Regional ecosystem details for 5.3.14
| Regional ecosystem | 5.3.14 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 9, 3, 2, 5, (11), (10), (4.1) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 34000 ha; Remnant 2021 34000 ha |
| Short description | Atriplex nummularia +/- Chenopodium auricomum open shrubland on alluvial plains and clay pans between dunes |
| Structure code | Open Shrubland |
| Description | Atriplex nummularia open shrubland commonly with Chenopodium auricomum and occasional scattered Eucalyptus coolabah low trees. The ground layer is typically sparse, although grasses and forbs may be seasonally abundant. Frequently occurring species include the forbs Atriplex eardleyae, Atriplex spongiosa, Centipeda thespidioides, Salsola australis, Sclerolaena calcarata, and Teucrium racemosum and the grasses Chloris pectinata, Dactyloctenium radulans, Eragrostis dielsii, Eragrostis setifolia and Iseilema membranaceum, Iseilema vaginiflorum, Panicum laevinode, Sporobolus actinocladus and Sporobolus caroli. Occurs on intermittently inundated scalded alluvial plains, clay pans and fringing flood plain lakes. Associated soils are very deep, grey cracking clays with a scalded surface. A strong surface crust overlies a strongly structured clay. Soil reaction trend is alkaline with gypsum occurring at depth. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 34b). |
| Supplementary description | Neldner (1991), 35c (78); Boyland (1984), 20; Wilson and Purdie (1990a), A2 (82) |
| Special values | 5.3.14: Provides wetland habitat for a flora and fauna. |
| 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. Rarely burns due to low fuel loads. |
| Comments | 5.3.14: Mainly occurs in the Georgina and Mulligan Rivers but small areas are found scattered across the bioregion. The saltbush Atriplex nummularia is heavily grazed which is associated with extensive surface scalding (Wilson and Purdie, 1990a) and a lack of regenerating in some areas. |
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.
