Regional ecosystem details for 5.3.20
| Regional ecosystem | 5.3.20 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 5, 3, 2, (9), (6), (10), (4.3), (4), (8), (4.2), (7), (1) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 16000 ha; Remnant 2021 16000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus coolabah +/- Eucalyptus camaldulensis open woodland fringing billabongs, waterholes in major river systems and waterholes in braided channel systems |
| Structure code | Open Woodland |
| Description | Eucalyptus coolabah usually predominates, Eucalyptus camaldulensis is conspicuous in sandy or gravelly channels. A lower tree understorey or tall shrub layer may be present in places. Low shrubs frequently occur and in places form a distinct layer. The ground layer is variable being composed of grasses and forbs with either predominating depending on incidence of flooding and seasonal conditions. Occurs on the fringes of waterholes in major rivers and waterholes within braided channel systems as well as fringing billabongs or small lakes on flood plains. Soils very deep clays with sand and silt bands common in profile. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34d). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 5.3.20a: Eucalyptus coolabah commonly with Eucalyptus camaldulensis open woodland fringing waterholes connected to braided channel systems. A lower tree understorey or tall shrub layer may be present in places. Low shrubs frequently occur and in places form a distinct layer. The ground layer is variable being composed of grasses and forbs with either predominating depending on incidence of flooding and seasonal conditions. Occurs fringing waterholes in braided channel systems. Soils very deep, brown or grey clays with sand and silt bands common in profile. Riverine. (BVG1M: 34d). 5.3.20b: Eucalyptus coolabah commonly with Eucalyptus camaldulensis open woodland fringing waterholes in major river systems. A lower tree understorey or tall shrub layer may be present in places. Low shrubs frequently occur and in places form a distinct layer. The ground layer is variable being composed of grasses and forbs with either predominating depending on incidence of flooding and seasonal conditions. Occurs fringing waterholes in major river systems. Soils very deep, brown or grey clays with sand and silt bands common in profile. Riverine. (BVG1M: 16a). 5.3.20c: Eucalyptus coolabah +/- Eucalyptus camaldulensis open woodland fringing billabongs on edge of flood plains divorced from channel systems. A lower tree understorey or tall shrub layer may be present in places. Low shrubs frequently occur and in places form a distinct layer. The ground layer is variable being composed of grasses and forbs with either predominating depending on incidence of flooding and seasonal conditions. Occurs fringing billabongs on flood plains divorced from channel systems. Soils very deep, brown or grey clays with sand and silt bands common in profile. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34d). |
| Supplementary description | Neldner (1991), 51a (63); Boyland (1984), 32; Pettit (2002) |
| Protected areas | Diamantina NP, Welford NP, Astrebla Downs NP |
| Special values | 5.3.20: Wetlands that provide drought refuge and water bird habitat. Habitat for threatened fauna species including freckled duck Stictonetta naevosa. 5.3.20a: Wetlands that provide drought refuge and water bird habitat. Habitat for threatened fauna species including freckled duck Stictonetta naevosa. 5.3.20b: Wetlands that provide drought refuge and water bird habitat. Habitat for threatened fauna species including freckled duck Stictonetta naevosa. 5.3.20c: Wetlands that provide drought refuge and water bird habitat. Habitat for threatened fauna species including freckled duck Stictonetta naevosa. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Various (wet season or winter). INTENSITY: Low. 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: Rarely burns due to low fuel loads. |
| Comments | 5.3.20: Function as important aquatic refugia during dry times (Hamilton et al. 2005). Highly modified floristic and structural composition due to heavy trampling and grazing by domestic stock and feral animals such as pigs. There is considerable floristic and structural variation in this regional ecosystem associated with local environmental conditions. Asteraceae spp. prevalent following favourable seasons. E. coolabah is found on higher, less frequently flooded areas compared to E. camaldulensis (Pettit 2002). Localised areas of soil compaction and bare ground are associated with domestic stock congregation points. 5.3.20a: Function as important aquatic refugia during dry times (Hamilton et al. 2005). Highly modified floristic and structural composition due to heavy trampling and grazing by domestic stock and feral animals such as pigs. There is considerable floristic and structural variation in this regional ecosystem associated with local environmental conditions. Asteraceae spp. prevalent following favourable seasons. E. coolabah is found on higher, less frequently flooded areas compared to E. camaldulensis (Pettit 2002). Localised areas of soil compaction and bare ground are associated with domestic stock congregation points. 5.3.20b: Function as important aquatic refugia during dry times (Hamilton et al. 2005). Highly modified floristic and structural composition due to heavy trampling and grazing by domestic stock and feral animals such as pigs. There is considerable floristic and structural variation in this regional ecosystem associated with local environmental conditions. Asteraceae spp. prevalent following favourable seasons. E. coolabah is found on higher, less frequently flooded areas compared to E. camaldulensis (Pettit 2002). Localised areas of soil compaction and bare ground are associated with domestic stock congregation points. 5.3.20c: Function as important aquatic refugia during dry times (Hamilton et al. 2005). Highly modified floristic and structural composition due to heavy trampling and grazing by domestic stock and feral animals such as pigs. There is considerable floristic and structural variation in this regional ecosystem associated with local environmental conditions. Asteraceae spp. prevalent following favourable seasons. E. coolabah is found on higher, less frequently flooded areas compared to E. camaldulensis (Pettit 2002). Localised areas of soil compaction and bare ground are associated with domestic stock congregation points. |
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.
