracking clays. Soils may be self mulching and may have sand bands in the profile. Moderate gilgai micro relief. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34g). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 5.3.13a: Duma florulenta open shrubland commonly with Chenopodium auricomum, Maireana aphylla and occasional low trees and tall shrubs including Acacia stenophylla, Acacia victoriae, Eremophila bignoniiflora, Eucalyptus coolabah. The ground layer composition and density varies in response to incidence of flooding and may be dominated by perennial grasses, sedges and/or ephemeral forbs including Eragrostis setifolia, Sporobolus mitchellii, Eleocharis pallens, Cyperus spp., Eleocharis plana, Echinochloa turneriana, Eriochloa pseudoacrotricha and Panicum laevinode, Cullen cinereum, Marsilea drummondii, Ipomoea diamantinensis, Alternanthera nodiflora, Senecio depressicola and Ethuliopsis cunninghamii. Forbs commonly dominate after inundation in cooler months and legumes/grasses including Aeschynomene indica and/or Sesbania cannabina +/- Echinochloa turneriana commonly dominate after inundation in hotter months. Occurs in intermittently inundated depressions or fringing braided channels on alluvial plains. Associated soils are very deep, neutral to moderately alkaline, crusted, grey cracking clays. Soils may be self mulching and may have sand bands in the profile. Moderate gilgai micro relief. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34g). 5.3.13b: Duma florulenta open shrubland commonly with Chenopodium auricomum, Maireana aphylla and occasional low trees and tall shrubs including Acacia stenophylla, Acacia victoriae, Eremophila bignoniiflora and Eucalyptus coolabah. Occurs in intermittently inundated depressions on interdune flats, larger clay pans and occasionally clay plains. Associated soils are very deep, neutral to moderately alkaline, crusted, grey cracking clays. Soils may be self mulching and may have sand bands in the profile. Moderate gilgai micro relief. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34b). |
| Supplementary description | Neldner (1991), 35b (81); Boyland (1984), 19c; Wilson and Purdie (1990a), C1, C3 (80), L1 (80) |
| Protected areas | Diamantina NP |
| Special values | 5.3.13: Provides wetland water bird habitat. Potential habitat for threatened fauna species including freckled duck Stictonetta naevosa. Habitat for Grey Grasswrens, Amytornis barbatus (Jaensch and McFarland, in press). |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Various (wet season or winter). INTENSITY: Low - moderate. INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Aim to exclude fire by fuel reduction in adjacent vegetation communities where possible. Undertake partial burns when necessary to reduce fuel loads and protect against severe wildfire. Burn with high soil moisture (i.e., after rain/storms) or in winter when fire is more easily controlled. ISSUES: Important waterbird breeding habitat. Burning by graziers is carried out to encourage grass growth (e.g., channel millet), impacting on waterbird breeding. |
| Comments | 5.3.13: Shrub density varies with flooding frequency and intensity, and site drainage. Forbs abundant after winter floods. Ground layer composition varies with seasonal conditions and incidence of flooding. Management burning for pastoral production is a moderately common practice although the impacts on habitat value are unknown. |
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.
